Pros:* great starter pipe, perfect gift for those interested in the art of pipe smoking* gift box, and tobacco notes (included) are a nice touch* color and grain are nicer than a standard pipeCons:* a bit pricey, but it is hand-crafted* no other accessories, despite the large box (aside from carrying bag)
I got this as a gift for my pipe smoker, and they approved of it wholeheartedly. The lovely presentation, which included a nice gift box and a storage bag, impressed me. The pipe seems well-made, and I think the overall aesthetic is quite distinguished. It's made for smoking tobacco, and while that might be out of fashion, there are plenty of pipe smokers in the world.Now I am certainly not an expert on pipes, but I do know that this one is made of briarwood which seems to be a common pipe material. The finish is lovely and the pipe (according to the smoker) works well. While the price seems high to me there are a lot of expensive pipes, so I'll let you decide if it's fair or not. It certainly made my pipe-smoking friend happy and that's what counts.
I like t his design, it's nice and compact, very sleek looking. The rusticated bowl gives a neat unique feel to it as well. To cut to the chase, it's a nice pipe and is very well made. No issues at all, it's a good shape, it's well made, everything fits together nicely, the woodgrain is nice, etc.The only issue to decide with choosing this pipe, is I have a hard time saying that the quality is truly up to the current price of almost 70 dollars. At that price point, I'd expect a little bit more as far as quality of woodworking on the pipe, and selection of high end wood with no knots or inclusions. This sounds picky, but I guess at some point you earn the right to be picky if you're spending 3 plus times the amount of a pipe with the same functionality. If you're paying for looks and finish, then the finish is part of the critique. It's not bad, just not perfect either.
Excellent packaging. Feels premium when unboxing. Pipe is of good quality. Smokes great with no issues.