Do you have a friend that is almost like a brother or sister to you? And isn’t it true that siblings often compete with one another? I guess it’s no surprise that Dustin and I, who call each other “brother”, are a tad competitive with our pipes. Both of us are collectors and we have very similar tastes: American artisans, Russian pipes, reverse and regular calabashes.

Maybe it was this competitiveness that spurred me into action upon seeing one of Dustin’s recent acquisitions, or maybe it was just a phenomenal pipe by a phenomenal artist.

I remember quite clearly that it was a Wednesday evening when I was scrolling through Facebook on my phone, waiting for Lauren to get done writing a paper. Suddenly, a bizarre calabash popped across my screen: enormous of proportions, distinctive wood choice for the bowl, fantastic bamboo, beautiful sanding.

I instantly pulled up the artisan’s number on my phone and sent him a text message.

“Hey, Steve. I know it’s probably pointless, but is that calabash available?”

Mr. Liskey quickly replied, “Sorry, dude. That one is going to Dustin. ”

Of course! My old adversary, Big D. Babitzke, had struck again! Quickly, I made my move:

“Think you can make its twin?”

“Yeah! We can even do a few things to outdo Dustin’s!”

Well, Big D., prepare to meet your match!

The pipe that Steve Liskey created as the twin to Dustin’s “ice cream cone calabash” takes the calabash system to a level that has been experimented with by only a few people. I recently wrote a piece all about reverse calabashes, a technique that is growing in popularity because of its cool and tasty smoke. The regular calabash system has been around for much longer and delivers similar – though, I would argue, slightly lesser – results.

Dustin’s ice cream cone is a conventional calabash with an enormous frontal expansion chamber. What arrived in the post for me, however, truly lived up to Steve’s promise. Not only does this piece feature the conventional frontal calabash system, adorned with a fashionable cap of spalted tamarind, but the rear area has also been hallowed out, making this pipe both a traditional and reverse calabash: a double calabash.

I know that few people have messed around with this concept, but it hasn’t really caught on as of yet. However, I see no reason why a double calabash should not deliver increased results. Let’s look at the reasons behind the success of the calabash. A conventional calabash features a front chamber where the smoke can expand, mix, and, most importantly, cool before traveling to the mouth. The reverse calabash system does the same thing, just closer to the stem of the pipe. Theoretically, a double calabash should cool the smoke in the front (like a conventional calabash) and then further cool the smoke in the rear (like a reverse calabash), allowing for the coolest, driest possible smoke. And let me tell you, this pipe smokes like a dream: low maintenance, flavorful, cool, dry…perfect.

Another upside of this system is that is damned near impossible for any dottle to make it to the stem. If it somehow made it through the front system, it would surely be caught in the rear. That means one should never have to fear smoking a bowl down to the very bottom, even before the pipe is broken in.

With the recent explosion of reverse calabash pipes, from artisans to factories, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see this type of experimentation start to flourish. People often think that something as old as the pipe has been perfected already. Surely Einstein, Twain, and Russell couldn’t have been wrong. Well, they might not have been wrong, but they might not have been perfect. The reverse calabash is proof of that.

I am inspired to see young artisans continue to push the boundaries of the pipe, from engineering to shaping. Much like in nature, when an organism is threatened with extinction, it evolves or it dies. Though the pipe is no longer as close to extinction as it once was, it is still an endangered species. With no pipe-zoos to keep it thriving and protected, we must rely on evolution. Thank you, Steve, for pushing us one step further away from going extinct and one closer to flourishing once more.

It’s everywhere now, though it started off as a rarity: reverse calabashes.

I remember seeing my first reverse calabash: a bee by Michail Revyagin, one of the forerunners of the design. It was bizarre in appearance, but somehow entrancing at the same time. Then I read the description and saw a term that I hadn’t seen before – reverse calabash. What the heck is that?

Well, I knew what a calabash was, aside from the shape. Strictly speaking, a calabash is a vine which produces a remarkable fruit. This can be harvested young and eaten, or it can be aged and dried and used as a utensil or even a pipe.

When turned into a pipe, it is hollowed out and fitted with a bowl insert, typically meerschaum. What makes the calabash so remarkable is the empty space between the bowl and the stem. There is a large, hollow space where the smoke travels before passing through the stem. This space is called an expansion chamber and allows the smoke to cool, an effect that many believe enhances the flavor and experience of the smoke.

So, that’s a calabash. What’s a reverse calabash? I’m glad you asked!

It takes the principle of the calabash – ie. Having a built in expansion chamber – and simply moves the chamber towards the back of the pipe, immediately in front of the bit and stem. Thus, the smoke is still cooled without the restriction of designing a pipe fitted with a removable bowl. As Rolando Negoita says on his website, “This is the new generation of pipes… I have engineered these pipes so that the smoke from the tobacco chamber will pass through the cooling chamber in the shank before being delivered to the stem. In addition to cooling, this chamber will act to decant and filter the smoke as well.”

Rick Newcombe is a popular figure in the world of pipe-writings. One of his claims-to-fame is his contention that widening up the air-flow will increase the enjoyment of one’s smoke. Rick encourages opening it a couple of millimeters; a reverse calabash design takes that to much greater magnitudes.

Now that you know what it is, let’s dig a little deeper into why exactly this style has exploded in popularity. And it has. Over two years ago, a well-known blogger predicted that this design would spark great interest in the pipe world. I cannot describe how right he was.

It used to be that only a few people, such as Rolando Negoita, Michail Revyagin, and Tom Eltang used this technique. Now, however, it’s getting more and more common. To prove this, Radice recently introduced a billiard that features a reverse calabash system. As far as I know, this is the first company with such a large annual production (around 1,200 pipes) to try their hand at a reverse calabash in such numbers.

In terms of why they’re growing in popularity, a reverse calabash allows for more variety in terms of aesthetics than does a typical calabash. You can tell this simply by looking at the great conglomeration of pipes pictured in this piece. With that freedom that it allows, however, is one difficulty that sometimes proves too much for carvers. In order to put the expansion chamber in the shank, you need a fatter shank than most pipes. To account for this, most artisans avoid the shapes that require a skinny shank, like a Canadian or a Prince. But difficulty breeds invention. Revyagin, for example, created a brand new shape for with the Bee calabash. Negoita and Eltang went with a shape that looks more like a piece of plumbing, but they make it beautiful. The similarity in their design makes sense, as the two are good friends.

Many collectors have flocked to the shape because it delivers the same, high-quality smoke as a true calabash, without the visual restrictions. Let me tell you from first-hand experience, a reverse calabash gives a truly incredible experience, whether it is the bee from Revyagin or the Conducta by Negoita. I have found that the design works well with every type of tobacco, but it is particularly effective with blends that typically burn hot or wet, as the expansion chamber mitigates these effects. For example, straight Virginia blends and Burleys. A reverse calabash helps to emphasize the sweetness of a given blend.

Personally, I see little to no downside to this design. Sure, there are aesthetic difficulties to get around and some shapes will never work with the reverse calabash, without looking bloated. Despite this, I would not be surprised if we still have only seen the tip of the iceberg with this design. I, for one, will be continuing my appreciation of this design and hope to see more and more artisans applying this technique.

If you want to see more beautiful examples of the reverse calabash, check out this story’s incarnation over at www.thebriarportraitgallery.com

There are a number of very well-known pipe collectors: Rick Newcombe, Neill Archer Roan, Greg Pease, and more. These collectors are respected for their keen eyes, writing, and devotion to the hobby. I have no intention of disparaging any of these men (in fact, I admire them all), but I want to mention that these are far from the only impressive collectors out there that should be heeded.

Many of you have heard me mention Dustin Babitzke many times. Not only is he one of my closet friends, but he is one of the most passionate, intelligent, and impressive pipe collectors in the world, in my opinion. Aside from having possibly the largest, and certainly most impressive, blowfish collection in the world, Dustin has a nearly omniscient perception of pipes and is a great photographer.

Recently, Dustin put his passion into action and created The Briar Portrait Gallery. While the website is new, the project has been in the works for some time.

“The Briar Portrait Gallery was founded by Dustin “Big D” Babitzke in 2012 to help promote the beauty and artistic expression that has emerged from the modern pipe making movement.   Starting with the release of his “Pipe Field Guide: Blowfish Edition” pamphlet at the Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club Show in May of 2012, Dustin has been working with Pipe Makers and Pipe Clubs from around the world to showcase the talent and skill currently displayed by today’s artisans.  The company’s main goal is to show the world that our hobby is not just about a “quick nicotine hit” but about a fine appreciation of the nuances of materials, craftsmanship, and true woodworking mastery that goes into the creation of a pipe.”

Last year at the Chicago Pipe Show, Dustin had a table where he sold some prints he had done of his pipes. The price was more than reasonable and the prints themselves were gorgeous. I could not resist but take home one of each piece and they are now the center-piece of my office / pipe-room.

So, what exactly is the idea of The Briar Portrait Gallery? Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I think pipes are beautiful (or can be). Now, I have spent countless hours sifting through the archives of Quality Briar and other websites looking at some drool-inducing photos of fantastic pipes. Every now and then, however, I want a bit more of an artistic twist. That’s where Dustin’s website comes in.

The photos of pipes that Dustin features are not your everyday photos, but are stylized to emphasize their beauty. Let me acknowledge: these photos do not give the “pure” depiction of the pipe’s grain and appearance, since most of the photos have been made to look almost like paintings. If you want a perfect example, click on the picture of the Geiger Yggdrasil Blowfish immediately above and enlarge it. You’ll notice that the grain is wavy in a way that briar simply doesn’t grow. But if you want to see the pure, unaltered photo, Dustin is working on adding an option where you can also view the original. If you want to see art that features pipes, you should bookmark, favorite, create an alter to The Briar Portrait Gallery.

I think that the goals of BPG are quite noble. After all, a simple picture of a cigar or of a cigarette, no matter how stylized, is nothing compared to the beauty of a pipe. The next time someone questions you when you say that a particular pipe is lovely or artistic, when they get that flabbergasted look, as if to say, “How can you really think that?”, just click on over to Dustin’s site and watch the disbelife fade and appreciation appear.

Since these pieces truly are art, Dustin didn’t just stop at putting the photos online. No, no! You can actually purchase the majority of these photos and let them bring some style to your home, office, garage, or anywhere you want.

I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t wait long after I saw the prints that Dustin already has available on The Briar Portrait Gallery. So, go! Don’t wait! Show that you’re not only a pipe smoker, but a pipe smoker with class. Visit www.briarportraitgallery.com . Thank me later.

There are only so many books on pipe smoking. While the vast majority are fantastic, many tend to cover the same topics: material types, break-in strategies, packing methods. You know, the necessities. I am incredibly grateful for those that have taken so much time to help illuminate such issues, but it’s not always what I’m looking for when I want to read about pipes.

That’s why I could not resist when I saw Mark Irwin’s book about pipes in the Lord of the Rings (and only ten bucks!).

According to the back of the book, you should “Pack your pipe with your favorite blend, sit back and enjoy the first thorough exploration of Middle Earth’s pipes, tobaccos, and pipe smokers. Pipe Smoking in Middle Earth recounts the way Tolkien literally frames his Saga in smoke rings, then devotes subsequent chapters concerning what can be known and what can reasonably be inferred about pipeweed or leaf (tobacco), the pipes of Middle Earth, smoker’s equipage (or accessories), the fellowship of the smoke ring (the pipe smokers of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings) and the art of blowing smoke rings. It concludes with a complete concordance to every reference to pipes, tobaccos, and pipe smokers in Middle Earth.”

This tiny book, a mere 112 pages, is absolutely jammed with information about the pipes enjoyed by the hobbits, dwarves, men, and others who populate Middle Earth. Mr. Irwin clearly did a great deal of research, including citations for every single instances that he mentions. He even went to far as to analyze the recent movies (though I would hazard to say that he wasn’t the biggest fan).

Pipe Smoking in Middle Earth covers many topics, from the smoking habits of individual characters — a group Mr. Irwin affectionately calls the Fellowship of the Smoke Ring — to the preferences of different race, Tolkien’s own pipe, and even a page or two helping people learn how to blow smoke rings, an absolute necessity if you’re going to survive in Middle Earth.

Mark Irwin does not pull punches in his critique of Peter Jackson’s depiction of the books, particularly on the issue of pipe smoking. His main qualms seem to be about the amount of pipe smoking shown (not nearly enough) and the types of pipes shown (not accurate). Irwin cautions, however, that many others exaggerate the amount of pipe smoking in Lord of the Rings and that it is important to find balance.

The second half of the book is primarily references, where Irwin pulls out of the books (including The Hobbit) the most important mentions of pipe smoking and quotes them directly. This is very helpful for someone like me who has a Lord of the Rings related pipe-project going with Stephen Downie. One of my favorite parts of the last half of the book was a correspondence between Tolkien and a pipe-smoking fan, where the fan asks for more information about the pipes and tobaccos in the books, only to receive a classic Tolkien response.

The short book does repeat itself from time to time, giving the impression that the chapters were written independently, without regard for the content of the previous ones, thus leading to needless repetition. The book itself felt a little rushed, lacking some of the proper editing that will come with further editions.

On the whole, this little gem does a wonderful job wading through the sometimes never-ending writing of Tolkien to find the information concerning pipes and tobacco. If you’re a fan of Lord of the Rings or just want to learn more about pipes in popular culture, you should not pass this book up. After all, it will probably only take an hour or two to read!

On the 20th of February, we pipe smokers gather together, sometimes literally and sometimes just in spirit, to raise a bowl and celebrate International Pipe Smoking Day.

This might seem peculiar to anyone outside of the hobby, just as I am sure Dress Up Your Pet Day seems strange to anyone not obsessed with putting Fido in an Ewok costume (but that would be awesome).

International Pipe Smoking Day (IPSD) is really quite simple, though. Pipe smoking is rare now, very rare. We are fortunate enough to have online means of brotherhood and some of us even find solace in the monthly pipe club, where fellow Brothers of the Briar gather, talk tobacco, drink freely, and laugh loudly. On no other day, however, is there such a feeling of a world-wide family.

More than the mushy-gushy, transcendental stuff, IPSD allows us a time to sit back and appreciate how much this simple item can bring joy and peace into our lives. A simple piece of wood, combined with plastic (or rubber or some other material), stuffed with a dried, combustible plant manages to bring us such immense amount of happiness. That is what IPSD means to me: appreciating how much joy these pipes, pipe-makers, tobacco blenders, and fellow smokers bring into my life every single day, even if they don’t know it. To all of you who are at all involved with the world of pipes: thank you. It would be hard for me to express how much you have improved my life through your hard work.

Smoke on, my friends, and have yourself a happy, healthy International Pipe Smoking Day.