Ashton XXX Old Church

[Harlock999]

Will re-post later, thanks.

 

[Cody V]

square shank for the win! :cheers:

 

[sstodvictory]

That may be the nicest blast I've ever seen. I see that the shank ridges match the ones on the bowl for the better part of its length.

Steve

 

[Harlock999]

That may be the nicest blast I've ever seen. I see that the shank ridges match the ones on the bowl for the better part of its length.

Steve

Thanks guys!
IMHO, Bill Taylor's reputation for sandblasted pipes is thoroughly borne out by this example. The other side of the pipe is just as nice. When I first started buying estate pipes on ebay, I tried to avoid pipes that looked like they had too much mileage on them, and this one was definitely well smoked, but that blast was too much to pass up. Recently, a Barling's Ye Olde Wood showed up on ebay that had a blast that would have given this one a run for it's money, and I would have loved to have done a side by side comparison, but that one was too rich for me!

 

[sstodvictory]

I had not examined Bill Taylor's blasts carefully. When I began collecting in the mid-90's, Ashtons were already priced out of my range for the rate at which I was buying pipes. Ruthenberg blasts meet or approach that standard if they earn his Caliper grade, and those are rare.

Steve

 

[Harlock999]

I agree wholeheartedly. I've seen some amazing blasts from Mr. Ruthenberg, as well as some other American carvers (Rad Davis). I've also seen some that are too heavily blasted, almost to the point where they appear to have been melted away, and those don't really appeal to me. I am a sucker for a nice blasted pipe though!

 

[Trout Bum]

Super gnarly blast on that Ashton, Harlock -- brilliant! I too am a sucker for a good blast. Thanks for posting up the pics.

 

[Harlock999]

Thanks TB, it's my pleasure! Gotta go now and hunt down some more blasted pipes...
By the way, have you seen Brian Ruthenberg's new bent, blasted billiard on his site? Very nice...

 

[Buddy Springman]

Now, that's a pipe with character! Nice snag.

Buddy

 

[Anonymous]

Good lord man!!!! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: