Big Ben Supergrain 154 bulldog

[SpeedyPete]

I've posted a picture of my new pipe under the post: AUTHORS and BULLDOGS.

I don't know how to shift it to this here post  

 

[Fr_Tom]

Here you go...

 

[SpeedyPete]

I thank you, brother Tom  

 

[Fr_Tom]

You are welcome. I like the pipe BTW!

 

[SpeedyPete]

I bought this pipe and a Senior Pipe-Reamer and an Eurojet pipe lighter for R1,125.00 (US$112.50)  

This is bulldog #12 and I may not (MAY NOT) buy anymore pipes within the next 6 months. I've spent more money on pipes this past year than over the previous 3 years. But I now have most of the pipes I've desired for a long time.

Next year I will start buying tobacco. The only decent tobacco available locally is Petersen's. Our own tobaccos are no good. So I will start cellaring my favourite VA's and Vapers.

I love smoking a pipe :bounce: :bball: :cheers:  :cat: 

 

[SpeedyPete]

I must have smoked this pipe about 15 times now. It delivers as if it has been smoked a 150 times already  

All my new Savinellis, Brebbias and Stanwells acted like that as well. A fine piece of briar does not need a battle to break in, as far as my experience goes.

The only exceptions, for me, were my 2 Petersens. And it was due to the dye inside the bowl. I spoke to a student, working as a temp at our local B&M where I shop, the other day. He had some money saved up to buy a new pipe, his very first "out of the box", and bought a Petersen. He is soooo disappointed. Can't get rid of the aweful taste from the damn "paint" in the bowl. I told him to ream the ******* until only raw wood was left and then start the breaking in all over again. My two pipes eventually gave up the battle and I now really love smoking them. But at some point I almost ditched the 80s. I hope for my young friends sake his Pete will do the same.

I really like Petersen pipes and will buy some more but NEVER AGAIN a new one. I will leave the battles for unexperienced pipers and once they are fedup with the lot, take it off their hands :twisted: 

 

[Fr_Tom]

The only exceptions, for me, were my 2 Petersens. And it was due to the dye inside the bowl.  I spoke to a student, working as a temp at our local B&M where I shop, the other day.  He had some money saved up to buy a new pipe, his very first "out of the box", and bought a Petersen.  He is soooo disappointed.  Can't get rid of the aweful taste from the damn "paint" in the bowl.

I have a handful of Petersons, but only two were bought new. I am pretty sure mine were just bare wood in the bowl when I got them. I don't remember a problem with breakin anyway. I wonder if you need to get that dye out with alcohol or something before a first smoke in one that comes with this "feature"?

 

[monbla256]

I must have smoked this pipe about 15 times now.  It delivers as if it has been smoked a 150 times already  

All my new Savinellis, Brebbias and Stanwells acted like that as well.  A fine piece of briar does not need a battle to break in, as far as my experience goes.

The only exceptions, for me, were my 2 Petersens. And it was due to the dye inside the bowl.  I spoke to a student, working as a temp at our local B&M where I shop, the other day.  He had some money saved up to buy a new pipe, his very first "out of the box", and bought a Petersen.  He is soooo disappointed.  Can't get rid of the aweful taste from the damn "paint" in the bowl.  I told him to ream the ******* until only raw wood was left and then start the breaking in all over again. My two pipes eventually gave up the battle and I now really love smoking them. But at some point I almost ditched the 80s.  I hope for my young friends sake his Pete will do the same.

I really like Petersen pipes and will buy some more but NEVER AGAIN a new one. I will leave the battles for unexperienced pipers and once they are fedup with the lot, take it off their hands :twisted: 

Their High Grades don't come with the "Pre-Carbonized" bowls. Personally, I've never had ANY problems with this type of bowl from ANY maker in my years of buying and smoking pipes new. In fact, except for the two pre-republic Pete's my father bought back in '46, NONE of the new Pete's I've bought were difficult to break-in.  

 

[SpeedyPete]

Bro' Monbla, if it was pre-carbonized, it would not worry me.  This Big Ben's bowl was "made ready" for me.  I made it "unready" before I smoked it. No sweat.  The "interior" of my Pete's bowls were coated with paint!  I do not know of any other manufacturer who uses an interior decorator to finish off their pipes :evil: :twisted: 

I believe that Petersen has undertaken to stop the practice of dipping their pipes in dye with bowls uncovered. There must be a lot of the "painted" pipes still on shelves all over the world though. Therefore, if I should buy another Pete, it will have to be an old estate.