James Upshall Bark (Unsmoked) Stem Restored

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riff raff

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As you are aware, I'm a pretty big James Upshall fan. This is my 8th Upshall but the first Bark finish and unsmoked (NOS) pipe.  The Ebay pictures were horrible, but the seller took returns, so I threw the dice.  The stem wasn't too difficult to restore, but working around the logo was an exercise in patience.  I detailed the process here:

http://rebornpipes.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/15906/

Here's some before and after shots:

james_upshall_bark_before.jpg

james_upshall_bark_before-1.jpg


james_upshall_bark_gallery-6.jpg

james_upshall_bark_gallery-1.jpg

james_upshall_bark_gallery-3.jpg


The stem work is very much to my liking and I love the Bark finish. I'm off to the workshop to break this one in!
 
Wow, what a great first smoke! I loaded up a bowl of MM965. Smooth, mellow and a great draw (this baby is drilled perfectly). I love the tactile feel of the Bark finish. I occasionally hear about guys who hate breaking in a new pipe, but if they are all like this, I'm a fan.
 
Congratulations! That's a fine looking pipe to be sure. That bark finish is too sweet. I love a great rustication or blast and this is one of the better ones for sure. Glad to hear she smokes as good as she looks.

Jim
 
I LOOOVE blasted pipes and that "tanshell" finish is my favorite ! NICE,NICE, NICE !  :) :) Smoke it regularly and in a few decades it will color nicely  :twisted: :twisted: 
 
Thanks guys. I was always more fond of blasts than rusticated pipes, so I wasn't sure I'd take a hankering to this one. I figured I could get my money back on it, if I didn't like it. But, she's staying on my rack for sure.

Curiously, Upshall lists a slightly higher price for the Bark finish versus their blasts. I guess Barry Jones doesn't like using the blasting equipment?

An estate pipe vendor I follow has a blasted Upshall listed and in the description he states the red JU stem logo indicates an earlier pipe, for what that's worth.
 

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