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Enjoyed a tasty golden delicious apple, and just finished smoking year 2016 Sutliff 507-C Slices in a sandblasted medium bend 1950s Reuben era Charatan Deluxe 11 billiard with a tapered black vulcanite stem.
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A third of the way through this bowl of year 2014 Edgeworth Ready Rubbed Match in a 2015 Basil Meadows Bing Crosby Merchant Service replica with a smooth straight thin shank, aluminum band and black ebonite stem. This was the first “Bing” that Basil made. I've been busy with the ferals, and as possums are eating their food, I decided to let the cats in to eat one at a time inside. That includes Harry the Hairy. I knew something was up the last couple of days because Harry just doesn't eat as much food as I was putting down. Their water bowl being dirty was another indication of the possums taking their food and water. The ferals here don't dirty up the water. Anyway, I did see a possum, and chased it away right before I started writing this post, but I know it and any other one will be back. I'm going to feed them inside at night, and the possums can go elsewhere.
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JimInks said:
Thank you for the compliment. They are very treasured pipes, and most of them were birthday gifts from friends. Heckuva way to celebrate my birthday.

Here's the story behind the 4ABs that I posted elsewhere at the time:

My first exposure to Sherlock Holmes was the movies where Basil Rathbone played Holmes. I quickly learned that Sherlock Holmes was one of the earliest fictional detectives. Thanks to my local library, I was able to read every one of the sixty Conan Doyle written Holmes stories. The next year, 1974, I became a pipe smoker. Being that my only source for pipes and tobaccos were local drug stores, I tried to find a pipe that resembled the Peterson 4AB that Rathbone smoked in the Universal series. I settled on a Doctor Grabow Omega, which copied the standard Peterson system pipe. Over time, I bought several pipes that were somewhere near the shape of that model, but never one that was close enough.

For many years, I dreamed about owning the same model Rathbone smoked, though I didn’t know what shape number it was until the early 2000s. It was a fruitless search to find that pipe, and I began to feel I would never own one. When I heard that Laudisi Enterprises, Inc. had acquired the Peterson line, I saw a chance. At the 2018 West Coast Pipe Show, I brought up the idea of manufacturing a 4AB to Shane Ireland. Shane was unaware of the existence of that pipe, but when he Google searched the subject, he quickly realized the sales potential of the 4AB. I informed him that there were a great many pipe smokers who have wanted one for years, and that it would be a great service to the community if Laudisi would bring back the 4AB. I specifically pointed out that the copy had to have the exact specs or buyers would not be happy. I told Shane there was a cut-away diagram of the 4AB with the details on line, and he could use that as the template for the new model. Shane told me it would take a couple of years or so, but he would see that it would happen, and that an exact copy would be a priority.

I started mentioning it on the pipe forums, and suggested that interested parties contact Laudisi and ask them to produce the 4AB. A huge number of people did that. In a 2019 conversation with Smoking Pipes representative Kaz Walters, I told him I had been talking up the idea whenever I had the chance. Kaz said that it was the most requested shape to bring back into production. I felt better about the chance that it would happen, thanks to my fellow pipers.

At the 2019 Chicago Pipe Show, Peterson blogger Mark Irwin was selling his amazing then-new book on the history of Peterson pipes. I told him about my conversations with Shane and Kaz, and asked Mark if he would help get this done. Knowing that Mark had a lot of contact with Peterson, I knew he could be very helpful in this venture. Mark was very enthusiastic about my idea, and said he’d do what he could. Which he did.

In the Fall of 2019, I asked Shane for a progress report. He said making the bowl was not the problem. The AB stem was going to be difficult to accurately replicate, and once they solved that problem, they would make the 4AB. Shane said to be patient as it would take some time before it would happen. Over the next two years, we had a few discussions about the project, and he was always optimistic that it would happen. Sykes Wilford seemed interested in it when we discussed it at the same show.

My patience has been rewarded. On Friday, December 3, Laudisi and Smoking Pipes are releasing five versions of the 4AB as the Pipe of the Year with hand crafted, very accurate specs. 500 in total were made. The three smooth models have brown, terracotta and natural finishes, along with a rusticated and a sandblasted version. I have one of each of the smooth versions. Since Rathbone smoked Wilke #515 in a dark brown 4AB, I will follow in his august foot steps in tribute to him. This is a transformative moment in my pipe smoking life and if it is in yours, you can thank all of known and unknown (to me) people involved in making this happen. Pardon me while I light up a piece of history that I waited forty-seven years to do.
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Highly informative, and a hugely enjoyable read. Thank you Jim 👍👌👏👏
 
Good morning my friends and fellow BoBs ☺️.
Today is a beautiful autumnal morning, and I just love it when the leaves start to change colours. So on this gorgeous morn, I'm going to fill a Peterson/Zippo collaboration billiard, with some EMP and a pot of Yorkshire Tea, as I wish you all a great day.
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Aussiemike said:
Yes mate a 75 series 1997 only done 90 000miles and ex ambulance so was lucky to have the 3rd door, before that I had a 70s 1985 beige petrol troopy for 21 years.
I also had a "shorty 40" Cut the rust out and painted it myself and put a soft top and alloy bolt ons and chromed all the hinges ect

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@Aussiemike those are awesome Land Cruisers, and I'm betting you've had a few pipe bowls in them. I now have a Jeep TJ, and they are definitely not as heavy duty as the Cruisers. I had a chance to buy an "Iron Pig" aka FJ55 for $600 usd once but didn't and kick myself everytime I think about it. Thanks man!
 
A cool breezy day, and I am having a bowl of Warped Cloudhopper in a slightly cleaned Peterson rusticated standard system with p-lip 302. Got a big day and evening ahead, as Mrs. Swede has decorated and hosting a get together for BBQ and fellowship tonight. I hope to have the fire pit and my kerosene lanterns going during the time people are here. I also may start my Firebox 5 inch wood cook stove at the mailbox to light the way for those coming for treats. It's like having a mini bonfire.
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Sutliff vanilla custard cream in my sir Hubert, I wanted to start early with the sweets. My drink is fancy green tea as usual.
Nobody else here at work today. I don't mind, I like the peace.
We had our first light dusting of snow here last night and my wife and I are hosting small Halloween party later today. It should be fun.
Happy Halloween BoB!
 
A third of the way through this bowl of pre-2014 Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend in a 2014 Basil Meadows smooth slight bend squashed tomato with an aluminum band and a black pearl acrylic stem in the military mount style. Fed all the ferals except for the absent Abner the Eager. Watching Mad Dog Russo.
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Enjoyed a tasty lunch, and am nearing the half way mark of this bowl of year 2020 Watch City Rouxgaroux in a smooth medium bend 2021 Peterson POTY Natural 4AB No. 6/500 military mount with a silver cap and a tapered black vulcanite AB stem. Gold Star Papua New Guinea, neat, is my drink. Getting ready to clean a few pipes.
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A quarter of the way through this bowl of year 2016 Wessex Gold Brick in an undated straight black sandblasted Kevin Arthur brandy with a multi-colored accent on the white acrylic saddle stem. This pipe was originally owned by Sante “FishnBanjo” Guiliani. Got busy doing stuff, so I haven't cleaned pipes yet, but I will before long. Listening to Mad Dog Russo on the XM.
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