GRC Curved, Semi-Rusticated Apple #12151390
Great proportions, good grain, typical Darius construction.  The
bottom of the shank is rusticated, in a discreet and handsome
manner.  The bowl size is considerable for this medium-small
pipe.  It's all flat-out comfortable.  New. Price: $395
5.25" long, bowl 1.65" high. Weight: 1 3/8 oz., 39 grams.
Julius Vesz Hand Cut #1261918SW
Julius has two lines of pipes, his Hand Made, which is his lower
priced line, and his Hand Cut.  This tall Billiard, almost a Stack,
was made in 1997 and is in near-new condition.  Used. $225
6.12" long, bowl 2.38" high. Weight: 2 5/8 oz., 74 grams.
Pulvers' Prior Briar
P.O. Box 61146
Palo Alto, CA  94306

Phone/Fax:
(650) 965-7403
Email:
mpulvers@aol.com
Pipe
Categories:
GRC Natural Grade C #7773  
Although we only shot one side of this pipe, it's certainly not for
deception as the other side has better straight grain, by far.  
With the natural stain, the grain will pop out beautifully when
smoking colors this pipe.  The stem, the finish, the feel all
conspire to make this a very comfortable pipe.  I also like the
fact that the inside of the bowl is uncoated.  You will read that
kind of statement a lot on this site.  It's just the way I feel.  It's
also the way Greg Pease feels, Rad Davis feels, those two
wonderful gentelmen from Sweden, Martin Vollmer and Anders
Nillson feel and many others.  Very prominent people also differ
and they're entitled to their misbegotten opinion, but I'll tell you
this: I don't think they have as reasoned an explanation for their
side of the discussion as Greg Pease has for ours.  He's my
go-to guy when it comes to well thought out arguments.  My
personal method is loud shouting.  (Yes, I know the Japanese
claim, probably correctly, that the first person to raise their
voice loses the argument.)  FYI, the white ferrule is actually part
of the stem, a stem extension rather than a shank extension.
6 1/8" long, bowl 1 3/4" high: Weight; 1.79 oz., 50.8 grams. New
Price: $345
Michael Lindner Long Shanked Lumberman #9614
This is the first Michael Lindner pipe we've had on our site in a
while, and it's about time.  You know my memory is hash by
now, but one of the very great pipe makers (it might well have
been Lars Ivarsson) called Michael the best of the U.S.
pipemakers.  That might be the case, and in any event, it can't
be far off.  Few have Michael's aesthetic sensibility and his
drive for perfection.  He even dresses carefully, which is not a
trait you'll find in, say, J.T. Cooke (or me.  Well, I do choose my
clothes somewhat carefully.  I look in the dryer, and if the
T-shirt is in there, I figure it is clean and worth wearing).  
You have to look carefully, and perhaps with an eye trained
better than mine, to discern the effort he puts into his creations.
 For instance, on this pipe, the button of the stem is softened
inside and out, so you'll never experience a rough touch on the
tongue.  The space between the stem and shank (and there  
really is no 'space' between them) is seamless.  The finish is
soft and warm to the grip.  Michael is not rushing his
production, I can tell you that.  This pipe has superb cross
grain, the placement being about as perfectly as possible,
across the shank and directly across the front of the bowl.  This
might not be a fancy shape (and the simplest looking shapes
are often the most difficult to realize) but it will be in somebody's
rotation for a long time. I can almost guarantee that. Grade B.
6 5/16" long, bowl 2" high: Weight; 1.53 oz., 43.5 grams. New.
Price. $725
Michael Lindner Bamboo Shank Prince Grade AA #9616
The beautiful straight grain all around this bowl accounts for
the fine double A grade Michael bestowed on this large Prince.
The same attention to detail that are given to all Lindner pipes
is evident here, especially on the critical stem.  
6 7/8" long, bowl 1 3/8" high: Weight; 2 oz., 56.8 grams. New.
Price. $1250
GRC #10271068
The straight grain up the sides of this pipe is what is
responsible for the a bottom that is absolutely reptilian.  In the
nature of full disclosure, there are two noticeable sand pits on
the upper left of the bottom photo.  These are not fills.  The
construction provides for an open draw and a very comfortable
hand feel.  The chamber diameter is not large, but it is fairly
deep and should provide a comfortably long smoke (a scientific
term, I believe, just like my thumb in the bowl as a precise,
universal form of measurement.  Some people don't
understand these things).  New. Price: $295  
6.5" long, bowl 1.5" high. Weight: 1.5 oz., 40 grams.
GRC Saucer #12151380
Darius told me to tell you that the button on this stem is drilled
out far more than in most pipes, thus, there is not a lot of
support on the side of the button, and thus this stem tip would
be susceptible to collapsing if you insist on holding this pipe in
your teeth.  It requires the support of your hand.  I don't
imagine that you will need to be reminded of this because the
stem is so round that it can not easily be held in the teeth.  Still,
I am reminding you of this because I do not want to hear any
sob stories if the owner of this pipe chomps on and depresses
the stem.  A forewarned you is a forearmed me.  Get it?
4.75" long, bowl 1.25" high. Weight: 1 5/8 oz., 45 grams.
New.  Price. $325
GRC Globe #12151384
I don't think "Globe" properly describes the shape of this bowl;
a fruit designation might be more accurate, but I can't think of
which fruit.  An apple?  An orange?  I'm accepting suggestions.
Regardless, as small pipes go, it's a winner.  Sometimes I can
predict how a pipe will do, and my prediction here is that this will
sell quickly.  (Of course, much more often, I'm wrong, but how
does that distinguish me from the rest of you slobs?  It doesn't.)
5" long, bowl 1.4" high. Weight: 1 1/4 oz., 36 grams. New. $410
GRC Bulldog #12151388  (SOLD 6/13/09)
If I was wrong in calling #1384 above a Globe, I'm really wrong
in calling this a Bulldog.  What, it has two beads around the
bowl and a diamond shank so it's a Bulldog? I don't think so.  
But again, I'm plumb out of intelligent descriptions.  I think it's a
great rendition of whatever it is.  Again, it's rather small, but not
at all tiny.  And yet again, the stem is flat and terrific.  New. $325
5.75" long, bowl 1.75" high. Weight: 1 1/8 oz., 32 grams.
GRC Stack #12151396
The stack shape mesmerizes me, and I have no idea why.  I
don't own any, and have no real desire to smoke one (I think I
tried once, and my recollection is that I couldn't keep it lit) but I
can easily understand why someone would want to collect
them.Also interesting is the illusion that this pipe is taller than it
is long.  It is not.  Finally, as difficult as it may be to properly
puff on, at least it is very, very open and will smoke as well as it
possibly could.  If you're a Stack devotee, this is for you.
4.8" long, bowl 3.4" high. Weight: 2 1/2 oz., 72 grams. New.
Price: $350
GRC #126264
You can see the great blast and the fine shape.  Despite it's
bend, with a little crick in the end of the cleaner, it goes through.
5" long, bowl 1.7" high. Weight: 1.25 oz., 37 grms. New. $295
GRC #1262062
If this were a big pipe, the curve seen above might seem a bit
over the top, but it's a small pipe, and is thus quite graceful.  
Despite the S of the curve, it provided a wide open draw.  The
bowl is deep and I can get my forefinger in it, so it will give a
lengthy enough smoke.  The grain shows up much better in
person than it does here.  New. Price: $330
5.5" long, bowl 1.6" high. Weight: .75 oz., 23 grams.
J.T.& D. Cooke #5102816
This wood capped pipe harkens back to the time when Jim was
still married to Debbie.  I hope I have her name right...it was a
bunch of years ago, now.  Although this pipe is still unsmoked,
it may have more value as a piece of U.S. pipe making history,
considering Jim's status in our pantheon of pipe makers.  If Jim
saw this pipe, and how badly it's drilled, he'd pay me not to
exhibit it.  New. Price: $300
5.6" long, bowl 2.28" high. Weight: 1.75 oz., 51 grams.
Elliott Nachwalter #6203132
Made in Vermont by the  peripatetic Elliott Nachwalter.  Open
draw and attractive forward-canted Egg shape.  The condition
is excellent.  Used. Price: $85
5.5" long, bowl 1.85" high. Weight: 1.25 oz., 35 grams.
JHW #6203122  (SOLD 5/10/09)
Sort of a free-hand Stack.  It's in exc. cond, with a good draw.
5.7" long, bowl 2.5" high. Weight: 1.25 oz, 35 grams.
Used. Price: $75
Connoisseur of N.Y.C. #9234153  (SOLD 5/25/09)
Not the gorgeously scuipted pieces that comprise Ed Burak's
museum quality shapes, this is nonetheless a handsome, used
pipe in exc. cond.  It does have a replacement stem, but Ed's
pipes aren't known for their stemwork, so there isn't much of a
fall-off here.  The draw on the pipe is adequate and almost
assuredly can be opened up easily for a great draw.  Used. $75
5.9" long, bowl 1.15" high. Weight: 1.25  oz., 36 grams.
Connoisseur #10244341
The rare Connoisseur from Ed Burak's NYC store.  The pipe is
in excellent cond.  I believe it's the Featherweight series, which
is priced, new, at $750 (or $795, I forget which.  Used. $175
5.3" long, bowl 2.4" high. Weight: 1.75 oz., 50 grams
Elliott Nachwalter from 1987 10244349
Exc. Cond. 5.8" long, bowl 1.9" high. Weight: 2 1/4 oz. $95
Pulvers' Prior Briar
P.O. Box 61146
Palo Alto, CA  94306

Phone/Fax:
(650) 965-7403
Email:
mpulvers@aol.com
Pipe
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Roush Grade 7 from 1992, 12174441
This was the 275th pipe Larry made for sale.  It has very good
cross grain (all you can see, of course, is the Bird's Eye) and a
wide-open draw.  The condition is excellent, everything being
clean and crisp (which is redundant verbiage if the condition is
already described as excellent).  Sterling Roush band. Used
5.2" long, bowl 2" high.  Weight: 2 1/8 oz., 62 grams. $600
Larry Roush Christmas Pipe Grade L3 #1304590BT (SOLD)
On the narrow sterling band is the word "Christmas" and on the
card that Larry includes with all new pipes is his wishes for a
Merry Christmas and the notice that this is the 2007 Christmas
Pipe.  Beyond that, this is a stellar, and sharp edged, ring grain
blast.  The bowl holds beautifully in the hand, and the draw is
open.  I'm not providing any discounts on a pipe like this, but
neither am I bumping up the price, and for a Roush specialty
pipe, you can bet that if it were submitted for bidding, it would
be driven up much higher than normal retail.  New. Price: $965
5" long, bowl 2.4" high. Weight: 2 5/8 oz, 76 grams
Roush Grade L2 #1304593BT  (SOLD 5/5/09)
I wanted to describe this shape as being whimsical, but I don't
think it's whimsical.  It's a bit more serious than would be implied
by calling it whimsical.  I don't know if I would call it "serious" but
at least that wouldn't be discordant.  Of course it has an open
draw.  What most appeals to me, however, is the very subtle
treatment he's given to the bowl, making one wonder whether
it's a panel, or not a panel and just panel-like.  It is this
in-between, thought provoking approach to shape that
separates Roush from every other pipe maker in the world, I
believe, and makes his genius, or artistry if you find that less
offensive.  In fact, it took this description to pull that out of me,
that thought-provoking, quizzical tone his pipes engender.  
There are some phenomenal shape-meisters out there, but
none is more original than Larry, and Larry does it without
reaching very far.  He stays right close to his small, pissant
town roots.  I love that about Larry and his pipes.  New.  $765
6.3" long, bowl 1.75" high.  Weight: 2 3/8 oz., 66 grams.
Ruthenberg #2274797GC
A brindle stem, thin silver band and and deep, almost ring-grain
blast with a wide-open draw make this an excellent example of
Brian's craftsmanship.  It's unsmoked and was made in '08.
5.6" long, bowl 1.9" high. Weight: 1 7/8 oz., 52 grams.
New. Price: $360
Grandson Trey, Revisited
Trevor Talbert Morta #2274875JA  (RESERVED)
Made in Bretagne (Brittany), France, which Trevor will soon be
leaving to return with his wife to the U.S.  He'll resume his
career as soon as he can get his machinery back here, and set
up his workshop, but that will take some time.  For now, you
have this piece, with a short bowl, but in excellent condition
available to you.  Used. Price: $175
5.8" long, bowl 1" high.  Weight: 1.25 oz., 37 grams.
John Hamilton McGrath #4105039MP
What you can't see from these photos is the one inch line of
rustication down the front of the pipe, done in a handsome
black, which contrasts well with the color of the sides of the pipe.
A compact sized pipe, but with good capacity in the chamber.
6" long, bowl 1.85" high.  Weight: 1.75oz., 48 grams New. $150
American by Mark Tinsky #4105178  (SOLD 5/25/09)
Because this has the "MT" on the bottom, it must have been
made when both he and Curt Rollar were making "American"
pipes.  It is dated 9-88 which also serves as the Registry no.
The grain is solid all around, and nearly all of it is straight grain.
The cond. is excellent, although there is a little indent, or mark,
on the button of the stem.  A bit odd and frankly, I can't feel it
with my finger tip, so maybe it is not indented.  In any case, it is
easily ignored.  Used. $75
5.8" long, bowl 2" high. Weight: 1.75 oz., 48 grams.
Joe Mariner #4105129 (SOLD 5/21/09)
Joe Mariner was one of California's premier pipe makers in the
late '70's and early to mid 1980's.   He made his reputation with
very elaborate freehands, which were expensive for the time.  
When that trend faded, Joe made classic shapes, and as you
can see, he could execute them quite well.  He may still be
making pipes, and if so, he is selling them from his own website.
 this Billiard is in like-new condition.  Used.  Price: $50
6" long, bowl 2" high.  Weight: 1 3/4 oz., 49 grams.
Elliott Nachwalter #4105136  (SOLD 6/5/09)
An attractive pipe from Pipeworks.  The condition is excellent
with just a single dark spot (but not any wear) on the rim.  An
open draw and a light weight and some pretty good grain. Used
5.5" long, bowl 2" high.  Weight: 1.5 oz., 45 grams. Price: $75
Columbia Italian Briar #4105141
Isn't this a handsome looking pipe?  It reminds me of a well
done Barling Quaint.  But it is not a Barling, or anything else I
recognize.  The Spade logo on the stem is the same as those
on Dr. Grabows, and perhaps this is a forerunner of the Dr.
Grabow strain.  It is quite old, with the stem button indicating
that the pipe was made between the two world wars.  It is
un-smoked, and pretty clearly the subject of a lot of hand work
with the stem of quite excellent material.  I'm reluctant to put
such a low price on this pipe, but there is not a large collector
community out there for Columbia briars.  New. Price: $75
5.6" long, bowl 1.8" high.  Weight:  1 oz., 28 grams.
Captain Warren #4105018
Other names for this shape, if I have it right, are "Major Dawes"
and "Underbore."  On this version, the briar cap is removable.
The stem is not original, but there was no logo on the original,
so it doesn't matter much.  This pipe is unsmoked and for what
it's worth, I have the original box for it.  New.  Price: $50.
6.2" long, bowl 2.6" high.  Weight: 1 3/4 oz., 50 grams.
Todd Johnson #5225404
4.7: long, bowl 1.95" high.  Weight: 2 1/4 oz., 63 grams.
New.  Price: $595
Todd Johnson #5225405
4.7" long, bowl 1.65" high.  Weight: 1.5 oz., 42 grams. New.
Price: $535
Todd Johnson #5225419
What you can not discern from a two dimensional image is that
this bowl is not round, but rather is oval, or maybe elliptical is a
more accurate description.  Because it is hand worked, it is not
a boring, perfect oval;  it has a lot of character.  The stem is
brindle.  As with all of Todd's pipes, as far as I know, it is
extremely well constructed, including an open draw.  New. $535
5.8" long, bowl 1.4" high.  Weight: 1 7/8 oz. 53 grams.
Paul Bonaquisti Sabbia #5225315
Paul has promised to sell me pipes for 2 or 3 years now, but
any number of obstacles kept him from being able to.  I
understood.  In one way, it's good that we had to wait.  He has
truly come into his own, with beautiful, deep blasts and shapes
that do a great job of delighting both the hand and eye.  I know
how hard he works at getting the very best available briar,
shipped in bags...very costly...from Italy, and aged for long
periods, so they are going to smoke great, as well.  Here's one
comfortable son-of-a-gun.  New.  Price: $400
5.7" long, bowl 1.95" high.  Weight: 2 1/8 oz., 61 grams.
Paul Bonaquisti Sabbia #5225320 (SOLD 6/7/09)
This pipe is a beautiful example of a Lovat.  The photo might
make the bowl look a little taller and slightly out of proportion.  It
is not.  Boy, does one's fingers want to wrap around that bowl.
A completely open draw, of course.  New. Price: $375
5.5" long, bowl 2.2" high.  Weight: 1 1/4 oz., 34 grams.
Paul Bonaquisti Sabbia Select XL #5225317 (SOLD 6/17/09)
Paul must be working diligently to get that wide open draw out
of his acrylic stems.  He's also working them so that they are
flat and thin and comfortable.  I'm not sure if anybody else is
doing them as consistently well, although sometimes Castello
does a good job in this arena.  Are there any new pipe makers
out there who are making Bulldogs?  Are there any that can?
5.9" long, bowl 1.75" high.  Weight: 2 oz., 55 grams. New. $475
Paul Bonaquisti Sabbia XL #5225316
This hangs nearly perfectly out of the mouth.  The blast is just
brimming with the character of the wood, truly reminiscent of
the unpredictable blasts that made the very old Dunhills shells
such a favored and sought-after pipe, then and now.  New.   
5.35" long, bowl 1.8" high.  Weight: 2 3/8oz., 66 grams. $425
Paul Bonaquisti Select Straight Grain #5225318 (SOLD)
Handsome is as handsome does.  This pipe is handsome, and
lo and behold, it sprouts straight grain all around.  Yes, of
course it has the open draw that typifies the Bonaquisti
construction.  That construction skill extends to the flat, thin
comfortable stem.  For this quality carving, and grain, Paul is
almost insanely underpriced.  New. $595
5.5" long, bowl 1.7" high.  Weight:  1 3/4 oz., 48 grams.
Roush S4 #5225323  (SOLD 6/10/09)
you can see the condition of this pipe, so I'm not going to waste
brain power describing that.  You can see the thickness of the
chamber walls, so ditto on that.  it's a Roush, so why tell you it's
well constructed.  What do you want to know, if you can get it at
half price?  You can't.  I can tell you that it has a superb ring
grain pattern.  6.5" long, bowl 2.1" high.  Weight: 3 3/4 oz. 105 g
Used.  Price: $475
Rad Davis #5225374
I was fortunate enough to cajole Rad into letting me buy some
more of his pipes for my site.  I also think the available choices
were good, but it is not for me to make that decision, but you.  
This pipe has a wide open draw and is light in weight while
having a good sized chamber.  New.  Price: $350
5.4" long, bowl 1.7" high.  Weight: 1.5 oz., 41 grams.
Rad Davis #5225375
The benefits to one of Rads pipes is that he does not coat the
bowl, he does not insult you by grading his pipes and his
construction provides for a wide open draw.  After that, it is up
to you whether you like the look and feel of them, but you can
be fairly well assured that once you have broken it in (and that
should not take much effort at all with a natural bowl) it will
smoke great.  That is why he has a devoted following. New.
5.95" long, bowl 1.6" high.  Weight: 2 oz., 56 grams. Price: $350
Rad Davis #5225376
Sort of a Woodstock or Yachtsman in shape.  The unstained
briar is complemented by the Brindle stem.  My partner, David
Field, allows for the use of "brindle" or "bowling ball" but not
"Cumberland."  He explains why in an article in "Pipes &
Tobaccos" but I can't remember what the reason is.  New. $310
5.7" long, bowl 1.95" high.  Weight: 1 1/4 oz., 36 grams.
Jody Davis Bishop #5225403  (SOLD 6/15/09)
I really know next to nothing about Jody Davis and his pipes
and when I saw that this was a "Bishop" I supposed that he
used chess pieces to grade his pipes.  Then I remembered that
Jody studied as a Theologian, so the possibility that he was
using religious figures as a grading system, much as the
Church does, occured to me, and I looked at his site, and the
latter guess is correct.  He appears to have 5 grades, with Friar
and Abbott being the two lowest, and Cardinal & Saint the two
highest.  Maybe a few rare pieces are designated "Pope."
Anyhow, this one is in the middle.  The condition is like-new and
I must say, the draw is about perfect.  Not only are very few of
the newer U.S. pipe makers making standard shapes, I can
think of absolutely none that is even attempting a Panel.  No
doubt about it, this kid can make a pipe.  Used. Price: $485
5.6" long, bowl 1.5" high.  Weight:  1 3/8 oz., 39 grams.