This was about my best briar, to date. I just missed, by less than a millimeter, a root inclusion over on the port side that was about the size of a pencil, all rotted and crumbling away.

But the grain really cooperated with me on this one.



And this one I'm calling "Pollywog".



Dang, it feels good to get a few completed for a change.

The pollywog is nice, but I really like the calabash.

Chops. I see chops on display, big time. Your sense of line and proportion is noteworthy, PierrePerkins. Both pipes are classic in feel, while progressive in actual shape. Nice trick. All the technical stuff looks to be well in hand, too.

Excellent work there, Robert!

Great looking pipes.

Rad

Wow, Robert, these are beautiful!

Very nice lines, and excellent use of grain in the first one. These are both very fine pieces. Is it just me with my head in the sand, or have your skills taken a huge jump on these last few, and especially these two?

I can't wait to see more!

Wow, thanks guys.


I have been trying to figure out how's the best way to answer this one without coming off like a jerk or sounding like I am boasting or whatever, so I'll just say thanks, here, too.

Really cool Robert! I love the Pollywong! Great flow!

Excellent pipe work and great pix too.

Very Nice!
I especially like the Pollywog! Is that tagua nut?

I think everyone has already said it, Robert - great job. I just wanted to chime in and let you know how much I dig the shank and stem on the pollywog. That's a stunning transition, and is a really interesting arrangement. How in the heck did you manager to keep it symmetrical?

Thanks, sprangalang. Actually, it's Corian.


Thanks, Kurt. As far as keeping things symmetrical, I guess it was the fact that I made two stems that I scrapped before I made this one. So by the time I made the third one, I had this shape etched in my mind, pretty much.