The Pipe of the Voyageurs is designed for wilderness exploration. The inspiration for the design comes from the Voyageurs, who were those engaged in hauling furs in the Canadian wild during the fur trade era.
Learn more about the Voyageurs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyageurs
From the article Through the Lens of History: French: The working language in the West, by Jean Delisle
“The voyageurs paddled 15 to 18 hours a day while remaining in good spirits. Every four or five kilometres, they took a break to relax and smoke a pipe. The distance covered between stops ended up being called a pipe. Incidentally, voyageurs always had a pipe with them and are generally depicted with one.”
In the style of the pipes most often painted into the mouths of the Voyageurs, this design is mean’t to be small, durable, and lightweight, perfect for fitting into a hiking pack or inside pocket.
The bowl is made from African blackwood, which shares the same durability and moisture resistant qualities of the bamboo stem. This pipe can be dropped in the snow or on wet ground and not be damaged, the stem is fitted with water proof epoxy resin, with an extra long tenon on the inside of the stem joint. The bamboo stem is roasted and fitted in a way to reduce cracking in extreme conditions. The custom pouch is made from reclaimed leather.
I've included some close up images to reveal the beautiful details in the bamboo, which has been selectively sanded down to reveal a gradient in both colour and texture.
Dimensions:
Length: 7-3/4"
Hieght: 1-1/2"
Bowl diameter: 5/8"
Bowl depth: 15/16"
Materials:
Bowl: African blackwood
Shank extension: African Blackwood
Stem: roasted bamboo
Mouthpiece: bocote, african blackwood