Ming Legacy Pipes?

I occasionally receive emails from folks regarding the Ming Legacy line of pipes that have been in the works for years.  Let me take this opportunity to tell you a bit more.

A number of years back, just shy of five, I announced that I would begin efforts aimed at pipe making beyond the 25 or so kit pipes that I have carved.  Towards that end I have carved a number of pipes from scratch experimenting and trying to create something unusual that will smoke well.  So far my efforts have been based on a very unusual path to follow, one with plenty of precedent:  the one piece all briar pipe.  My inspiration for this type of pipe came from Tom Eltang and Todd Johnson and a couple of all briar ukulele shaped pipes made by them that I am proud to own.  So far my efforts have gone in that direction, and, I’ve got to say that it is quite an enjoyable direction. 

While I suppose that my efforts will eventually be aimed at more traditional construction, for now pipes such as the ukulele/volcano variant that you see above keep me happy.  That pipe was the first that I carved (from scratch) and is the only one that I will show, for now.  It really is a fine smoker, smoking like a far larger pipe than its current 4.11 inch length.

Unfortunately the photo above will have to do for now sp as to satisfy anyone’s curiosity. I’ve had some primo briar aging for well over four years, and some time in the future I may even use some of it and formally throw my hat in the pipe making ring.  The thing is that pipe making isn’t a real big priority with me, it’s just something that I’d like to do on a very limited basis. I may sell some, or I may not, or heck, maybe I’ll just throw an occasional pipe in with a tamper order. Who knows?  It all remains to be seen.  That’s the fun part.