Pipe Smoking Tobacco

Recently, I was looking for a good value pipe (as I most always do)--and I discovered a new line from Savinelli called the "Venezia" pipe. It is made from good grade of briar, is naturally stained a plum/dark reddish color--and is finished in matte. The price is very reasonable, and my favorite so far is a shape 101 Billiard. The reason the pipe is one of my favs is that after handling and smoking the pipe for a few weeks(between resting and cleaning) the surface finish changed dramatically: It went from a matte to a rich, shiny patina finish--something you just can't get unless you get a really great and rare estate, that was not thrashed by someone. Note: it takes a very hard grade of briar to achieve the matte finish--the process by which it's done would not work well with really soft, green briar wood, but on the contrary--this pipe finish requires a hard briar burl from the start. My pipe has no "blank spots of the grain"--it has beautiful grain coverage around the entire pipe (no soft spots or sap wood)--so it will be easier to break in. The mouthpiece (vulcanite) was extremely well polished right out the box. If you compare the Savinelli Duca Carlo to the Venezia, the Venezia is made from a higher grade of wood. Personally, I believe the Venezia is made out of better wood than the Pisa. Experience tells me that usually a pipe with a light colored stain is made out of superior wood, as the pipe makers have a harder time hiding possible flaws, with a better visibility of the grain, that the lighter stains afford. Get yourself a Venezia, try it out and enjoy it, they are very reasonable in price--and see what you think. I bought mine from Gene, at
www.Outwesttobacco.com
Enjoy Fine Tobacco in a Great Pipe! -Eric