orley
Junior Member
Posts: 446 
First Name: Paul
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Post by orley on Aug 8, 2018 15:56:51 GMT -5
I was smoking one of my billiard shape pipes yesterday, and got to looking at it and thinking, how long has it been since I cleaned it? So I decided to go ahead and clean it and one other billiard shape that I'm quite fond of also. After cleaning them up, inside and out, I got to thinking about why I liked them so much. Both are rather obscure brands, one being an artisanal pipe, and the other a factory pipe. The long pipe is made by Craig Cooper of Colorado and was made in 2009. The other one, the short one, is from Ireland made by BPL. I initially thought it was a Peterson's sub-brand because I didn't know there had been other pipe makers in Ireland. I have no idea how old it is, but it's stamped BPL on the shank and stem, Abbey, Ireland, and Shannon Airport. So go figure. It is about 5 1/8" long with a 2 1/4" stem. The Cooper is 6" long with a 3 3/8" stem. I know there are numerous shapes based on the billiard, but these are what would think would be called classic shapes. They both smoke wonderfully, and I love this basic shape with the tapered stem rather than the saddle stem. The fact that they're both smooth finishes is not accidental either. I love a good sandblast or rusticated finish, but these with their odd grains speak to me for some reason.   So how about the rest of you guys and gals? Got a favorite billiard shape in your collections? |
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Post by monbla256 on Aug 8, 2018 16:18:31 GMT -5
I was smoking one of my billiard shape pipes yesterday, and got to looking at it and thinking, how long has it been since I cleaned it? So I decided to go ahead and clean it and one other billiard shape that I'm quite fond of also. After cleaning them up, inside and out, I got to thinking about why I liked them so much. Both are rather obscure brands, one being an artisanal pipe, and the other a factory pipe. The long pipe is made by Craig Cooper of Colorado and was made in 2009. The other one, the short one, is from Ireland made by BPL. I initially thought it was a Peterson's sub-brand because I didn't know there had been other pipe makers in Ireland. I have no idea how old it is, but it's stamped BPL on the shank and stem, Abbey, Ireland, and Shannon Airport. So go figure. It is about 5 1/8" long with a 2 1/4" stem. The Cooper is 6" long with a 3 3/8" stem. I know there are numerous shapes based on the billiard, but these are what would think would be called classic shapes. They both smoke wonderfully, and I love this basic shape with the tapered stem rather than the saddle stem. The fact that they're both smooth finishes is not accidental either. I love a good sandblast or rusticated finish, but these with their odd grains speak to me for some reason. So how about the rest of you guys and gals? Got a favorite billiard shape in your collections? Those are two FINE looking classics ! The billiard is a shape that is often overlooked in today's pipe world I feel. Randy Wiley once said that "... it was one of the hardest shapes to get right." I have 4, one tanshell Punto Oro, one tanshell Charatan Relif Grain, one Jumbo Edward's billiard and one BBB shell finished. Love 'em all !!  |
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Post by Stanhill on Aug 8, 2018 16:29:42 GMT -5
Two beautiful, classic Billards, Paul.
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Post by william on Aug 8, 2018 16:34:42 GMT -5
I too am a fan of traditional shapes. Those are beautiful.  |
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Post by peterd-Buffalo Spirit on Aug 8, 2018 16:39:12 GMT -5
….great looking pipes...I've had Craig make me several pipes and they're all outstanding!
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 8, 2018 16:42:34 GMT -5
Those are amazing pipes. I like that shape too. Of all the straight pipes, I thin I prefer the billiard best.
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Post by dave g on Aug 8, 2018 16:54:31 GMT -5
Great looking billiards, Orley. The billiard may not be the most exciting shape but in my opinion, nothing smokes better than a straight billiard. Here’s one of my favorite billiards. GBD was spot on with their vision of traditional shapes. Handcut Virgin.  |
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Post by Dramatwist on Aug 8, 2018 16:59:56 GMT -5
I love billiards. Make up the majority of my collection. Easy to smoke. Easy to clean. Classic.
Gorgeous pipes, Paul!
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Post by beardedmi on Aug 8, 2018 17:03:13 GMT -5
I have two billies, one is a mastro de paja classica rusticated and smokes as well as anything else in the stable. Its twin is a small cayuga oil cured made before Dan took over the shop and I constantly forget I have it.
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Post by trailboss on Aug 8, 2018 17:06:18 GMT -5
Beautiful examples of such a classic design! Randy Wiley isn’t the only pipe maker that has said that the billiard is one of the harder shapes to make, almost every pipemaker on the PM show has said the same thing.... which not being a pipemaker myself, goes against my conventional wisdom.  Is that the guy that has the forum name of CA Cooper (or something like that)? If so, he really knows a lot about our hobby. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2018 17:51:15 GMT -5
Paul, those are two beautiful billiard bowl pipes with a real good looking finish on both pipes. I have a few nosewarmer billiard pipes as well as over 6 1/2” billiard pipes...I like them all because of the deep chamber design 👍
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2018 20:28:26 GMT -5
I have had more Zone smokes in Billiards than any other shape.
When the general public thinks of pipes, I am certain they envision a Billiard.
Do I think their terrific? Yes I do.
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Post by antb on Aug 9, 2018 1:48:46 GMT -5
I love billiards. Make up the majority of my collection. Easy to smoke. Easy to clean. Classic. Gorgeous pipes, Paul! Same here. I don't really know how it happened, but so it is. Love my straight billiards. |
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Post by dave g on Aug 9, 2018 4:31:09 GMT -5
Sorry Orley. I wasn’t trying to hijack the thread. I thought we were supposed to post our favorite billiards too.
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Post by unknownpipesmoker on Aug 9, 2018 4:45:18 GMT -5
Ah. BPL. Disguised Peterson/Shamrock pipes. Regardless, you have good taste in pipes! They're both lovely and look like fine smokers. I prefer pipes with straight stems myself. Although I prefer the pot shape, which is basically just a different take on the classic billiard. The pot shape is getting even rarer now. Hardly ever see them. My next pipe will a Sav alligator. One of the straight ones not sure which one yet. Then onto my first Dunhill which shall be a pot made of root briar, if one exists. If not, a good bulldog will suffice.
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orley
Junior Member
Posts: 446
First Name: Paul
Location:
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Post by orley on Aug 9, 2018 6:30:21 GMT -5
Hi Dave, I didn't think you were trying to hijack the thread. In fact I was glad to see you post a photo, and was hoping others would do so too!
I appreciate all the comments from everyone else though, and am glad to hear of their love for the billiard shape.
I think that the basic billiard shape is certainly the basis for so many other pipe shapes. The pot shape is one of my favorites, although it doesn't seem to get a lot a love. I'm just glad that there are so many choices out there, but it doesn't help my PAD though!
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Post by william on Aug 9, 2018 7:08:30 GMT -5
I looked at this thread yesterday and came back this morning just to look again. Yep--those pipes are still beautiful. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 9, 2018 7:11:14 GMT -5
I looked at this thread yesterday and came back this morning just to look again. Yep--those pipes are still beautiful. They're the kind of pipes at which you've just gotta come back and have another look, aren't they. |
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Post by trailboss on Aug 9, 2018 16:31:40 GMT -5
One thing about the billiard, in a man’s mouth it has a masculine look, and to a woman, it can certainly play to her feminine side... think Millicent Fenwick.
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