Happiness is a Bent Bulldog
Oct 15, 2018 22:00:17 GMT -5
peterd-Buffalo Spirit, isett2860, and 19 more like this
Post by bonanzadriver on Oct 15, 2018 22:00:17 GMT -5
I realize that this is in the Tobacco Shops area, and that at first blush the title seems to be about pipes, but in reality it's about both.
Back in July I posted about traveling to Manchester NH. One of the places I mentioned was Castro's Back Room...
thebriarpatchforum.com/thread/3904/pipe-travel-picture-heavy
While I was there I noticed two NOS Hardcastles they had for sale there.
Well, tonight I found myself back in Manchester. After dinner with my employee and his wife, I found my way back to Castro's.
I made my way back to the bar and enjoyed an Arturo 858, a nice cold beer and watched the GB SF game for an hour or so.
On the way out I asked the young man about the two Hardcastle Bent bulldogs I'd looked at before. He gladly produced them from the display case...
As you can see from the first photo, they were asking $100 for the sandblast Crescent and $125 for the smooth finish Midway.
These are both large pipes, probably comparable to Dunhill No. 6 or larger.
The sandblast's bowl is large enough for my thumb to go all the way in past the first knuckle and half way to the next. The smooth is a little narrower but just as deep. (And yes, before any of you smarty britches pipe up her, I do have pretty big hands. )
I chatted with the manager for a bit and explained, since my last visit I had done a little research and had found similar pipes going for about half of what they were asking. I further explained that I would much rather support a B&M that I like than to buy from a stranger on ebay.
He appreciated my statement and asked what I'd like to offer? I pondered for a bit and offered him $110 for the pair. Without hesitation he said yes. (I might have left some money on the table.
)
He told me that they had been there for 10 to 15 years, as far as he knew, and that he really appreciated that they were going to someone who was a true "Pipe Guy" like me.
In the end, I think we both are happy with the deal.
I realize that my job situation lends itself to me being able to frequent more cigar and pipe shops on a regular basis than many folks out there, but I just wanted to take a few moments here and give a "shoutout" to the boys @ Castro's Back Room in Manchester NH. Great folks, both staff and patrons, that make me feel welcome when I'm away from home.
Back in July I posted about traveling to Manchester NH. One of the places I mentioned was Castro's Back Room...
thebriarpatchforum.com/thread/3904/pipe-travel-picture-heavy
While I was there I noticed two NOS Hardcastles they had for sale there.
Well, tonight I found myself back in Manchester. After dinner with my employee and his wife, I found my way back to Castro's.
I made my way back to the bar and enjoyed an Arturo 858, a nice cold beer and watched the GB SF game for an hour or so.
On the way out I asked the young man about the two Hardcastle Bent bulldogs I'd looked at before. He gladly produced them from the display case...
As you can see from the first photo, they were asking $100 for the sandblast Crescent and $125 for the smooth finish Midway.
These are both large pipes, probably comparable to Dunhill No. 6 or larger.
The sandblast's bowl is large enough for my thumb to go all the way in past the first knuckle and half way to the next. The smooth is a little narrower but just as deep. (And yes, before any of you smarty britches pipe up her, I do have pretty big hands. )
I chatted with the manager for a bit and explained, since my last visit I had done a little research and had found similar pipes going for about half of what they were asking. I further explained that I would much rather support a B&M that I like than to buy from a stranger on ebay.
He appreciated my statement and asked what I'd like to offer? I pondered for a bit and offered him $110 for the pair. Without hesitation he said yes. (I might have left some money on the table.
) He told me that they had been there for 10 to 15 years, as far as he knew, and that he really appreciated that they were going to someone who was a true "Pipe Guy" like me.
In the end, I think we both are happy with the deal.
I realize that my job situation lends itself to me being able to frequent more cigar and pipe shops on a regular basis than many folks out there, but I just wanted to take a few moments here and give a "shoutout" to the boys @ Castro's Back Room in Manchester NH. Great folks, both staff and patrons, that make me feel welcome when I'm away from home.
Just sayin 
