|
|
Post by stillerrlerenin on Mar 11, 2019 20:04:22 GMT -5
I just got a "new old stock" Dr.Grabow Omega, and am honestly surprised with how well it smokes. Can anybody help identify what year it was made, or pherhaps their experience with omegas? imgur.com/gallery/Ln02Fx3 |
|
|
|
Post by unknownpipesmoker on Mar 11, 2019 20:06:51 GMT -5
Coulda put it in the same old thread guy, but yeah, its a great pipe.
Just be careful reaming it because the Briar is NOT THE SAME QUALITY you get with the European pipes etc, they're just not.
That said, its a great pipe. You can overream very very easily.
|
|
|
|
Post by McWiggins on Mar 11, 2019 20:10:12 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by roadsdiverged on Mar 11, 2019 20:11:44 GMT -5
*crickets*
|
|
joeman
Full Member
Posts: 566
First Name: Joe
Favorite Pipe: Grabow Hillcrest
Favorite Tobacco: Sutliff Barbados Plantation
Location:
|
Post by joeman on Mar 11, 2019 20:30:31 GMT -5
That Omega was likely made in the last 10 years, based on the tooling used to do the rustication.
|
|
joeman
Full Member
Posts: 566
First Name: Joe
Favorite Pipe: Grabow Hillcrest
Favorite Tobacco: Sutliff Barbados Plantation
Location:
|
Post by joeman on Mar 11, 2019 20:31:31 GMT -5
Coulda put it in the same old thread guy, but yeah, its a great pipe. Just be careful reaming it because the Briar is NOT THE SAME QUALITY you get with the European pipes etc, they're just not. That said, its a great pipe. You can overream very very easily. Where does your info come from about their briar quality and source? |
|
|
|
Post by Legend Lover on Mar 12, 2019 6:45:46 GMT -5
Nicely picked up. Is this the same pipe or a different pipe, stillerrlerenin? If it's the same pipe I'll merge the threads. |
|
|
|
Post by dave g on Mar 12, 2019 6:52:13 GMT -5
Coulda put it in the same old thread guy, but yeah, its a great pipe. Just be careful reaming it because the Briar is NOT THE SAME QUALITY you get with the European pipes etc, they're just not. That said, its a great pipe. You can overream very very easily. Grabow’s are made from aged Mediterranean briar, the same as many higher priced pipes. The newer Dr G’s may not have the fit and finish of a $500 pipe, but I’d bet a bowl of Penzance a new Royalton smokes just as well. |
|
|
|
Post by unknownpipesmoker on Mar 12, 2019 7:19:46 GMT -5
Coulda put it in the same old thread guy, but yeah, its a great pipe. Just be careful reaming it because the Briar is NOT THE SAME QUALITY you get with the European pipes etc, they're just not. That said, its a great pipe. You can overream very very easily. Where does your info come from about their briar quality and source? Personal experience. The wood is just not as good. I am not sure about the source. I am not sure I have ANY Algerian briar pipes, but those are supposed to be the best. I have no idea where grabow gets their briar from thesedays. |
|
|
|
Post by unknownpipesmoker on Mar 12, 2019 7:22:14 GMT -5
Mine overreamed at room temperature with the same tool I've always used. Never had that problem with a pete, gbd, Sav. Grabows are budget pipes made with budget materials. The stem is abs, for example. That said, they're probably still the best pipes for the money you spend.
|
|
joeman
Full Member
Posts: 566
First Name: Joe
Favorite Pipe: Grabow Hillcrest
Favorite Tobacco: Sutliff Barbados Plantation
Location:
|
Post by joeman on Mar 12, 2019 8:06:52 GMT -5
Grabow sources their briar from the same suppliers in Italy and Greece that European pipe makers get their briar from. I can’t speak to your reaming experience, but I own three Omegas, and I’ve refurbished and reamed 20 or more of them for other people. I do agree regarding the current Omega stem; they use ABS stems for Omega these days, but they still use quality rubber and lucite stems for many of their pipes.
|
|
|
|
Post by unknownpipesmoker on Mar 12, 2019 11:02:24 GMT -5
Grabow sources their briar from the same suppliers in Italy and Greece that European pipe makers get their briar from. I can’t speak to your reaming experience, but I own three Omegas, and I’ve refurbished and reamed 20 or more of them for other people. I do agree regarding the current Omega stem; they use ABS stems for Omega these days, but they still use quality rubber and lucite stems for many of their pipes. I love my Grabow pipes. I own several. But there's no way I can compare them to any major European manufacturer that sells pipes for 100 usd and up. Perhaps it is good Mediterranean briar. But it's not always about the wood itself, but how the pipe is actually made. A Grabow pipe IS the best fifty dollar pipe out there. Those Mr Brog pipes don't come close. I think all new pipe smokers should start with cobs and then movie up to Grabows. I don't mean to ruffle any feathers here. They're good pipes, but they aren't GBD quality. |
|
|
|
Post by PhantomWolf on Mar 12, 2019 11:13:53 GMT -5
I don't think that I've smoked and reamed any of my pipes enough at this point to be able to speak to a difference. My Royalton seems like a beast though.
Only down side is the stem material. The bit feels sharp in my mouth. I don't like to use rubber bits either. I don't like how slobbery they get. Haha
All that asside, I smoke that pipe almost daily. An Omega may actually be my next pipe.
|
|
chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,912 
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
Location:
|
Post by chasingembers on Mar 12, 2019 13:11:08 GMT -5
Coulda put it in the same old thread guy, but yeah, its a great pipe. Just be careful reaming it because the Briar is NOT THE SAME QUALITY you get with the European pipes etc, they're just not. That said, its a great pipe. You can overream very very easily. That's right, it's better. During my most recent culling, my two Dunhills went into the trash, still have the Grabows. |
|
|
|
Post by sperrytops on Mar 12, 2019 13:32:26 GMT -5
Coulda put it in the same old thread guy, but yeah, its a great pipe. Just be careful reaming it because the Briar is NOT THE SAME QUALITY you get with the European pipes etc, they're just not. That said, its a great pipe. You can overream very very easily. Where does your info come from about their briar quality and source? There was a thread some months back where the head pipe maker for a recently closed down English pipe maker gave a significant amount of detail about differences between Greek, Italian and Algerian briar. It was fascinating. I went looking for it, but sadly could no find. I recall it was not that they represented different quality levels, but they had different wood characteristics and were used for different types of pipes. Wish I could find it. There was quite an amazing amount of material on briar sourcing, curing, aging etc. Maybe someone else knows where it is. |
|
|
|
Post by sperrytops on Mar 12, 2019 13:49:37 GMT -5
I think the pipe maker that closed down that I was referring to was Upshall's.
|
|
joeman
Full Member
Posts: 566
First Name: Joe
Favorite Pipe: Grabow Hillcrest
Favorite Tobacco: Sutliff Barbados Plantation
Location:
|
Post by joeman on Mar 12, 2019 14:09:43 GMT -5
No feathers ruffled...just wanted to balance it with what I know of their briar sourcing. And I'm glad you appreciate Grabows...you're right...for the price, hard to beat.
I agree also on the Royalton bit. It's good quality lucite, but they cut their buttons rather thick and they're a bit sharp on the edges. It's easy to smooth the edges down with needle files and wet-sanding, but I do agree.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Location:
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2019 14:20:32 GMT -5
Nicely picked up. Is this the same pipe or a different pipe, stillerrlerenin ? If it's the same pipe I'll merge the threads. Will the real owner of this pipe please stand up?!?! That’s like the old TV show “ To Tell The Truth “. |
|
|
|
Post by stillerrlerenin on Mar 12, 2019 15:15:16 GMT -5
Nicely picked up. Is this the same pipe or a different pipe, stillerrlerenin? If it's the same pipe I'll merge the threads. It is the same pipe |
|
joeman
Full Member
Posts: 566
First Name: Joe
Favorite Pipe: Grabow Hillcrest
Favorite Tobacco: Sutliff Barbados Plantation
Location:
|
Post by joeman on Mar 12, 2019 16:22:01 GMT -5
Prior to the last few several years, Grabow did use good rubber stems for Omega. I've been fortunate to nab spaded vulcanite stems for the 3 Omega's I've got. You'll know them when you see them...slightly thinner...and usually a bit oxidized (from use).
|
|
|
|
Post by JimInks on Mar 12, 2019 16:33:02 GMT -5
I have three Omegas from the 1970s and two are very good smokers. The third has a problem with the stem and I can't get a pipe cleaner through it. Otherwise, it's a decent smoker.
|
|
joeman
Full Member
Posts: 566
First Name: Joe
Favorite Pipe: Grabow Hillcrest
Favorite Tobacco: Sutliff Barbados Plantation
Location:
|
Post by joeman on Mar 12, 2019 16:35:12 GMT -5
I have three Omegas from the 1970s and two are very good smokers. The third has a problem with the stem and I can't get a pipe cleaner through it. Otherwise, it's a decent smoker. I bet you know someone who'd take care of that for you. |
|
|
|
Post by JimInks on Mar 12, 2019 16:49:06 GMT -5
I have three Omegas from the 1970s and two are very good smokers. The third has a problem with the stem and I can't get a pipe cleaner through it. Otherwise, it's a decent smoker. I bet you know someone who'd take care of that for you. I certainly do. Thanks, Joe. |
|
