Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: JW_Halverson on June 04, 2012, 11:31:03 pm

Title: Briar pipe
Post by: JW_Halverson on June 04, 2012, 11:31:03 pm
I rarely smoke, and when I do I prefer a pipe.  After seeing the pipe that was used by the Devil Anse character in the recent Hatfield/McCoy series I have a hankering to make a briar pipe from scratch.  I've researched a little online and think it is something I could probably do.

Does anyone in here have experience making a briar pipe?  How about a source for a native North American briarwood, or other wood choice?

Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: RidgeRunner on June 05, 2012, 01:18:43 pm
Funny you should bring this subject up now.
A while back I dug up a huge Briar Root (smilax).
I was under the impression that Briar Root pipes were made from....well Briar Roots.
After seening your post I looked into it a bit... Briar Root pipes are not made from Briar Roots at all but some type of super hard wood that comes from over seas.....
 
Now what am I going to do with that Briar Root????  It is almost the size of a Basketball.

David
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: JW_Halverson on June 05, 2012, 05:14:54 pm
Send it to George Stoneberg in Texas.  He'll try tillering anything.
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: Josh B on June 05, 2012, 05:25:50 pm
I have some chunks of super burly walnut you could try.  I haven't tried it myself.  But it is some beautifully figured stuff.  Let me know if you want some.  Josh
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: Josh on June 05, 2012, 05:31:49 pm
Send it to George Stoneberg in Texas.  He'll try tillering anything.
LOL ;D  I literally choked on my sweet tea when I read this.  ;D

not to change the subject but that Hatfield and McCoy was the best show I have seen on TV in a LOOOOONG time.
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: JW_Halverson on June 05, 2012, 05:32:26 pm
That sounds great, Doc.  Can I get a piece 8" wide by 66" long in 10/4 stock?  I got a .54 cal octagon pipestem that would go look great with it!

I imagine walnut burl might work. 
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: Pat B on June 05, 2012, 05:51:17 pm
Mountain Laurel(Kalmia latafolia)root is supposed to be almost as good as Meerschaum for making pipe bowls. It grows all over the mountains here in our neck of the woods.
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: Josh B on June 05, 2012, 06:05:25 pm
That sounds great, Doc.  Can I get a piece 8" wide by 66" long in 10/4 stock?  I got a .54 cal octagon pipestem that would go look great with it!
 I imagine walnut burl might work.

Send me your address and I will send you a piece for a tobacco pipe.  I'll have to dig through the stash on the .54 cal.  Pipe.  Which I need to do anyway for a couple thunderstick projects of my own.  Of course, you would only be interested in straight grain stuff right?  I'm sure you wouldn't want any burl  or fiddle back junk.  Would ya? >:D. Josh
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: JackCrafty on June 05, 2012, 06:55:01 pm
I've made a couple of pipe bowls from mesquite wood.  Worked really well.  Still have one of them.  I hear apple wood works good too.
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: bubby on June 05, 2012, 07:53:11 pm
Send it to George Stoneberg in Texas.  He'll try tillering anything.
LOL ;D  I literally choked on my sweet tea when I read this.  ;D

not to change the subject but that Hatfield and McCoy was the best show I have seen on TV in a LOOOOONG time.
that's what i thought too, Bub
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: gstoneberg on June 06, 2012, 05:26:41 am
Send it to George Stoneberg in Texas.  He'll try tillering anything.
::) ::) John, you crack me up!  ::) ;D
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: jthompson1995 on June 06, 2012, 08:04:21 am
A pipe is on my (long) to do list as well. I saw an Osage pipe online that looked awesome. I've put aside a few chunks of Osage and walnut to dry for when I can get to that project.
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: Badger on June 06, 2012, 01:48:16 pm
  I have made a fw pipes from onknown burls I collected at the tree trimmers dump. Some kind of bush, have also made them from maple burl and osage. Both the maple burl and the osage developed cracks.
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: darwin on June 06, 2012, 02:15:48 pm
I have always liked pipes ever since I was little and read the hobbit I thought about how cool it would be to sit on my front porch and blow smoke rings. I have thought about making one but I stopped smoking about a year ago when my dad had a heart attack before he turned 50 ( not trying to rip on smokers, he didn't even smoke) but since heart disease runs strong in my family I though best not to push it. Dads fine now and I still have the urge to build a pipe might try to even though I won't smoke it

Also hatfields and mccoys was pretty awesome
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: JW_Halverson on June 06, 2012, 09:50:41 pm
I'm a reformed smoker, too.  But now and then, when sitting around the campfire and the coals have died down I just want a few pulls on a small bowl of cavendish long cut. 

That and I want yet another half finished project taking up space on my bench.   >:(
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: IsaacW on June 07, 2012, 02:31:00 pm
Is that foreign wood what they use now and briar USED to be briar?  Just a thought.  I suppose any burl would work.  I just made a couple from cherry.

IW
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: criveraville on June 08, 2012, 12:07:07 am
JW,

When I lived in California and I was all of 18 I went into a gas station that had pipes. I had always wanted one because I liked the way it smells. I pointed to the pipe I wanted and the clerk redirected me to the "pot" pipes. I said. No I really want one of those granpa looking pipes. He still asked, "man are you sure?"

Yep. I was a happy kid with my $4 pipe and apple aroma  :laugh:

Cipriano
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: IsaacW on June 08, 2012, 01:06:30 am
Yup... I have always loved pipes,their smoke, and their smell.  I have had one since I was 2y.o.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/waltei/littlemeandhugh.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/waltei/littleme.jpg)
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: wasanchez on June 09, 2012, 03:02:10 am
I've got a little chunk of mesquite that I plan on using for a pipe.  For whatever reason I have a fascination with mesquite, plan on building a bow with one day if I can ever find a piece long and straight enough.... tall order.

Walt
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: gstoneberg on June 09, 2012, 06:13:57 am
I love mesquite too. I think every bow I've made since moving to Texas has had mesquite tip overlays. I brought home 1 piece about 4' long I thought might be straight enough for bow billets but as it dried it got crookeder.. :o  Good luck, I hope one of us finds a bow worthy piece.

George
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: H Rhodes on June 09, 2012, 11:09:58 am
I bet persimmon would work. Pretty wood and hard stuff.
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: JW_Halverson on June 09, 2012, 02:30:35 pm
I brought home 1 piece about 4' long I thought might be straight enough for bow billets but as it dried it got crookeder.. :o George

I thought that was your goal?   >:D
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: gstoneberg on June 09, 2012, 05:38:18 pm
Nah, that's just with osage. ;)

G
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: mcginnis6010 on June 10, 2012, 12:35:54 am
Anyone think cherry wood would make a good pipe BC I got a ton of that.
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: bowtarist on June 10, 2012, 11:23:38 pm
"Devlin Anes" huh?  There is a great story about him in a Manly Wade Wellman sci-fi from the early days.  Wonder if they have the hatfield/mecoy show @ the library yet?  I've not even heard of it, what's it on?  dpg
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: osage outlaw on June 11, 2012, 12:31:14 am
Derik, the Hatfields and the McCoys was a 3 part mini series on the history channel.  It was very good.  They have been replaying it on other channels. 
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: wasanchez on June 11, 2012, 12:33:21 am
Yes and it was EPIC!!!  You should try and catch it.

Walt
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: JW_Halverson on June 11, 2012, 10:58:26 pm
They have been replaying it on the Lifetime Channel.
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: bowtarist on June 12, 2012, 12:03:45 am
I haven't had a TV station in 12 years.  If they don't have it @ the library...I haven't had the chance to see it.   :-\  I'll look into it though.  I like that kinda shtuff. dp
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: Parnell on June 12, 2012, 12:25:24 am
I do love a good pipe, although I don't smoke anymore, much, myself.  I can make a jiffy pipe out of a lot of things, having been a crafty teenager.  My wife got my a "briar pipe" at an antique shop in Tennesse 3 years ago.  I got it squirreled away in an antique Phillie tin box.  It still smells like good tobacco even though it hasn't seen a fire in probably half that time.  I don't like the way smoke makes my lungs feel, but I sure love the smell.

I tell my wife that she shouldn't ride me too hard about inconsequential things or when I get too old to "git around" I'll resign myself to a rockin' chair, old whiskey and a pipe.  I'm not kiddin', either. ;)
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: JackCrafty on June 18, 2012, 02:58:31 pm
Found a picture of my mesquite pipe. :)

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/03-15-10/DSC_1656.jpg)
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: JW_Halverson on June 18, 2012, 11:48:03 pm
Now that's cool.  A sort of Church Warden style stem and a squatty little fat bowl.
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: IsaacW on June 19, 2012, 12:00:40 am
Runes?
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: JW_Halverson on June 19, 2012, 12:03:05 am
No, he did a good job and didn't ruin it.   >:D
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: JackCrafty on June 19, 2012, 12:45:44 am
Yes, I runed it. ;)

The short, squat bowl ensures that it doesn't tip over when I put it down and that it cannot hold too much tobacco (and overheat the wood).
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: IsaacW on June 21, 2012, 11:36:36 am
if you like the runes and since you have a Tolkein YouTube name, you will love this one...

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.392183144153478.83806.195065500531911&type=1

I am inspired to craft something similar.!!!

Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: JackCrafty on June 21, 2012, 12:13:30 pm
Thanks for that link Isaac!  Beautiful workmanship!! ;D
Title: Re: Briar pipe
Post by: IsaacW on June 21, 2012, 12:30:36 pm
Thanks for that link Isaac!  Beautiful workmanship!! ;D

No prob and I agree!  I think he is Czech.  I love the pattern welding on some of the blade... Way cool and old skool!  And that pipe isjustawesome!