Stanwell - 2005 Christmas Year Pipe (Boxed)

This is the pipe of the year produced specially for 2005 by Stanwell, perhaps the brand that aims for the highest quality among factory pipes. From the sterling 925 silver on the mouthpiece and shank right through to the workmanship, it is a truly wonderful estate pipe.

This pipe belongs to a friend from our community, so I know how it was smoked: a very clean, very high-performing, special pipe. 
 

Briar Quality
 

Very Poor
Poor
Not Bad
Good 
Very Good ✅
Excellent
 

Draft Hole (Air Hole): Drilled flush with the chamber floor and dead center in the chamber. Perfect, in a word.
 

Shank: Very clean. Still light in color. From this we can tell it is a pipe in excellent condition.
 

Chamber Cleanliness: There is a very thin cake layer, not worth reaming, and it has formed evenly. This cake layer will be helpful in your own process.
 

Flaws: None. 

Score: 9/10
 

Comment: A flawless pipe with exactly the workmanship it should have and every quality one looks for in an estate pipe. The briar has been sandblasted in what I would call ring grain, and the blasting work is of a very high standard.
 

Note: Any pipe in which you do not build a cake layer will run hot unless you keep a very, very slow and systematic pace. Heat is not a valid criterion for pipes without a cake.