My custom order Yakslon pipe arrived today! I am as happy as a pig in...what pigs play in.

Mail man just knocked on the door and had me sign for the package, it was packaged very well in it's own little cardboard box inside a padded shipping envelope. If memory serves, I sent Yuriy the first contact email on 3/5. He completed the pipe on or around 3/28, and ~12 days after date of completion it is on my doorstep. Amazing!

The pipe is just as if not more beutiful in person than it was in the pictures. VERY light weight and perfectly balanced, super comfortable bit. The prices Yuriy charges are a straight up bargain for the quality of his work. He mails them registered and trackable mail through the Ukraine post (which is dirt cheap) on his own dime, so shipping cost is not even a factor. Of course customs is always a concern in international shipping, but not really anything I was worried about with a pipe.

Gonna go smoke it now, just had to post since I was so excited. Here is a link to the photos Yuriy emailed to me when the pipe was completed, followed by a few pics I just took a couple minutes ago:

Yuriy's pics:

http://picasaweb.google.com/117305324068218746644/Rhodezian_Adam?feat=directlink#


Mine:

Frost,
Love the different textures on that pipe!!!
You have done well on this one. His work is spectacular!!!!!!!!!!!
If I may ask, what was the price range on this????
I have contacted Yakslon in the past about a custom for me. When the tax money hits my account, I will be pulling the trigger on one of his beauties!!!!!!!!!!!

Frost wrote:
He mails them registered and trackable mail through the Ukraine post (which is dirt cheap) on his own dime, so shipping cost is not even a factor. Of course customs is always a concern in international shipping, but not really anything I was worried about with a pipe.


Customs on this end is not a problem. I can assure you of that.

Frost
Great, awesome, beautiful, excellent, gorgeous, powerful move.
I like it. Good score. Frost.
I heard it whispering.
Ed

WOWOWOWOW

Very very nice pipe Frost! My hats off to Yuri, I'm still picking my jaw up off the floor!

I never, ever, say "egads." But the pics of your new pipe make me want to shout, "Egads, Frost, that is one sweet pipe!!"

Very Nice! There's something about that pipe, I know its brand new but it gives off this
vibe that its ancient, that its been here a very long time. I love the lines, it must have a great in hand feel. Please lets us know how she smokes.

^^^Thanks fellas!

The shape and lines are what really drew me to it, an awesome variation on the rhodesian to my eyes. That and the fact that Yakslon's rustication is so unique compared to what I am used to seeing, I like it as much as even some of the awesome sandblasts I see these days.

If the first bowl of Escudo is any indication, it will be a doozy of a smoker. If I remember I will come back and give my thoughts after I put it through it's paces a few times.

The escudo left a nice bit of carbon in the naked bowl, all the way down to the bottom. Unlike the Pete I just picked up which looked like I hadn't even smoked it after the first bowl...lol. Doesn't look like this one will take long to break in at all. Not sure how much of that can be credited to the tobacco itself though.

The bowl seems to be perfectly sized for the Escudo coins, one or two coins to fill it depending on the desired tightness of pack and length of smoke. I used one coin packed only slightly snug for a 1/2 bowl fill up to break it in...no idea how long the smoke was because I lost track of time...not that I usually have much track of it to begin with.

The drilling appears to be spot-on, a super fluffy cleaner passed easilly mid-smoke, although that was just to satisfy curiousity and not due to gurgle or anythying. The draw was effortless and carefree. Tried to take a pic to show the mortise/tenon junction thingy but the lighting around here isn't quite up to snuff.

Frost, YakSlon outdid himself! That pipe is one more gorgeous piece of work. I can't stop drooling on the keyboard!

That, dear Frost, is one sweet looking pipe. Score!!!

Even Buddha is freaking out over it in the pics!

Seriously, a very nice pipe!

That is an incredible looking piece!

Outstanding dark/light staining,,,,great grain,,,just a wonderful Rhodesian,,,,

That is a beautiful pipe. I hope she smokes just as good as she looks!

Frost, that is an amazing pipe. The shot of the ring grain on the bowl and the graining on the underside of the pipe makes me think of hand-hewn logs. Just beautiful! Enjoy