Bruyere Guarante

[lgoldberg]

I saw a pipe with this insignia on it at our local antique mall. I got the crabby owner to open the case for me; always a treat, and he gives a good dose of harumphing each time to be sure you are aware of the inconvenience.
Anyway, the pipe looked neat, but when I got it in my hand it felt so light I thought it was plastic. Not wanting to suffer Grumpy's exasperation with me if I stood there and researched online, I simply passed.
It was $22 and seemed to be in good shape, but smoked. I did look it up later, and it seems to be a real thing, this Bruyere. Did I pass up a gem? Should I go back?

 

[Zeno Marx]

Funny. I considered starting a thread about jerky retailers. Not too long ago, I emailed an online shop about a pipe. I asked for an additional picture or two and if it had any fills. they only had one small photo that you could not enlarge. In my request, I thanked them for the trouble and did not ask them to hold the pipe or anything else, just that it looked interesting and wanted more information. It hadn't even been 15 hours, and I get an email that was all of, "Do you want it or not??" I did end up buying a pipe from them a few months later, but what the heck? Take 'er easy, big fella. Ask that kind of pushy question 3 days from then...AND NICELY. I don't get these sellers of anything that don't realize my money is a privilege if I choose to spend it with you. As if they're doing us a favor by existing.

I can remember my first Dr.Grabows feeling like plastic. When I later got into nicer pipes and didn't smoke them anymore, I even stomped on one of them with my heel to break it open to see, because to be honest, I was never 100% convinced it was wood. It was. Sorry I showed those pipes so much disrespect. I don't think I'd be smoking them now, but destroying one of them for curiosity's sake was a little over the top.

 

[ftrplt]

I've run across many older briars with this, or closely similar, stamping. Just means "Real Briar" as opposed to some other wood. The "guarante" or sometimes "guarantee" is frequently seen on older Meers signifying the amber stem is real amber! FWIW, FTRPLT

 

[lgoldberg]

I guess if it doesn't feel good in my hand, I probably shouldn't spend the money.

 

[Idlefellow]

Did you post a logo pic? If so I can't see it. A quick google of "Byuyere Guarante (Garantie?)" will give you some info; it could be a pipe by a French maker, or another brand just using the term. I always snap a quick cell phone pic or two of something I might want to research further. Never had a dealer refuse me doing that; if they ever do I'll say "let me take the pics and I may or may not be back later, but if you don't I for sure won't be." Already sounds like you have some misgivings though.

 

[lgoldberg]

Did you post a logo pic? If so I can't see it. A quick google of "Byuyere Guarante (Garantie?)" will give you some info; it could be a pipe by a French maker, or another brand just using the term. I always snap a quick cell phone pic or two of something I might want to research further. Never had a dealer refuse me doing that; if they ever do I'll say "let me take the pics and I may or may not be back later, but if you don't I for sure won't be." Already sounds like you have some misgivings though.

I didn't think fast enough.

 

[lgoldberg]

Okay, I went back today. (you know what's coming...)

Grumpy Owner was somewhat less grumpy today, which is a good thing, because I couldn't find the case after wandering around for 10 or 15 minutes, and I had to ask him where it was (I remembered the number, at least.) Turned out the vendor moved it to a different part of the room, in a corner. Someone had busted the lock on the case, he said, which is a good thing, because he didn't have the case keys with him, and he'd have had to go back to the front desk, and then I would have Been In Trouble.

I just decided to buy the thing and figure out what it is later. Here are some pics for your enjoyment, and hopefully I'll get educated.

I've no idea what the screwy insert is for. Never seen that.

 

[lgoldberg]

Okay, I went back today. (you know what's coming...)

Grumpy Owner was somewhat less grumpy today, which is a good thing, because I couldn't find the case after wandering around for 10 or 15 minutes, and I had to ask him where it was (I remembered the number, at least.) Turned out the vendor moved it to a different part of the room, in a corner. Someone had busted the lock on the case, he said, which is a good thing, because he didn't have the case keys with him, and he'd have had to go back to the front desk, and then I would have Been In Trouble.

I just decided to buy the thing and figure out what it is later. Here are some pics for your enjoyment, and hopefully I'll get educated.

I've no idea what the screwy insert is for. Never seen that. The pipe did look better to me this time; I guess I was in a mood before.

How do you delete a post? This one was an error.

 

[Charley Scanlan]

I've no idea what the screwy insert is for. Never seen that.

That's a beauty, it has kind of a van Gogh stroke to it, I've never seen that tenon either.

 

[lgoldberg]

I googled "spiral tenon" and got to this site: The different kinds of filters available

I guess that's cosidered a metal 'filter' , but I think all it does is allow deposits to build up on it, as opposed to actually filtering anything.

 

[Charley Scanlan]

I googled "spiral tenon" and got to this site: The different kinds of filters available

Nice link, I've been using the keystone filters on every bowl I smoke, I just drop three or four of these little rocks into the bottom and then add the tobacco. I don't have the problem of tobacco impeding the draw and I think it improves the smoke in general. Pretty cheap compared to using other filters. Eriksen Pipe KeyStones - Pipes and Cigars

 

[lgoldberg]

I tried to clean the bowl a little with plain water, and the finish is coming off. Is this now "guarantie garbiage?"

 

[Balisong]

It could be the original finish that the original owner didn't take care of.

 

[lgoldberg]

I did a test smoke after giving the pipe a quick cleaning - it didn't seem like it had been smoked much. Unfortunately, the heat activated the smell of Grandma's Basement. I will have to do a salt and alcohol bath to it. I'll let it rest overnight and do that tomorrow.

 

[lgoldberg]

I ended up setting it in alcohol and salt last night, and the concoction was a nice sludgy brown this morning. Dried it out and set it in front of the dehumidifier to dessicate. I'll probably take the dremel sander to the inside after church.

 

[D.L.Ruth]

I'll probably take the dremel sander to the inside after church.

I'm sure you are aware but be careful with the Dremel. I've gone to far to fast before and nearly fully effed up a pipe, granted it was just a cheap-o ebay pipe, but it is easy to mess up

 

[lgoldberg]

Yes, indeed. I've done the dremel before. I just wiggle the whole thing in a circle, lightly, until new wood appears. If I screw it up, I'll just chalk it up to "learning the craft".

 

[lgoldberg]

Here's the result!

Dremeled the inside of the bowl, hand-sanded the rim with 220grit, and cleaned the stem with some 'special fluid'; seems the oxy clean bath wasn't good enough.

I know I've exposed some areas now that need to be filled, but I don't think I care.

Now to smoke this sucker. I'll start with Autumn Evening.

 

[Idlefellow]

I had a pipe that looked exactly like that shape; it was a natural finish with darker tones in the carving. It was Italian and as I recall an OK smoker.

 

[lgoldberg]

I took it for its first test flight about an hour ago. It smoked MUCH better than the first time; I have hope for this thing. I cleaned it just now, removed the spiral metal jim-jam for the second go just in case it was making things worse, and I'm going to try it here in a bit, when the mood strikes. My mood is not being helped by the sensation that I have a sore throat coming on (DAGNABBIT!)