Calabash pipe

[TenorClef]

I've been working my way through the Basil Rathbone 'Sherlock Holmes' box set and note he frequently uses a calabash pipe. Are these any good? Does any one use one?

[Commander Quan]

A real calabash has a tendency to mellow out the flavors of the tobaccos. This happens because the smoke is drawn from the meerschaum bowl into the hollow chamber inside the gourd. You can buy wooden calabash shaped pipes but they don't work the same.

In a related topic a calabash was used only in the movies. In the novels Holmes smoked a very strong shag and even saved his dottle to be smoked later, so he never would have smoked from a calabash with it's mellowing effects.

[TenorClef]

Its a funny looking thing.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Calabash-pipe.jpg/220px-Calabash-pipe.jpg

[Blue_2]

I've heard good things about a real calabash, but I can't say I've owned one. Supposedly a very good smoker.

[BluesAndBrews]

If you happen to find Mrs. Calabash, tell her Jimmy Durante is looking for her.

[col conk]

Its a funny looking thing.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Calabash-pipe.jpg/220px-Calabash-pipe.jpg


These always reminded me of parts of a bag pipe assembled together during some bizarre experiment.

And yet, they are very cool. :thumbup1:

[binowatch]

I used to smoke a calabash until it fell and broke. Its glued together but now just for display. I really liked it. It gives a cool smoke and tends to mellow out the smoke. This is fine with stronger tobaccos like a latakia but some feel it adversely affects the taste of milder blends. The inside of the gourd can sometimes get a bit gooey from the resins in the smoke with some folks. I never had that problem for some reason. I think they are really cool and every inveterate pipe smoke should try one!

[cpcohen1945]

I have also smoked a calabash, and agree with Binowatch's comments. They smoke cool.

The bowl is meerschaum -- don't drop it!

Charles

[TenorClef]

Chaps, do you think this is a good one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140462907049&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_5162wt_932

[Commander Quan]

I can't tell for sure but i'm 99% sure that is not a gourd calabash but is actually carved from wood. It'll be fine if you want it because of the shape but it's not the same.

[Greyfox]

Great pipes if they are the real deal. Make sure you get a gourd calabash. Be prepared to pay them especially if you buy new. I got my calabash from
bestmeerschaums.homestead.com/bakipipes.html

Baki makes an outstanding one. Another thing about the calabash is that it is a sit and smoke affair. Too heavy to clench but it does do something magical to tobacco. If you don't like the taste of a particular tobacco in a calabash you are not going to ever like that tobacco.

[binowatch]

Chaps, do you think this is a good one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140462907049&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_5162wt_932
Agree, that looks like a carved pipe made to look like a gourd. The seller is mostly selling the meershaum bowl. By the way, if you get a meershaum think about aging it properly. A very OCD friend of mine from MIT loved them and used to make a shammy leather pouch for a new one, open at top to allow for smoking. He would smoke it that way until the bowl took on a nice tan color. He insisted that keeping his fingers off the bowl until that happened allowed the bowl to cure and color evenly without skin oils from you hands interfering with it. As is said, he was very obsessive/compulsive.

[TenorClef]

I e-mailed the ebay seller and as you figured it's not genuine gourd. They make them out of African mahogany and meershaum. They look nice but not the real deal.....will keep my eyes open for an estate i think but may still consider this one for its funky shape.

Greyfox....OMG Baki is the real deal but his prices at over $400 are a little beyond my current pockets. Having said that, i love this one he makes-


http://bestmeerschaums.homestead.com/0aaaabakikbkcalp.jpg


http://bestmeerschaums.homestead.com/0aaaabakikbkcalp2.jpg

http://bestmeerschaums.homestead.com/0agordc2.jpg

Clearly, the Calabash pipe is aimed at Pipe smokers desiring to make a quiet modest statement about pipe smoking and life in general.

[stroppy]

In terms of aesthetics, look directly down on the pipe and try to find something as straight as possible. Often the "neck" of the gourd will be bent off to one side leaving the stem off center. Viewing the profile of the pipe, look for a smooth, cone shaped taper that goes into a nice, smooth bend. A nicely formed "U" shape is what's wanted.

I had a calabash years ago. It eventually became quite foul; I chucked it and won't replace it. There are too many other nice pipes out there for the money.

[TenorClef]

Decided to make an offer for the one on ebay and I was successful :-).
Will post up some pictures and offer a review when it arrives.
The seller seems to have a rep, 100% positive reviews so should be ok.

[Greyfox]

Congrats. If you need any information on cleaning or keeping it clean and fresh I'll be happy to provide information.

[Jim]

Congrats. If you need any information on cleaning or keeping it clean and fresh I'll be happy to provide information.

If it's not to much trouble, a stand alone post about this would be very informative. :thumbup1:

[jwhite]

If it's not to much trouble, a stand alone post about this would be very informative. :thumbup1:
+1
I'd love to more as well.

[TenorClef]

Congrats. If you need any information on cleaning or keeping it clean and fresh I'll be happy to provide information.

Thanks Greyfox that would be appreciated. What a great forum we have here!

[wolfmanxiii]

One time while my band was traveling we stopped at an antique shop in Peoria and I found a real gourd calabash (used of course) in great shape. I almost got it for $15, then the owner happened to walk in and stopped the guy before he sold it to me and said sorry, I should have marked that one, it's $50. I didn't even realize what I had back then, should have taken the deal even for $50, but was too worried about money since we were on the road.

[Laney1566]

Chaps, do you think this is a good one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140462907049&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_5162wt_932

I have this exact pipe myself. It will take some breaking in as the wood is very potent. The meerschaum bowl is great though. Mine smokes fine and the biggest advantage of any Calabash isn't how cool it smokes, but how dry it smokes. No gurgling involved and that is a HUGE bonus. They are a novelty pipe...Especially true gourds. Very heavy and definitely a hand-held pipe. The Meerschaum will color with age from pinkish to golden brown and with enough use will get darker and darker till it eventually can become black...But that would require years of heavy smoking. Also avoid touching it with your hands as much as possible.

[TenorClef]

So my Calabash arrived today! I think the little case is quite cool.

[TenorClef]

and a few more photos- The central hole is well....not central but locks up nice and tight.

[TenorClef]

and some final photos-
As you can see the Calabash now takes centre stage on my modest pipe rack!

[TenorClef]

It's well made, pretty light too. The part that holds the tobacco is actually fairly small so you don't use a great deal of leaf. Probably will require some breaking in time but on my initial use of the pipe i thought it was very good.

[jwhite]

I'm glad you're enjoying it! You do know that the ferule usually stays attached to the shank.:tongue_sm

[Greyfox]

:thumbup1: Enjoy it.

[Don Barbiere]

Reminds me of Inglorious Bastards, when Hans Landa pulls out this big pipe!
http://thecinemaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/inglourious_basterds_8_700.jpg

[Laney1566]

Reminds me of Inglorious Bastards, when Hans Landa pulls out this big pipe!
http://thecinemaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/inglourious_basterds_8_700.jpg

That would be a proper Gourd Calabash.

[TenorClef]

That would be a proper Gourd Calabash.
:lol::lol::lol:

Yeah you would probably need the day off work to smoke that monster! My Calabash feels more like the 100 metre sprint than the cross country run.

[mparker762]

:lol::lol::lol:

Yeah you would probably need the day off work to smoke that monster! My Calabash feels more like the 100 metre sprint than the cross country run.


Many years ago I had a Pioneer calabash pipe with a 1 1/4 inch diameter chamber, it was the biggest one they had at the Austin Tinder Box, the clerk said he'd never seen one that big before. I could load it up with a half oz of Balkan Sobranie when I got home from work and it would last until the middle of Johnny Carson. Dropped it while cleaning it one day. My current favorite calabash is a standard Pioneer 1" dia chamber (same size as the one Landa is smoking above) that only lasts about 2 hrs. Wonderful pipe but it's just not the same as that old monster, though the lack of real Sobranie probably has something to do with it.

[TheClassicGentleman]

I've been working my way through the Basil Rathbone 'Sherlock Holmes' box set and note he frequently uses a calabash pipe. Are these any good? Does any one use one?

I just got a calabash pipe in the mail that I ordered a few days ago
271959271960271961271962271963
Its not as fine quality as the others here but seeing as I only paid $18 for the pipe, it is a nice pipe for the price. I haven't smoked it yet, I will smoke it tomorrow to see how it performs. It is heavy as Thor's hammer; seing as how the bowl is made of marble and not meerschaum, so I probably WON'T clinch the pipe while I smoke it.

Hmmm, speaking of smoking it tomorrow what should I have Dunhill My Mixture 965, GL Pease Westminster or Peter Stokkebye English Oriental Supreme?

[joshua1970]

Looks like that is oak, cherrywood or maple, not an actual gourd either - but, will probably deliver a very cool smoke!! and yeah def don't recommend clenching it LOL

are you sure it's marble and not porcelain or ceramic? marble would be valued more than the pipe I'd imagine.


let us know how ti smokes

and I vote GLP!

[kupferrules]

Yeah, I bought a calabash about 5 years ago now. It is real gourd and cost me $180. Love it. Smokes like a dream. I bought it in Flint, MI. Wasnt looking to purchase a pipe that day, just a little tobacco. But one must not pass up such a rarity.

-Frank

[joshua1970]

Yeah, I bought a calabash about 5 years ago now. It is real gourd and cost me $180. Love it. Smokes like a dream. I bought it in Flint, MI. Wasnt looking to purchase a pipe that day, just a little tobacco. But one must not pass up such a rarity.

-Frank

its' beautiful!! though it DOES look like some sort of wood grain to me - granted I'm only going by the pics and your descriptioon of it's heft (weight)...I've never seen grain patterns like that on a real gourd... interesting. :) If it is wood, it's far rarer than gourd that's for sure!

....and I think we can all relate to walking into a store (or even visiting a website) with full intentions to purchase only software (be it tobacco, soap, flies- what have you) and walking out the door spending far more than intended on pipes, razors/brushes, fly rods/reels ad infinitum!

smoke it in good health, Frank!!

[Commander Quan]

TCG that pipe is interesting, how much space is there between the bottom of the cup and the bottom of the hollowed out portion of the pipe? It's also interesting to be that the draft hole is offset from the hole in the cup, but I guess that is the easiest way to do it. I've never seen the inside of a wood calabash shaped pipe, but I assumed they was drilled into a funnel shape to at least recreate the chamber effect of a gourd.

Here is a link to some unconventional shapes that are not calabash pipes, but have a chamber that collects and cools the smoke like a calabash. http://www.apassionforpipes.com/neills-blog/2011/3/1/the-calabash-effect.html

[joshua1970]

TCG that pipe is interesting, how much space is there between the bottom of the cup and the bottom of the hollowed out portion of the pipe? It's also interesting to be that the draft hole is offset from the hole in the cup, but I guess that is the easiest way to do it. I've never seen the inside of a wood calabash shaped pipe, but I assumed they was drilled into a funnel shape to at least recreate the chamber effect of a gourd.

Here is a link to some unconventional shapes that are not calabash pipes, but have a chamber that collects and cools the smoke like a calabash. http://www.apassionforpipes.com/neills-blog/2011/3/1/the-calabash-effect.html


very cool link Derrick!!!!

love those Negoitas! he is, IMO, one of the most unorthodox but brilliant pipemakers out today...and a sweetheart to boot!

[PugslyCat]

Chaps, do you think this is a good one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140462907049&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_5162wt_932
That pipe and case look exactly like my SMS Meerschaum calabash. Mine is mahogany and not gourd as well. It's truly my favorite pipe for when I can relax in my easy chair. When I first started here I soaked the bowl in alcohol to clean it. That disolved the bowl completely, of course. A replacement was obained after that fiasco from David's Briar Shop in Des Moines for only $40. I think I bout the pipe originally from David's in Omaha for $49 back in '98 or '99.

[joshua1970]

you guys got me wanting to pick up a new calabash!!

[Commander Quan]

I have a Pioneer calabash that I need to have some work done on. I wonder if Tim West has slowed down any after his feature in P&T mag.

[Blade Boy]

Here are my two, both real gourds, one with a removable bowl and one with a fixed bowl and metal rim, best smoking pipes I own hands down...
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[Blade Boy]

I saw this unusual one the other day, it has a fixed bowl with a meer-lined wind cap which was made of gourd as well, first one I had ever seen like it...
272225272223272224

[Commander Quan]

Interesting. That's the pipe equivalent of a Big Green Egg

[SALBONE]

271960
How on earth does your thumb bend like that?! :scared:

[TheClassicGentleman]

How on earth does your thumb bend like that?! :scared:

Well, it's not double jointed that's for sure LOL!!

I play saxophone a lot and after a while my thump is just really, flexible i guess Hehehehe...

[TheClassicGentleman]

Looks like that is oak, cherrywood or maple, not an actual gourd either - but, will probably deliver a very cool smoke!! and yeah def don't recommend clenching it LOL

are you sure it's marble and not porcelain or ceramic? marble would be valued more than the pipe I'd imagine.


let us know how ti smokes

and I vote GLP!

You're absolutely right, it is NOT gourd; unfortunately, it is Mahogany and the bowl itself is marble; according to the seller, but hey its made in China so who knows.

I smoked the pipe tonight with a bowl of GL Pease Westminster and the pipe really refined the smoke and make it even more flavorful and enjoyable.
272325272326
Here is a before and after shot of the bowl when I was done smoking it. It wipes really clean, it looks like I hardly smoked anything at all! I really love this pipe and the marble didn't get really hot either, this pipe is aAWESOME!!

[joshua1970]

right on!!!! yeah I was sure it wasn't a gourd. mohogany, very nice!!

and all that matters really is how YOU like its' smoking characteristics :)

congrats!!!! and def good call on the Westminster by GLP.

[TheClassicGentleman]

TCG that pipe is interesting, how much space is there between the bottom of the cup and the bottom of the hollowed out portion of the pipe? It's also interesting to be that the draft hole is offset from the hole in the cup, but I guess that is the easiest way to do it. I've never seen the inside of a wood calabash shaped pipe, but I assumed they was drilled into a funnel shape to at least recreate the chamber effect of a gourd.

Here is a link to some unconventional shapes that are not calabash pipes, but have a chamber that collects and cools the smoke like a calabash. http://www.apassionforpipes.com/neills-blog/2011/3/1/the-calabash-effect.html

Hey, there is about 1/2" of space between the bottom of the cup and the floor of the chamber.

It smokes pretty cool and is very comfortable to hold in that the pipe doesn't get hot!

I may take the pipe to a specialized wood worker and see if they can't reem it out a little deeper for me, perhaps down to perhaps 2" max; it presently has a depth of about 1 5/8". I don't know, maybe I should just leave it alone, it smokes nice and has I might mess it up if I get it reemed a little deeper.

[oc_in_fw]

You're absolutely right, it is NOT gourd; unfortunately, it is Mahogany and the bowl itself is marble; according to the seller, but hey its made in China so who knows.

I smoked the pipe tonight with a bowl of GL Pease Westminster and the pipe really refined the smoke and make it even more flavorful and enjoyable.
272325272326
Here is a before and after shot of the bowl when I was done smoking it. It wipes really clean, it looks like I hardly smoked anything at all! I really love this pipe and the marble didn't get really hot either, this pipe is aAWESOME!!
Hey CG, I think cigars when I think of you. Welcome to the pipe world.

[TheClassicGentleman]

Hey CG, I think cigars when I think of you. Welcome to the pipe world.

LOL!! Yeah, I actually started with a pipe years ago and some how got into cigars. They are nice and all but I have learned that I much prefer my pipes instead.

[oc_in_fw]

LOL!! Yeah, I actually started with a pipe years ago and some how got into cigars. They are nice and all but I have learned that I much prefer my pipes instead.
I like both, but can afford pipes easier. I have a Cuban, Bolivar I think, waiting for me to light up. A coworker gave it to me. I had one a few weeks ago, and it was quite enjoyable.

[TheClassicGentleman]

I like both, but can afford pipes easier. I have a Cuban, Bolivar I think, waiting for me to light up. A coworker gave it to me. I had one a few weeks ago, and it was quite enjoyable.

That sounds pretty good, I had a Cuban La Gloria Cubana one time and even a Cuban H Upmann, they are pretty good cigars, It will be nice if the U.S. ever lifts the embargo on Cuba so we can get the Cuban cigars again; its been ages though!

[oc_in_fw]

That sounds pretty good, I had a Cuban La Gloria Cubana one time and even a Cuban H Upmann, they are pretty good cigars, It will be nice if the U.S. ever lifts the embargo on Cuba so we can get the Cuban cigars again; its been ages though!
It is crazy. ChiComs killed US soldiers in Korea. Vietnamese communists killed soldiers in Vietnam Nam. Cuban communists killed none. We have trade relations with the first two sets of communists.

[TheClassicGentleman]

Just an update on the mahogany calabash pipe I bought
273597
The pipe is wonderful!

It really refines and mellows the smoke making a wonderful blend much more enjoyable. The bowl gets warm but not hot and it wipes clean every time, aside from smelling the bowl you wouldn't know that this pipe was smoked 4-times.

I bought two; one for English blends and one for aromatics, but my evil twin brother stole my second one to use with his VaPer's. Now that I've had time to cool off; about my twin stealing my 2nd calabash pipe, I don't know if I would smoke the occasional aromatic in a calabash or simply enjoy them in my briars and cobs.

The pipe has a couple of very minor problems like a very small leak in the stem that can be easily fixed by gluing the stem to the tenon like I've done here
273599
or you can get one custom made by Walker Briar Works for around $30 +/-

Aside from the stem being a little faulty the pipe is wonderful, I'm really glad I purchased the pipe. I might still get another one for my aromatics, and I'll definately get one larger gourd calabash.