Recently, Tom pulled out a box of newly arrived red rusticated pipes from Savinelli, complete with their regular balsa filter systems or with the insert to bring the stem dimensions back to normal without it. The pipes are graced with a simple gold band between the shank and the beautiful red-smoked lucite stem. I didn't even know we had more Savinellis coming in after our last find of the Linea 76's.

Imagine my surprise when I flipped it over to check out the model stamp only to be greeted by the following text embossed next to Savinelli's renown name: Tobacco Barn, 2007. Woohoo, our first private label pipes under this company name (to the best of my knowledge).

This was particularly exciting for me as I found a private label pipe at the Long Beach Antique Swap Meet late last year with "Ted's Pipe Shop" stamped in the shank. You see, Ted's Pipe Shop was the name of the store when the previous owner Jim Allison bought it back in 1964. (For more about the Tobacco Barn's History, see http://www.tobacco-barn.com/t-history.aspx) I thought that was the find of the century given that we now owned the current incarnation of the same pipeshop from Downey. Now if I can just find one from the Prescription Pipe Shop in downtown Los Angeles (if they ever made any), my collection would be complete.

Anway, I got myself one of the 1/8th bent Prince pipes with a taper stem and smoked my first bowl in it last night and WOW, was it ever smooth. A nice cool smoke from a pipe that not only fits great in hand but also hangs nicely from my mouth for an effectively briar pipe (heavier than my meerschaums). I think if you try one out, and at the great prices for top notch Savinellis, I think you'll find that it is one of your favorites as well!