My Love Affair With GBDs: The Pipe with a Pedigree

My Love Affair With GBDs: The Pipe with a Pedigree

By: CW HawesI first became aware of GBD pipes in the 1970s. My dad had two: a prince and a Canadian. Together, with a Peterson Canadian, they were the three pipes he constantly smoked.When he gave up smoking in the early 80s, I got the bulk of his pipes. There was nothing fancy there, save for the above mentioned three that he constantly smoked.When I returned to pipe smoking at the end of the 1980s, I fired up those GBDs , and it was love at first puff. I saw immediately why they were his constant companions.The pipes were comfortable in the hand and in the mouth. If a pipe isn’t a comfortable companion, then there is no joy in the relationship.But while aesthetics are important, the ultimate test is in how well the pipe smokes. GBD produced pipes that not only look good and feel good, but they made pipes that provide and excellent and satisfying smoke.

I’ve not found a bad GBD pipe. Sure, some are better than others. But GBD set the bar very high and did so with a pipe that was eminently affordable.The GBD men who chose the briar had good eyes for quality. The wood is beautiful and unblemished.At present, I have 8 GBDs that I smoke regularly. Seven are smooth and one is sandblast. Only one of the smooth pipes has a tiny flaw: 3 pinpoint pits on the bottom of the bowl. The rest are absolutely clean.Of the 20 pipes that I don’t smoke and are on display, only one has a tiny pit in the wood. Otherwise, they are all clean.One is hard pressed to find that level of quality across model lines in other makes. Unless, of course, you are paying big bucks for the pipes.I find it of interest that the high quality of briar can even be found in GBD’s City De Luxe line. These are what you might call entry level pipes. The grain in the briar is not spectacular, but the quality of the wood is very good. Of the 9 City De Luxe pipes I own, only 3 have fills.It’s this incredible attention to quality that made GBD pipes such great buys. A working man was able to get a beautiful, unblemished pipe at a price that didn’t bust the bank.And that attention to quality also makes GBD pipes wonderful smoking pipes. I love smoking my GBD pipes. The tobacco just tastes good in them.GBD. The pipe with a pedigree. From 1850 to 1980, GBD pipes did a gentleman proud. If you find an estate pipe, I encourage you to buy it. You won’t be sorry. And you’ll be carrying on a great pipe making tradition.To delve deeper into the world of CW Hawes and explore his body of work, you can connect with him through his website, as well as on Facebook and Twitter/X.https://www.cwhawes.com/https://www.facebook.com/CWHawes1/

I love this trilogy! Don't miss it!

"Chris Allard is that flawed Everyman who makes every story unforgettable and who every reader loves."

*The Death in Sioux Lookout Trilogy* by Richard Schwindt @rgschwindt https://t.co/rcHtFbjI1u #mystery #murdermystery #thriller pic.twitter.com/nuAli4D84v
— CW Hawes (@cw_hawes) April 10, 2021

About MBSD Pipes: MBSD Pipes is a premier online retailer offering a vast array of new and estate pipes to enthusiasts worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction, we continually expand our selection to meet the ever-evolving demands of pipe connoisseurs.

PIPES

Dating Barling Pipes: A Three Step Guide

Dating Barling Pipes: A Three Step Guide To see our currently available Barling and Barling’s Make pipes, click here. As MBSD sells many restored estate pipes, we often get questions as to when they were made. Many pipes, such as Castellos, Charatans or Custom-Bilts, have communities of collectors who prefer pipes made during one period…

PIPES

What (and Why) is a ‘Freehand’ Pipe? Part One

In this article, James takes a deep dive into the concept of the ‘freehand pipe.’ This is the first of a multi-part series exploring concepts like ‘freehand’ in and outside of pipe culture and history. Where possible, illustrations are included, but the reader is encouraged, if they are not already familiar with the pipes and…

PIPES

Pipe Making Materials

The Wide World of Materials Used to Make a Pipe Tobacco pipes have been used for centuries to enjoy tobacco in various forms. Over the years, the materials used in tobacco pipes and stems have evolved, providing smokers with a wide range of options to choose from. In this blog, we will explore the different…

PIPES

GET PIPED Features Bennie Joe Pipes

GET PIPED FEATURES BENNIE JOE PIPES Press Release: Get Piped features Bennie Joe Pipes Attention pipe enthusiasts, have you heard of Bennie Joe Pipes? If not, it’s time to discover the exquisite craftsmanship of this talented artisan pipe maker, brought to you by Get Piped and MBSD Pipes. Get Piped has quickly become a prominent…

PIPES

Briar Pipe Finishes, Part 1: Smooths

Briar Pipe Finishes, Part 1: Smooths by CW Hawes Following its introduction as a pipe material in the middle 1800s, briar quickly became the dominant material for making pipes for the general pipe-smoking public. Briar is durable, and with reasonable care, a briar pipe will serve generations of pipe smokers. Another feature of briar is…

PIPES

MBSD Pipes to Stock Morgan Pipes

MBSD Pipes to Stock Morgan Pipes Rockmart GA – MBSD Pipes is excited to announce a significant enhancement to its ever-growing inventory with the inclusion of Morgan Pipes. This new addition reflects our ongoing commitment to providing our valued customers with an even broader selection of high-quality and premium pipes. Morgan Pipes is renowned for…

My Love Affair With GBDs: The Pipe with a Pedigree

Similar Posts

SOCIAL MEDIA