I have 2 in rotation and they both smoke well. Imagine how many pipes are made and graded through to find the best quality for the various top name brands. All of those rejects with minor defects get sold off to lesser brands to keep the lights on and workers paid.
A roll pouch ( sometimes a small tin ) and pipe in the shirt or overalls pocket. Pocket knife for tamping, stick matches or sometimes a book from the tavern. My dad had a zip pouch but it never quite fit anywhere so it stayed in the drawer. I do it the same way, except I carry a tamping tool...
Life and death have nothing to do with you. You might be the right man, in the right place, at the right time, or maybe not. If you did your best, no one can ask any more of you. Thanks for trying.
2 of my Dad's Aunts and Uncles lived in Green Bay, AND had season tickets. One lived on Cormier Rd, so I got to grow up seeing the 60s Pack jog past their house. My Grandpa lived in Oconto, so I spent most of my early days there. All of the men in our family were pipe smokers.