Rattray's Limited Edition 'The Druids' Range PAD

[beerandbaccy]

Just succumbed to my PAD and went for a limited (100 made) Rattray's Druid Diplomat 9 or is it a Prince??)
The link of Druids to Stonehenge has been debunked a while ago but I love the detail of Stonehenge on the silver band!!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Beautiful pipe. I was looking at one of their Druid pipes not too long ago. How's the drilling on that one? I would call that an author myself.

 

[beerandbaccy]

Drilling looks good and clean to me... I'm no expert -what should I look out for?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Just see if it passes a pipe cleaner. Some have reported Rattray's drilling to be a bit off. Never had the issue with them myself.

 

[papipeguy]

That is a beautiful pipe. f it passes a pipe cleaner then you're good to go. My 2 Rattrays are not drilled well at all. They smoke fine but don't pass the pipe cleaner test. Good luck with yours.

 

[beerandbaccy]

hmmmm

The hole from the bowl into the shank looks slightly off centre but the draw is fine - should I be concerned?

I can't really pass the pipe cleaner through unless I split the pipe push thru and rejoin then the cleaner can pass

 

[buckaroo]

Great shape.

 

[cortezattic]

Try crimping the very tip of the pipe cleaner. Something just under 90° should help the tip find the mortise/shank hole.

 

[balkisobrains]

I have a somewhat similar pipe and I have to put the cleaner in about 1/2", bend it about 45deg in a particular direction, and then spin it about 45deg on the way down and it works every time. Another one has a slightly different "procedure". Taking it apart kind of defeats the purpose since you want to be able to do this while smoking and you don't want to move the stem then.

 

[irishearl]

That is an attractive pipe. Will say, for what it's worth, that, in my 40'ish years of pipe smoking, I've always taken stems out while smoking the pipe to clean if needed. Have only had 2 pipes whose stems have probably become too loose from doing that.

 

[rodo]

Beautiful pipe. I always find stems that contrast with the shank/bowl dramatic. And the triskel on the stem just cinches the whole theme.

 

[phantomwolf]

Absolutely gorgeous. That stem is incredible... You've just triggered my PAD. haha