This was the first pipe tool I ever bought and I've never had a problem with it, pretty ubiquitous in (the remaining) tobacconists in the UK, got a Czech tool as well, usually use my Rogers tool when I'm smoking my corn cobs, great review BTW
Hi Bradley - thanks for the review. I actually live in Sheffield. Last year my daughter bought me the stainless steel version for my birthday.. So far I've been really happy with it especially for reaming.
Fun little off topic bit of trivia. The Sheffield steel that used to be all the rage before the Bessemer process is called shear steel. It's made by taking bars of wrought iron and putting them in a container with some type of carbon powder (crushed charcoal was common) and firing it at certain temps for a set amount of time (not hot enough to melt). The bars come out with blisters. This is called blister steel. Then the blister bars are stacked together and welded (think pattern welded damascus). This is done a few times. The end result is called shear steel. Go figure a bladesmith with the last name Sheffield likes to talk about Sheffield steel. LOL Good review.
Bradley, I have a similar tool by Rogers that has a stag handle and came with a small sharpening rod. Well made but as you say, the tamper end is small and a challenge some times to pack the inside edges of the bowl, given the tools thickness overall. Thanks for the review.
One overlooked feature of the pick is that it's ideal for removing dottle and ash, as opposed to the more traditional approach of using the scoop. But it's a different technique. When the tobacco is finished, poke the ash gently 3 or 4 times using the pick, and then stir. Holding the pipe upright, rap on the bowl several times with your knuckle so that the fine ash drops to the bottom. This helps to soak up any moisture and builds a nice heel cake, without the need to smoke every last crumb of tobacco. Ten minutes later the ash will simply fall out of the bowl. Much much easier than digging out wet dottle with a scoop. Using this technique, the lack of a scoop in the Rodgers tool is no big deal at all. Mark
czech tools is good enough for me. I like how they're small enough to go on a key chain. Still need to pick up a dedicated reamer. Great video, neat pipe tool. Cheers, BG
Great review for my favorite pipe tool, I've had a red version for many years and it always feels good to use (tradition and quality, rare things these days). I live in the UK and also can't find anywhere that sells the more expensive 'gentlemen' versions (I've looked occasionally for a few years but with no joy each time I do) although it is still shown on the company website (that is not a retail site so no mail order option). Anyway, if you are going to get a better pipe tool than the 'Czech' then I would say you can't go wrong at all with one of these.
i got a stainless older one no rivets are seen and there is a spot on bothsides of the handle where it looks like your name goes or can be engraved they work well thanks for the review
+Daniel Shore - Thanks for watching! I know the powder-coated handles are a fairly recent change, but they've been making the stainless model for quite some time.
Nice pipe tool for sure. I use an old Peterson pipe knife that is similar. If you've got $200 + extra bucks burning a hole in your pocket, you could go this route: www.laguiole.com/bourre-pipe-laguiole-c-62.html -Jim
The steel industry here in sheffield is pretty much dead. The only thing really made here anymore is specialist steel for certain things. cutlery is limited to a few places too.
