It seems strange being Pipe Maker Of the Month when this month marks the first anniversary of my pipemaking attempts, somewhere about the middle of July last year I first put tool to ebaucheon, prior to then I had worked exclusively on estate pipes. The experience gained from those estate pipes is central to my way of making pipes, when you restore over a thousand pipes a year you get a good idea of what works well and that what looks good doesn't always mean a good smoke.

I like to think that I make good smoking pipes, sometimes they may be a bit fancy but they are essentially made to be smoked. While I cannot say that I have developed a style of my own I like to think that I have added my own touch to the styles of pipes I make, my influences are mainly modern Danish, German and Italian but you would have to balance them with Antique Meerschaums and old wood from the 1920's and 30's.

Having spent a year in experimentation and practice I am ready to settle down and put into practice what I have learnt over the last year, who knows maybe one day I’ll trade at Chicago.

I would like to thank Andrea and Carolyn together with the other members of staff at Pipemakers Emporium for what is now four years of great service, which I’m sure will continue for many years to come.

I believe I now have the full range of pipecleaner sleeves.

David Irving.
Ballyhalbert
Northern Ireland