Call me crazy (my friends and coworkers do on a regular basis), but I love it when a sandblasted pipe has a bit of smooth. You still get to enjoy the best of both worlds at a price that is set to the lowest common denominator of the two finishes. It is a win-win situation, at least most of the time. It most definitely is the case with this notch-shanked 3/4 bent Egg from Claudio Cavicchi. This pipe is mostly blasted, displaying a heavenly and perfectly centered cross-grain, with smooth panels on either side to celebrate the birdseye there in all of its natural splendor. I am particularly fond of the loose, swirling end grain on the left that brings to mind Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night." Engineering? I just threw a pipe cleaner from across the room and it still reached the bottom of the bowl with not so much as a twist. And yes, the finish is the much beloved natural, sure to color beautifully with handling and smoking. When I look at this pipe, I am seeing a lot of "yes", and not very much "no." And the "no" that I am picking up is just my wife who is right behind me, instructing me not acquire another pipe.

Eric Vitriol