I feel confident that this pipe is unsmoked, but I can’t be 100% sure because there is some black inside the chamber, although it does not appear to be carbon residue from the burning of tobacco. Nor does any carbon come off on the finger, even when wet, when it is inserted into the chamber. It is likely just the darkening of the briar from the fast turning of the lathe. There is no sign of tobacco use either by smell or taste (dry puffing on the pipe) and the rim is pristine. Most important is the fact that the inside of the shank is also pristine. Any puffing of burning tobacco, even for the shortest time, would create some visible evidence of use. The pipe is a Grp. 5 size and the blast exhibits lots of ring grain and straight grain and is clearly a tight, hard piece of briar. The draw is wide-open and a cleaner flows easily into the chamber from the stem.
5.3” long, bowl 1.8” tall. Weight: 1 5/8 oz., 48 grams.