Opinions please....

Clean it up as best you can and just see what it does. God knows that if everything that was hideous, misproportioned and unbalanced was immediately rejected, most of us would be single. But seriously, with pipes you can never judge a book by its cover. Big Ugly (my pet name for a large straight no-name rhodesian) is quite possibly the ugliest pipe I've ever owned, also one of the best smokers. Conversely, some of the prettiest pipes I've ever owned smoked horribly. You just never know.

In my experience ugly pipes are often times like ugly dogs. Once you get to know them they become cherished friends and you forget all about how ugly they are.

When you say poorly crafted, do you mean in a technical manner that will make it a bad smoker? Or is it just plain ol' butt ugly?

please or we to judge a pig in the poke

Somebody out there is looking for that exact shape. Guaranteed.

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I've got to update this quick response I posted yesterday. IMO there is a smoker for every pipe. I've owned some of the weirdest looking pipes that no one else would even think of smoking but darn it, they were special to me and I savored every smoke from each and every one of them. Oh sure, now I'm into more traditional shapes, but it wasn't always that way. That pipe (to you) is a hideous bulk of wasted briar but I'm tellin' ya man, there is someone out there jonezing for that exact pipe! Am I defending the pipe's right to exist just because it was created? Hell yeah (no, I'm not going to start a new political group for 'pipes rights') ... but seriously, let her go man ... don't recut it into the image you have of how a pipe should look .... let her exist as she is! I know I sound like a goof ... but let her have a life of her own.

Link to the pictures from Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/...

It is deceiving, because it is not a bad looking puffer in the pictures, otherwise, I would not have bought it.

Rick: I see what you are saying... but taking into consideration the time and effort in putting something on Ebay right now, working 13-14 hour days, it is daunting. Your point is noted, and appreciated though. I think this may require some thought.

Quaf: To be honest I am not sure. The pipe came so damn dirty and caked up, I cannot even check on the engineering of it. But yes, it is just damn ugly.

Oldgi: You are quite right, sometimes the ugly ones are the best.

I can see why you bought it - in fact I believe I mentioned that I liked the transition of the stem to the bowl when you first mentioned winning it. It looks like a pretty nice pipe. A bit big for my likes, but a pretty nice shape nonetheless ...

where have I see a square shanked Dublin b4? Yes, the pictures do not reveal any defects, it does not look that out of balance, slightly long (But some like them that way).

Spruce it up and give it a shot. If you feel the same way about it then resell it when time allows.

well if you can get it to smoke well who cares what it looks like.

That pipe doesn't even qualify as an ugly pipe in my universe. Clean it up and smoke the hell out of it, you'll be fine. I think you're over thinking the whole issue. More nuts, less forehead, that's the ticket!
1 Ream
2. Salt and alcohol
3. Shank Brush
4. Smoke about a tub of codger burley in it (Walnut should work)
5. Enjoy your new bestest buddy.

It is hard to see from the pictures. I guess I just look at it from the perspective of someone who just started carving. Balance and evenness are big to me... and this pipe is lacking in both departments. The bowl walls are a freaking half inch thick, it is just a whole lot of pipe, and size wise now my style. The lack of care in the carving of it really pisses me off too. Maybe I am over thinking it, but I just expected more from it.

I like the way it looks IN THE PICTURE,however we all know some pipes just aren't balanced comfortable, a bad feel if you will. I usually smoke at least a dozen bowls in hopes I might take a liking to it. If not, It goes. Good luck.If you don't like it put it on ebay.
Dave

Yup. That's a very ugly pipe! If it were mine I'd buff it up and toss it back on e-bay .With some good pics,a shiny stem and that char cleaned off of the rim it should even make you a small profit....

Best,
D.J.

Justin, give it some TLC and see what you end up with. If it's still not to your liking either throw it back on eBay, or bring out the sander and make it into something you would enjoy more. I know you have the skills.

Ugly or not (that one doesn't do it for me), it may just be one of the best smokers ever. Whenever I do test runs on estates, I tend to forget about what the pipe looks like, and just concentrate on the smoking qualities. If it's spot on, I would consider keeping it.

This pipe is no looker as far as I am concerned. It's actually what I would consider fugly, but holy macaroni is it a fantastic smoker!

Actually, I like that pipe. Just goes to show that different people have different tastes.

There's a beautiful pipe under all that gunk. Give a good reaming, clean the dirt off the outside and maybe even refinish it. That's a very nice looking pipe.