Elk antler pipe

[chance]

I was just wondering if any of yall smoked a pipe made out of elk antler. My friend made one and gave it to me. I was wondering if it would be ok to use and if so how would I season it?

 

[ohio ramrod]

I recomend starting by going outside and putting in a mixture of dry tobbaco and sugar and burning it to char and glase over the antler. Burning antler really stinks. You will need to char and seal the pipe or else you are in for a bad experience.Once chared and sealed they are ok.

 

[Lostrifle]

You can try wiping honey around the inside of the pipe, then smoking a couple of half-bowlfuls. When it starts to char, don't scrape the inside much; just enough to loosen any stubborn ashes and unburned tobacco bits. Knock the dottle out by thumping the open end of your pipe against the base of your thumb. Worked real good on the briar I bought years ago.

 

[crockett]

Is there any kind of health hazard to smoking antler (that is beyond smoking in general)? Is there any documentation on antler pipes?

 

[Kentuckywindage]

I've been using this one for about 5 years now. I love it! My best smoker.

 

[Draftsman]

Used one years ago and it was a fine smoke.I placed a small piece of SS screen in the bottom of the bowl, helped with the draw and seemed to keep the bottom from burning thru.

 

[chance]

Thank yall for the info.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Antler is composed of mineral deposits, not vegetable fibers, like Briars. You are smoking a rock, for all intents and purposes. They get very hot if not large enough, and they generally are not as porous or as cool smoking as a briar pipe.

Once you season the bowl with burning honey glaze, they make a reasonably good smoke. There is nothing toxic in smoking an antler that you don't have smoking any tobacco. Because they are stone, and not porous root fiber, an antler pipe is not going to " Breathe " like a good briar pipe. Moisture is going to collect and wet the tobacco in the bottom of the bowl. Unless the relative humidity is very low, your ownly recourse will be to dig the wet partially burned tobacco out, throw it away, and replace it with new tobacco.

They can be a PITA to clean, however. If any members here have any suggestions, or "tricks" for cleaning antler pipes, I would love to read them. :thumbsup:

 

[Kentuckywindage]

i clean mine by just putting the bowl into a boiled pot of water and then use a piece of steel wire and push it through the pipe stem. After that i use a bit of paper towel and clean the bowl out. I only have to do that 2-3 times a year, depending how hard im hitting it.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I am currently looking for a way to clean the discoloration off my Meerschaum pipe, both in the bowl, and underneath the stone. ( The bowl comes out of the calabash gourd base.) I will try the fine steel wool on the underside first, and see what is accomplished. I will try boiling the top or bowl side and see what happens. Some of the discoloration is from heating the stone, as its turned a light pink color. I doubt that this can be boiled out, or removed.

I don't currently have an antler pipe, as I let someone trade me out of the one I made years ago. Its good to know this information, and I thank you for it. :hatsoff:

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Ross Seyfried's brother Richard makes beautiful elk antler pipes. You can reach him at Elk Song Pipes. He advertises in "The Double Gun and Single Shot Journal".

 

[david50]

I am currently looking for a way to clean the discoloration off my Meerschaum pipe, both in the bowl, and underneath the stone. ( The bowl comes out of the calabash gourd base.) I will try the fine steel wool on the underside first, and see what is accomplished. I will try boiling the top or bowl side and see what happens. Some of the discoloration is from heating the stone, as its turned a light pink color. I doubt that this can be boiled out, or removed.

I don't currently have an antler pipe, as I let someone trade me out of the one I made years ago. Its good to know this information, and I thank you for it. :hatsoff:

try rubbing alcohol

 

[paulvallandigham]

Thanks, David. :thumbsup:

 

[wayne1967]

I had no idea an antler could be used as a pipe. If they taste anything like they smell burning I thought it would be nasty.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Antler is mostly mineral deposits, held together by blood products when dried. Its that second part that smells so bad, when burned. I don't recommend using an antler for a pipe, for that reason. The matter was discussed here only because someone else raised the question.

BTW, the best smelling pipe, as well as the cheapest has been a corn cob pipe. They just don't last more than a year or two before drying out enough that they become brittle, and then subject to breaking out in flames on the sides. A lot of people seem to think its undignified to smoke a corn cob pipe. They don't know what they are missing. Yes, I have some fine briers, and a meerschaum pipe in my pipe rack, and they generally are great pipes to smoke. But, for the money nothing beats a corn cob pipe. :thumbsup:

 

[Snow on the Roof]

Dad smoked a Missouri Meersham for years, it was his preferred smoke. Missouri Mersham aka: a corn cob pipe :wink:


John

 

[Kentuckywindage]

There is no smell from an antler pipe. I guess if the antler were off a fresh kill there could be a smell but when they are cured, none whatsoever.

 

[vthompson]

I have a deer antler pipe and I have smoked it for a while now. I never had any foul odor or taste from it either. Plus, it is quite a conversation piece whenever other people see me smoking it. They say that it looks really nice and that they would have never thought of making a pipe from an antler.

 

[Prariedog Son]

I made a pipe from a badger skull once and used the modeling clay you get at Micheals craft store.I made the shape of a bowel,decortaed with stamping and ya bake them in the oven to turn hard,maybe you could line the antler with some,i also used mesh from a facet in the bathroom,wife never knew :wink:

 

[PRM]

Meerschaum is supposed to darken with use - enjoy it. I have a Peterson that is about 12 years old. Was white when I got it - its a beautiful brown to dark brown now. Got a pirates head meerschaum that started taking the color around the stem, bottom and the beard. Kind of neat.