This is not your grandfathers cob! It's the ultimate cob, created by Riccardo Santia of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Riccardo uses Missouri Meerschaum cobs, specially grown for smoking pipes. Each pipe requires 5 hours of detailed craftsmanship. R. Santia Pipes have become very popular in recent years, achieving exposure in the Fall 2012, Spring 2013, and Fall 2014 issues of Pipes &Tobacco magazine, along with The Pipes Magazine Radio Show interview and FB interviews.
Any serious pipe smoker knows that cobs can provide a superior smoke for a fraction of the cost of a briar pipe. However, there are drawbacks, such as, plastic bits and a propensity to burn or rot -out at the base. Riccardo's Ultimate cobs address these problems with vulcanite or acrylic stems, bamboo shanks and an even better tapered briar insert in the bottom of the bowl which prevents bottom burnouts and rot-outs.
The Ultimate Cobs are unique works of folk art. Take this to your next pipe club meeting and be amazed at the attention it will get - to say nothing about the fact that they provide the ultimate smoking experience and are almost weightless.