Colt
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new member with questionGreetings: My name is colt, I have just joined this site within the last few minutes, and am learning my way around. I have a question that I have been unable to find an answer to.
I have an old (well, at least eleven years) Dr. Grabow that I assume must be a second. The is a slight nick on the shank, and the writing has been overlayed with xxx's; but the words Dr. Grabow, and imported briar can be made out. It is a bent stem, and I believe probably a Royal Duke. There is a nice engraving on the bowl of the head of an eight point buck. I would like to know if this pipe was produced this way, and if so when; or if the engraving was added after purchase as a second. This pipe was owned by a deceased uncle who died in 1997, and he is the only one (in family) who would have known.
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ozark southpaw
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Welcome Colt,I can't answer your question but there are some here who can. Got a pic of that pipe?
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steverino
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Hello Colt, and welcome. I'm sure you will get some kind of answer to your question soon, the world's Grabow experts are on this site!
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ted
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Colt....I worked for Grabow for 25 years and retired as the President and COO and believe I can give an answer.
First....Grabow had pipes that were good, but weren't quite good enough for the regular Grabow lines. These had the stamping XXXXXX'd out and a "paint" put over the spade trademark (REMOVABLE). They were sold as $3.98 or $4.98 closeouts. There were never many of these, but enough, especially during the 70's.
Second.....None of these ever left the factory with any "emblem" on them. The "buck"....nice one at that.....was added by your Uncle, or a friend. Many Grabows were "personalized" with everything from initials to elk...
Hope this helps, and glad you are here.......ted
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Colt
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Thanks!Thanks gents, I appreciate that. So, that means that this pipe could be thirty years old? At 53 I remember, and miss the seventies! There doesn't appear to be an emblem on the stem, covered or otherwise; that I can tell at least. As soon as I get my kodak thing working again I will try to post a pic.
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mundy
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Welcome Colt  I'm glad you got the answer to your question . And I'm always glad to see another member join the forum 
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Colt
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Thanks for the warm welcome. I must admit that I am enjoying this. My grandfather, father, and a few uncles were all pipe smokers; and with the exception of an occaisonal Yellow Bole back in the day, all smoked Grabows. I bought my first one, a paint, in 1970, when I was fifteen, and have always kept at least a couple ever since. Like some others, I smoked cigarettes as well for many years before going exclusively with my pipes. I have always been interested in collecting, but am a rank amature as far as being a collector is concerned, and am constantly learning. I currently have a small collection of a dozen, half of which are Grabows. The others are a rag tag assortment including one Stanwell, one La Rocca Nova, some no name long stemmed thing ( do not believe it is long enough to be a true church warden, and do not know what to call it) and three basket pipes that at best are simply stamped Italy. I enjoy them all, but as a third generation Grabow man, they hold a special significance for me.
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steverino
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Colt, I'm glad you're enjoying your Grabows. For me, at least, there is something addictive about picking one up here and there. I'm probably up close to a hundred or so - haven't counted lately - if my wife asks how many I have, I want to be able to say "I don't know"! It is good that you are able to think of this with regard to the heritage in your family. I had one grandfather that smoked a pipe a little bit but that was it. I hope I am able to pass it on to my boys and their sons. Enjoy collecting!
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ozark southpaw
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When it come to collecting pipes,the way I see it,is if I like it I try to buy It!! The only thing I need to learn is restraint!!
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Sir Duke
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Colt a belated welcome to the forum. I'm just catching up! Yes, it might take you more than a couple minutes to find answers to your questions on this forum. LOL
It might even take up to a whole wurter of an hour. Just kidding, this reems of info here with litlle static (mostly my posts!). I hope you get to fill your bowl and poke around.
Glad to have ya and leep right in. I would LOVE to see the buck carving by the way. I really like to hear and see what people do to personalize their Grabows after they leave the factory. Thisis one of the many aspects about Grabows I love. People aren't affraid to futz with them. Ya by something at $125 and your practically affraid to even smoke it. Bah!
Enjoy.
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drbridges
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I have seen several carved DG pipes with bucks and eagles on them. I don't believe these were done by individual purchasers. If Sparta didn't do them, then some regional distributor did. Here is one on eBay.
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