Smooth Bent Apple (CCCC) Tobacco Pipe

How does one talk about the work of Claudio Cavicchi and not bring up the grain. Hell, even the interiors of his rusticated pipes show straight grain! It's like talking about Wilt Chamberlain and never alluding to the fact that he has a talent for basketball, ya know? I suppose that one could mention the fact that Claudio created his first pipes in order to conquer the world slow smoking contests and become the unassailed champion for years (there were none available that met his standards, so he created his own). I could point out that his shapes are not only some of the finest that Italy has to offer, but the aesthetic shifts in such a manner that a fan of either the Northern Italian or Pesaro styling will always have a pipe that appeals to him. How about the fact that I have never encountered a Cavicchi that couldn't pass the pipe cleaner test? (Looks at pipe). Yeah, it's still pretty much about the grain, isn't it?

--Bear Graves