Scottie Piersel: Sandblasted Magnum Morta Pencil Shank Rhodesian Tobacco Pipe

For her first time participating in our American Carvers Expo, Scottie Piersel chose one of her more complex shapes — the Magnum pencil shank — and paired it with morta to meet the "alternative materials" theme. The pencil shank itself is a difficult design, requiring a long, slow drilling method in order to ensure that the drill remains straight throughout. That goes doubly so when briar is swapped for morta, as the semi-petrified material is incredibly hard, and must be drilled only a few millimeters at a time, as even the sharpest drill bit can waver off-course. She achieved it beautifully, though, and like all of her pencil shanks, it has been lined with stainless steel for some extra sturdiness. At the fore, it's been paired to an upright, crisp-lined Rhodesian bowl, while at the rear, its dark tones are accented by a vulcanite stem in hues of warm tan.