Blog entry by Al Jones
This beautiful Orlik “Dugout” belongs to Jon Guss. I didn’t find a lot of information online about Orlik pipes. I did find a trade magazine ad using the name “Dugout”, dated to 1922. The blast on this pipe is outstanding. The pipe was in very good condition, particularly the stem. A beautiful fitted case holds the pipe, which usually indicated a premium pipe grade.
Jon sent me this about the Orlik Dugout line:
Dugout: Introduced about 1921 (see attached trademark registration for U.S. market); their earliest known sandblast, presumably a response to Dunhill; advertised to be “light as a feather”; priced at the top of Orlik’s line, along with the Bruyere Antique; in production through about 1941 (although it was briefly revived much later)
We can’t be certain this is Jon’s pipe, as his has no shape number (not uncommon in early Orliks). As you can see from his early catalog page, there is a very strong resemblance. Additionally, the Orlik script on the case is identical to what is shown in this catalog. This pipe would have also has the metal “Scraper” apparatus (as shown on the previous Sterling pipe).
Below is the unrestored pipe, which was in really excellent condition.
I reamed the slight cake from the bowl, then soaked it with alcohol and sea salt. The shank was cleaned with a soft bristle brush and alcohol. I used a cloth and a mild Oxy-clean solution to remove the build-up on the bowl top.
The stem was in such good shape, I started with 1500 grade paper to bring up the shine, followed by 2000 grade and then 8000 and 1200 grade Micromesh sheets. The stem was then buffed lightly with White Diamond rouge and Meguiars Plastic Polish.
I polished the briar by hand with a cloth and some Halycon wax.
Despite the deep bend, the pipe easily passes a cleaner.
Below is the finished pipe.
rebornpipes 
Al, I must have posted it on one of the forums. I will shoot some photos and post a short blog here. Mine is stamped identically to the one above. ORLIK over DUGOUT and then Trade Mark with Trade and Mark on opposite sides of the stamp. I think mine is roughly from the same era though it has a different stem – it is an old orific stem with the round hole in the rounded button. It came in a different case with room for a separate stem or cigarette holder… The case is lined with worn red velvet
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I wonder if it was on the old SmokersForums? I’d love to see and contrast the two shapes.
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Thank you sharing the restoration and history of this pipe. Fantastic photography.
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Jon has certainly given you some uncommon pipes to restore and describe. Many years ago I used to focus on buying these gems at pipe shows when everyone else was looking for more expensive pipes. These are treasures to smoke and also treasures of history. The secret about these old pipes has surfaced recently with collectors of old quality briar and vulcanite. The vulcanite used for stems is of such a high quality in these old pipes that it shows during restoration with a very high shine that they take on after polishing. Even the lesser grades of these pipes are amazing smokes albeit not the same quality of wood or stem material.
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Here sure did, I was excited to work on that quartet of pipes.
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Al I have an old cased Dugout. Do a search on the blog and you will see it.
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I will, what an awesome shape!
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Mine is small billiard but similar style of blast
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Steve, I searched on the blog and via Google but can’t find your Dugout article. I remember it now, but could you shoot me a link?
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I will hunt it down. If I cannot find it I will post some pics and a short article on it.
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