By Al Jones

This Shape 87 is shown as a “Woodstock” on the Comoy’s shape listing on the Pipedia webpage. I would call it a Zulu and the shape is also referred to as a Yacht shape at times. Below is a picture of the shape from the 1964 Comoy’s catalog. I would date this pipe to somewhere from the early 1950’s. The nomenclature was in excellent shape, including the *5 stamp for the Grand Slam replaceable leather washer.

An old Smokers Haven pipe sales ad for the shape described the shape. This example weighed in at an amazing 29 grams. The screw in Grand Slam filter was missing (most were seemingly discarded) but the threads remain in the tenon.

Comoys always had the best proportions for their Zulu shape, and this remains one of the sexiest pipes ever crafted. So sleek, so athletic, so elegant!

Smokers Haven pipe listing

The pipe had an oxidized stem but no teeth marks. The bowl top had the typical build-up. Below is the pipe as it was received.

The conical bowl was tricky to ream, so care was needed. I primarily used a piece of 320 sandpaper wrapped around a slightly smaller Pipenet reamer head. I used a worn piece of scotchbrite on the bowl top. The bowl was then filled with alcohol and sea salt to soak. Following the soak, the shank was thoroughly cleaned with a bristle brush dipped in alcohol, until the brush came out clean across a paper towel.

The stem was mounted and stepped grades of sandpaper used to remove the oxidation. I used 600>800>1500>2000 grades followed by 8,000 and 12,000 grade micromesh. The stem was then buffed with White Diamond and Meguiars Plastic Polish. The bowl was lightly buffed with White Diamond and Carnuba wax.

Below is the finished pipe. This one was sold to a piper who lives on the lovely island of Corfu in sunny Greece.