Ring Grain Morta Duke, Handcut Unicolored Reed Green Stem

In the family of shapes associated with poker, there is one less common: the Duke shape popularized by Dunhill Brand. It has in common with Poker, Cherrywood and Don: a shaft-shaped stummel, canted or not, but the Duke is distinguished by the absence of shank. This shank is here replaced by a metal connector on which just plug the stem. The advantage of the shape is a reduced weight compared to the presence of wood but also the fact that with the weight located on the front, the pipe will never rock once seated. The present model, here in ring grain sandblasted finish, is carved in fossilized oak (called Morta) with a mineral aspect very pleasing to the eye.  It is mounted with an unicolored reed green stem (handcut from a bar of german quality) that bends very slightly to give a softer, less rigid shape to the whole. This fossil oak being particularly light and of course less dense than briar, I opted for a precoating to protect the chamber during the first smokes.  The shank is drilled at 4.2mm. The slot of the mouthpiece, carved concave, is well open in V for an optimal draw.  According to the French supplier, this Morta gris comes from Croatia, carved in oaks submerged for 4000 years.