Smooth Freehand

5.5" long, 2" tall, .75" bore, 1.6 stroke, 60g. Handcut vulcanite stem with Delrin tenon.
 
Plateaux tops aren't everybody's cup of tea, and I think the last one I made was in 2005. I can only remember two others. But this pipe is what this block of briar wanted to be; it was there all along, in the dirt. While I was tempted to smooth the top, maybe just a little, removing any more nature than necessary to show the grain seemed wrong. I was poised a couple of times and just couldn't do it. As I've learned the hard way, when the briar offers you a gift, take it. Or else.