  |
|
|
|
||
|
||
|
||
QUALITY PIPES FROM DENMARK
Erik Nording is a living legend in the world of pipe-makers. A blacksmith and engineer, and son of an engineering blacksmith father, Erik was first drawn into the world of pipe making not for his love of pipes, but for his engineering skills. |
Latest update January 31, 2023 Eriksen Keystone Pipes |
He constructed some pipe-making machinery for a prospective pipe-maker Skovbo. The name SON was an acronym for the names Skovbo and Nording stamped on the pipes they made together.
The cooperation started in 1963 but only lasted about two years. Then, when he couldn’t be paid, Nording kept ownership of the machinery, and started to make pipes on his own.
This was in the late 1960s when the Danish pipe industry was taking off due to international demand for their unusual, distinctive, pipe styles and shapes.
Many years ago we visited Erik Nording and were taken to the workshop below his home outside Copenhagen.
Thanks to his engineering skills, he was one of the first of the pipe-makers to construct a machine with a template to prepare several bowls at one time.
Today more than 40 000 distinctive pipes a year leave his factory in Denmark, 90% to the USA.
Eriksen Keystone Pipes
Recently, together with his son Knud, he decided to reinvent the Eriksen filter pipe,
which had been a success in the 1980s.
So, back to the engineering skills.
Their objectives were to construct a pipe:
Good for beginners;
Easy to fill, light up and smoke;
That is durable;
Requiring little maintenance;
That would leave no lump of wet tobacco in the bottom of the bowl at the end of a smoke;
That is eye-catching (available in the USA in addition to black, with a rich blue or dazzling white base);
That is affordable.
Good for pipe people who buy pipes for the smoking qualities of good briar, not necessarily (or only) for the aesthetics of fine grain, style, etc.
All these objectives are achieved in the new Eriksen Keystone filter pipe.
Almost a smoking machine – well-priced and offering a cool, dry smoke.
The base (mouthpiece, shank, and bowl chamber) is constructed of black high impact polycarbonate: difficult to break, easy to clean.
The bowl chamber is well-proportioned at 17mm diameter and 32mm deep. It is filled with highly absorbent Keystones (natural tasteless volcanic clay pellets), ensuring a cool, dry, smoke, right down to the last shred of tobacco.
The Nording pipe is easy to clean:
After smoking let the pipe cool down, then empty any dry ash remnants, and the keystones (when necessary).
The briar bowl should be clean and dry – no further work normally needed.
Wash the base, using a pipe cleaner for the inside of shank and mouthpiece.
I heard an aside: “I put it in the dishwasher when my wife’s not looking”.
Hmmm – not so sure about that!
The quality briar bowl is fitted with a hard rubber gasket (O-ring) to ensure an airtight fit: no thread system which may wear out.
No leaking juices. Spare O-rings are available.
The Nording pipe has a really elegant shape,
with the bowl complementing the shape of the base.
Choose below
The Nording pipe comes with one of four bowl finishes
Black high-polished
Dark Brown Rustic finish,
with attractive highlights
Base with bowl:
54-NordKR R750.00
Two Tone smooth, the grain
is highlighted with a deeper colour
Base with bowl:
54-NordKTT R750.00
Lightly stained and polished,
showing off the natural briar
Base with bowl:
54-NordKNat R750.00 
Spare/extra bowls can be purchased seperately in either of the four finishes above
Bowl only
54-NordKBwl R525.00
Spare O-ring (gasket)
54-NordKOr R111.00
As with all pipes (especially new pipes) smoke slowly
– relatively easy when the tobacco in the bowl stays dry.
If the pipe is too hot, you may notice a taste of plastic.
The price of this quality pipe is exceptional in today’s market
All the components of the pipe are available separately, and each pipe comes with a complimentary canister of keystone pellets.
These Nording pipes were ready late 2011 – so they have proved their worth over time.
We were introduced to them by Erik and Knud at the InterTabac fair in Germany in September 2014.
The sucess of the Nording pipe has been extraordinary: we had to wait until this year to collect our first order of 24 pipes.
Durable, affordable, giving a cool dry smoke?
The Nording pipe is perfect for all occasions, and especially as a substitute for your normal pipe when fishing, hiking, etc.
The Keystone Pellets for Nording (and other pipes)
These have been available for some time – volcanic clay pellets:
natural, tasteless, highly absorbent.
Since they are natural they are not all the same size.
Put a few into the bowl chamber of your Nording Eriksen pipe, around and between the spiral. They recommend 10-15 pellets, but it obviously depends on the size of the pellets and the amount of moisture your tobacco generates.
Available in handy, refillable carry tins.
Approximately 10g 58-FilKeytin R47.50
Refill from the 100g value pack.
Very economical when compared with most other filters.
Besides in the Nording, they can be used in the bowl of a normal briar pipe.
Nording Shorty
The base (mouthpiece, shank, and bowl chamber) of this Nording pipe is constructed of black high impact polycarbonate: difficult to break, easy to clean.
The bowls are durable ceramic.
4 colours
Black, White, Fuschia and Turquoise
Black and Fuschia
-
54-NordSh R599.50
Shorty is a true filter stones pipe and comes with a box of high-absorbing clay pellets that ensure a dry cool smoke. The pellets are made from a unique volcanic clay found exclusively in the Limfjord region of Denmark. By using pellets no tobacco is wasted in the bottom of the pipe bowl. Simply place 10 to 15 filter stones into the spiral chamber, mount the pipe bowl and fill it with tobacco. After smoking allow the pipe to cool down, empty the ashes from the pipe bowl and the used filter stones from the spiral chamber.
But don’t forget. It’s all about having a good time. Made for a good smoke in the best company.
Description from the packet
Nording Sailor
These Nording pipes may look unusual, but they certainly look attractive.
Knowing Erik Nording, the briar will have been well-cured, they will be technically perfect, and they will smoke well
54-NordSail R999.50
Nording Compass
Rusticated Briar bowl
54-NordComR R995.00
Smooth TwoTone Briar bowl
54-NordComSm R1295.00
Nording Freehands
The individually selected freehand pipes are very beautiful, very smokeable, and not over-the-top in price.
We have only one of each pipe – the pipe you see is the pipe you will get.
Erik Nørding started making his Freehand pipes in the 1960s. He only uses plateau wood for the Freehand Pipes. 
It is the outer part of the briar block where you find the most beautiful texture and grains.
When carving a freehand pipe he tries as much as possible to follow the grain, making creative choices when he as to deal with natural defects within the wood.
Although Erik is very innovative, he certainly doesn’t cut corners with the curing and drying processes.
In this way he makes certain that the briar is top quality, the finish is durable, and the smoking experience excellent.
The finished pipes are large, and the wood is thick – but the diameter of the tobacco cavity is the standard 18/20mm.
We normally only buy these when we can select the pipes ourselves.
This is our fourth shipment – previous shipments fulfilled all expectations – always a pleasure.
Matte Brown Series
Erik Nording’s classic Freehands from plateau briar, this time with a rich brown satin matt finish, highlighted with a darker stain following and highlighting the grain. Four stunning shapes. As always, well-cured for a smooth, cool, dry smoke.
Variegated brown mouthpiece
54-NordMB A R3100.00
Weight 57g
Bowl diameter 18mm
Bowl depth 40mm
Variegated brown mouthpiece
54-NordMB B
Weight 66g
Bowl diameter 20mm
Bowl depth 42mm
Variegated brown mouthpiece
54-NordMB C R3100.00
Weight 73g
Bowl diameter 20mm
Bowl depth 45mm
True amber colour mouthpiece
54-NordMB D R3100.00
Weight 69g
Bowl diameter 19mm
Bowl depth 49mm
Nording Spruce Cone
Who would have thought that an ordinary pine cone would have inspired Erik Nording to create a new finish for this freehand pipe.
But it works.
A lot of rustication brings out the distinctive shape of the pipe even more, and as a result it is light for its size.
Nice touch - the “folded” rim matches the smooth end of the shank
As always the pipe feels very comfortable in the hand.
54-NordCone 
Weight 66g
Bowl diameter 19mm
Bowl depth 45mm
Nording Briar Line Series
The Briar Line Series are beautifully crafted Freehand Pipes, featuring smooth natural with rustic emphasis.
These two are true eye-catchers featuring the natural beauty of the grain partly rusticated but leaving the most beautiful part of the plateau wood in the natural color of briar.
54-NordBLR A
Weight 77g
Bowl diameter 20mm
Bowl depth 45mm
54-NordBLR B
Weight 73g
Bowl diameter 20mm
Bowl depth 40mm
The Signature Series - Smooth Natural
New last year, we couldn’t resist buying another two of these autographed pipes with 9mm option.
Each pipe comes with a lovely drawstring bag, to protect your pipe when you carry it.
As they are smoked the softer briar will darken, exposing the amazing grains. Two shapes.
54-NordSign C R2500.00
Weight 72g
Bowl diameter 23mm
Bowl depth 45mm
54-NordSign D R2500.00
Weight 62g
Bowl diameter 23mm
Bowl depth 40mm
Nording “Grain” Series - SOLD OUT
For his “Grain” series, Erik Nording has chosen the most beautiful, almost flawless bowls from his briar plateaus.
A deep base stain highlights the grain, and the bowls are then hand carved with ridges and valleys following the natural grain.
They are then finished with a lighter stain and a high-polished surface.
All the bowls are straight or flame grain, and the rim of the bowl is decorated with etchings emphasising the birdseye tips of the grain.
The Grain pipes offer a 9mm option.
The slightly larger size 2 is finished in a rich light mahogany colour – he calls it “orange”.
Size 3 is a beautiful golden brown.
54-NordGrain#2A R3100.00
Weight 63g
Bowl diameter 23mm
Bowl depth 45mm
54-NordGrain#2B R3100.00
Weight 68g
Bowl diameter 23mm
Bowl depth 40mm
54-NordGrain#3A R2800.00
Weight 61g
Bowl diameter 23mm
Bowl depth 40mm
54-NordGrain#3B R2800.00
Weight 65g
Bowl diameter 23mm
Bowl depth 45mm
Harmony Series
Harmony is a perfect description of this quality briar
Nording pipe, with elegant coloured “Hunt” design.
Only one pipe – this is the pipe you will get.
The pipe comes with a Nording branded drawstring bag,
to protect your pipe when you carry it.
As always, it feels very good in either hand.
54-NordHrmGrn A R3400.00
Weight 60g
Bowl diameter 20mm
Bowl depth 40mm
about the Nording Pipe in blog posts 367 and 399
Refund Policy (Website customers - you’ll like this!)
Because we always guarantee our products – anything that isn’t completely to your satisfaction can be returned (in original condition and packaging) for a full refund.
ALL IMAGES AND CONTENT © Colin Wesley 2023
|
|||||||||||
