One of our great joys since founding The Pipery has been to send free pipes and tobacco to deployed troops. Soldiers, Marines, and Airmen serving overseas (usually in very stressful and hazardous conditions) have told us how much they enjoy kicking back for a few minutes with a fine pipe.
Some of these free pipes come from estate collections that we purchase and then restore; however, the majority of the pipes and tobacco are donated.
The project is a great way for the community as a whole to come together and help our military get a great start in the hobby. Pipe smokers from all around the world donate their old unwanted pipes, new pipes, tobacco, and other smoking-related products. Dave takes them all in, does any restoration that may be needed, and then sends them back out virtually free of charge.
We try to include everything that is needed for the new pipe smoker: pipes, tobacco, cleaners, a tamper, and a pouch or PocketJars. It just depends on what has been donated. Everything that comes in goes back out. Dave donates his time as well as the thousands of pipe cleaners that it takes to restore the hundreds of pipes that have found new owners.
If are in contact with a deployed military member and would like to include them in this project, please reach out to us. We would love to hear from you, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.