The styrian Karl Harkam , born in 1958, is an office worker and has discovered a few years ago his passion of making pipes. First, only self-taught, from literature and the internet, later supported by Italian colleagues, he developed his own style to produce high-grade handmades.
Because of a quite limited production, the demanded works of this pipe artist are a true insider tip in the scene. Both, classical forms, as well as playful shapes are represented in the wide range of his work. One of his specialties is the curve drilling, which he uses for some shapes. This results in an enhanced smoke-draft behavior and thus an increased benefit to the smoker.
His technique developed Karl Harkam himself and is a very closely guarded secret. To any individual item with curve-drilling,Karl Harkam also provides a special suitable cleaning thorn for the respective model.
Main basis is always outstanding quality in processing and in raw materials. Over many years of good contacts with an italian coupeur, the pipemaker applies best briar-scantlings and processed them with grinding wheel, rasp and file. Wood-errors are respected, glazing and other forms of fake are not considered, small impurities in the natural product will be left. Mouthpieces are hand cut from bar rubber and cumberland, and applications are made from exotic woods, horn and bone.
