Deep beneath Auburn Georgia, in the heavily guarded vaults of the Oom Palace there are many hidden treasures in the form of letters, historical documents, poems, songs and coded communications all regarding the ever important pipe. Every so often we find some interesting piece of pipe history to share and the following story is one such gem.
Passed down from generation to generation for many years, the time honored skill of the Georgian Snake-skinned pipe is now almost completely forgotten. The documents we have uncovered on this topic are quite interesting and nearly unbelievable. I will go over the basics with you now.
The pipe should be complete, preferably smooth, and ready to be smoked prior to the addition of the snake skin. The stem of the pipe is removed prior to scenting the pipe with a live mouse or rat. The term scenting, in this case, entails rubbing the mouse or rat onto the outer wood of the bowl and shank. Once this is done, the pipe is left out of doors until the bait is taken. This will only work in the Spring or Summer, and has a heightened degree of success during waning moons.
Leave the scented stem-less pipe out of doors until the snake attempts to eat it, thinking it is a strange pipe shaped mouse or rat. Once the snake has eaten the stem-less pipe, pick up the now lazy and resting snake (completely harmless during it's attempt to digest the pipe) and place in a container. Wait until the pipe shape can be seen in the middle of the snake, then part said snake with this world in a humane and quick way until the pipe segment is left.
Leave snake covered pipe segment on a high pedestal in the outdoors for 3 weeks. Keep covered with wire to keep scavengers away. Once completely dry, remove excess bits as desired, replace stem and smoke.
Dear reader, you will be very happy to know that this process is not completely dead, but is seeing use again through the Monstrosity pipe line. Authentic Georgia Snake-skinned pipes are now available, made in this time honored tradition. See the Monstrosity line of pipes for more information.