Reviews
142 messages left for Jan by visitors and customers around the world, 2002–2012.
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ThorrinDear Jan, "Thorrin" was received today. Thank you for a wonderful pipe. "Teria" purchased before has already become a wonderful smoker. Kind regards and Happy smoking, Keiichi
AmrothDear Jan, Recently my wife purchased a pipe, the "Aragorrn", from you for my birthday. I'm writing (late- it arrived one week ago) to tell you it arrived safely. It also smokes and handles like a dream. Well done sir, I'm proud to own it. Excellent craftsmanship, good balance, with most intriguing fish. I carried it with me to work the other night, it garnered a lot of compliments. I heard of you and this pipe from a post on the Usenet group alt.smokers.pipes. I'll be posting my impressions there as well. Again, my compliments from craftsman to craftsman and my thanks. I hope to purchase some of your other work in the future. Sincerely Dave Keever
Cutty SarkJan, Recieved both pipes in good order. I've already smoked the "Cutty Sark". A great pipe and a good smoke. I'll try the "Aragorrn" tomorow. I'll place my next order soon. Many thanks, Tom
Thorrin de LuxHi Jan, Guess what? The pipe just arrived! I think that's pretty fast, don't you? It is exquisite and I am very pleased. The grain is superb. Tell me is the shank spliced or one solid piece of briar? I am looking forward to firing up this baby soon. Again, many, many thanks. Arrived bit early to be my birthday pipe, but will celebrate nonetheles while smoking it. Take care, Gayl
YPSC 2002 Club PipeI really don't know where to begin!!! Overall I have found the YPSC club pipe to be the BEST pipe I have smoked to date. I have Stanwell, Edwards, Peterson and Wiley in my collection. These are good smokers, but the pipe from Jan is far better. I followed his recommendation on break in and it didn't take long for the pipe to completely broke in. The longer I?smoke it the darker it is getting in color. I realy like that in a pipe. It is a very cool smoker that delivers the full flavor of the tobacco that I am smoking. As soon as i pay down my credit card I am planning to buy a few more of his pipes. BTW the workmanship is superb !!! I like the way the stem of mine has a natural look to it. Does not have that "made in a factory, everyone the same look" to it. Regards, Dan
YPSC 2001 Club PipeJan, Just dropping you a note to let you know I recieved my YPSC pipe today. WOW ! You truly are an artist. This is the first hand made pipe I have ever owned. It is wonderful. Thank you so much for agreeing to carve our club pipe for us. I will smoke it in your honor. Best regards, Kevin
Jan, About a month after starting pipe smoking, I experienced what I think of as my first "smoking epiphany" when I switched from aromatic blends to my first non-aromatic. "Ahh ... this is how a good tobacco tastes" I thought to myself. Last night, while breaking in my Zeman pipe (Sourani) with its first smoke I had my second epiphany: "Ahh ... this is how a good pipe smokes". Thanks for the beautiful pipe !
YPSC 2000 Club PipeWhat can I say? I have over 200 pipes and this is the first new one that I have acquired in five years. To say that YPSC 2000 pipe #18 is first rate is to marely hint at the truth. It is outstanding !!! A bowl a day of Morley's Best is breaking in the pipe with no problems, no bite, and wonderful coloring. If I am not the first, I will certainly then add my name to the growing list of those requesting that I'll be included in ordering the seven day set. It is a fine well crafted pipe worth more than the cost. My thanks to you for this fine item.
YPSC 2002 Club PipeHi Jan, I received my YPSC pipe few days ago. What a lovely pipe. Great wood, great finish. I am in process of breaking my new lady in (with Haddo's Delight) and she is responding very favourably to my advances. It will be a very long and very satisfying relationship. Thank you so much, Otti
YPSC 2000 Club PipeJan, My club pipe arrived yesturday. When I took it out of the box and held it for the first time, it was incredible. It is without a doubt the finest pipe I own (and I've paid more money for a few of mine). I am breaking it in slowly per your directions on your website. I am certain it will be a marvelous smoker. To all those who are thinking of buying one of Mr. Zeman's pipes, rest assured it will be the most enjoyable purchase you have ever made. You won't regret it for a moment. Thanks again Jan, customer for life, Brian
YPSC 2002 Club PipeHello, I just want to tell everyone about Jan's pipes. I own a pipe he made for the YPSC, Yahoo Pipe Smokers Club - my first of Jan's. First of all, I really like the aesthetics of it - beautiful flowing lines and excellent workmanship in every detail. I've smoked it about ten times now. My favorite tobacks are Virginia Flakes and it has really taken to them. Some of my much higher priced Italians, Mastros, Cavicchis, and Brebbias have retained their break-in taste much longer than this one (he uses excellent briar). I will dedicate this one to my loved Fribourg & Treuer blends, which are very light in taste and exhibit fine aroma nuances. The Zeman pipe really shines here. Just what I was looking for - finally a pipe well suited to my favorite blends right off the start! And at a great price as well. I will definitely come back for further pipes from Jan - great guy, providing an all around class act!? Thanks Jan PS: The shipping went very fast, without any hitches from NZ to US in five days ...
Dear Jan, Your pipe arrived today. I am very (favorably) impressed. I was a little taken aback that you were making a pipe "just for me" when the first "Concerto" was already sold. However, your e-mail dialogue kept me up to date about each stage?of your crafting this pipe and convinced me that I had made the right decision in having you proceed. Your assurence that this one was a finer grain pipe that the other already sold, made me very pleased. I was excited when I got home today and saw a package from New Zealand outside my door. When I brought the package in from the from porch, where the mail carrier had left it, I could see how carefully you had taped up the box. So, in like manner, I opened the paper wrapping very carefully with my pocket knife. I could hardly believe it when I saw that the inner box, holding the pipe, was evidently hand made, and adorned with a lovely logo and the name of the pipe. Your attention to packaging details told me that a real delight awaited me within. Upon opening the box I saw the folded card cautioning me against using honey or alcohol to break in the pipe as well as your handwriten note. When I picked up the grey felt bag (which looks like it was also custom made), it was practically weightless. How is that possible? I poured the pipe out of the bag into my hand and just stared - amazed at the beauty of the straight grain panels and the birdseye, top and bottom. I've had no true horn -shaped pipe until your "Concerto". My next step was to reach for the pipecleaner. Could this gorgeous pipe also be perfectly drilled so as to receive a pipe cleaner from the tip of the stem and allow it to pass all the way through inside to the base of the bowl without twisting or turning the cleaner? On my second try I bent the end of the cleaner ever so slightly and turned the cleaner when it met resistance until it found its mark at the base of the bowl. Jan, I am one very happy pipesmoker today. thank you for the tremendous care you have taken in your service and crafting a pipe I am proud to own. You can be sure I will show off this pipe to others at the next meeting of the Atlanta pipe Club. Sincerely, Bill Withers
YPSC 2001 Club PipeWell,, I gave my new Club Pipe its test run last night. While it was just the first bowl, and thus the pipe is not yet broken in, I think I know enough for a preliminary evalution. First, the good parts: It is light, well balanced, and fits in my mouth beautifully. It's easy in the hand. It draws very well and passes that all important pipe-cleaner test with flying colors. It's distinctive without being too flashy. It's an "easy" pipe that doesn't take more fiddling then smoking to keep going. And the bad parts: Well, there really aren't any. I suppose the worst that can be said of it, is that it is not the "special" occasion pipe, brought out only to impress strangers you meet at parties you would rather not have attended. Instead, it promises to become an old friend you see almost every day, the one who helps you when you are building a new deck or who knows to keep quiet when you are fishing. It's a beer and pizza kind of pipe. And to tell you the truth, I'd rather have a new old friend ... Jan, if you happen to read this, thank you. I have a few great pipes that I love to smoke, and now you have given me one more ... PS: Since I first wrote this, i have smoked the pipe several more times and am now certain that it will be one of my favorite regulars. Thanks again ...
I recieved my "Franceska" pipe today, and let me tell you this is a beautiful pipe! The grain is excellent. This is my first hand made pipe. I have only been smoking a pipe for 6 months, and I have only 6 pipes inlcuding yours, and it is a centre piece in my collection. I was able to get my hands on a three year old tin of Ashton Celebrated Sovereign, and this is what I'll be breaking it in with. Thank you so much for the wounderful pipe. Keep up the good work, I'll be back for more, Mike
Dear Jan, I received the Wedding Pipes and they are beautiful I almost don't want to smoke them. My wife and I would really like to thank you for the wedding card which was included with the pipes, it really meant a lot to us. The pictures of the carving process were very good and we have them displayed with the pipes. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the job you did on the pipes and the pics. The pipes are the most beautiful set of pipes I have seen, and I do mean that. Your quality and craftsmanship of the wedding pipes made me a customer of yours for life. We love them very much and we thank you for doing such a great job. Christopher PS: I am glad we decided not to carve them. Now that I have seen them, I really think my heart would have broken if we would have ...
GandorrYour "Gandorr" pipe is fantastic Jan, an absolutely beautiful work of art and smokes like a dream. You've captured the "feeling" of LOTR completely in this unique design. I love it, Frenchy
Hello Jan, I'm inclined to think you somehow hand delivered these pipes and just did not knock on my door! The two "Latitude's" arrived here on Friday, the 17th of May, beautifully packed as always, and your e-mail said shipping was initiated on the 15th! Two days - incredible! I waited 9 days to get a parcel delivered which came a total distance of 4 miles! Think I'll do all my shopping in New Zealand! I'm very pleased with both "Latitude's", in fact I am currently smoking the classic billiard. Both are good smokers from the first bowl - very easy break-in. They are lightweight, nice and easy to hold in the hand and mouth, are attractively finished, and are great for use outdoors, poolside, or wherever I might be. I appriciate having 2 nice pipes with which I can relax a bit in that I don't have to be so concerned that I might hit them against something or drop them (neither is usually a problem with me but who knows - there's always a first time). So, I'm very happy with both pipes all the way. Predict they'll have a long and happy life with me! Take care, Jan Ed