After being a collector of Dunhills for most of his adult life, Bruce Weaver first tried his hand at crafting pipes in 2006 for the same reasons that most pipemakers eventually do — because he got the itch to make something for himself. His mom was an artist and Bruce wanted to see if he had any artistic ability, or was simply a craftsman. He was, as it turned out, a bit of both. Taking some time to learn some about pipemaking from Lee Von Erck, Bruce began making pipes loosely based on the English classics with preform stems and styling similar to Lee. In 2009 though he approached fellow tennessean and artisan craftsman, Todd Johnson, learning the intricacies of shaping a pipe on a sanding disk, as well as how to make and utilise handcut stems and Delrin tenons.

Bruce passed away in his sleep on July 26th, 2019 at the age of 68. Though best known by collectors for his magic in the blasting cabinet — very much informed by the work of J.T. Cooke and Lee Von Erck, but distinct in the sheer softness of their aesthetic — those who knew him will remember his generosity of spirit, and his laid-back, affable demeanour.