Though a pipe smoker since the 1970s, Rad Davis only got his start in the mid 2000s. In need of pipe repair, he discovered that American pipe maker Mark Tinsky lived in Helena, Montana, where Rad lived during the summer and worked as a fly fishing guide. They became good friends and Rad ended up learning to make pipes from Mark. Since then, Rad has worked to refine his style, moving more towards a Danish style, focused particularly on variations on the Danish bent brandy, bent apple and bent billiard shapes. Rad retired in 2015 due to health concerns.