What is it exactly that makes this little Poker the most popular shape from Tom Eltang? Is it the price point? I mean it's easily his most accessible pipe, and the chance to come away with an Eltang while only blowing the entertainment budget for a few months (and not the year) is mighty tempting. Is it the smoking qualities? I mean all of Tom's pipes smoke excellently, but there is always something to be said for a minimalist design in terms of engineering. Is it the shape itself? The finish? The perfect rhythm of shank, horn, and stem? Personally I think it's a combination of all these things. A superbly smoking, classically shaped, handsomely finished Eltang for a price point closer to what new carvers are often asking, than world-famous masters? Seems like a no-brainer.

— Adam O'Neill