Questions about pipes

If you want to get pipestone from South Dakota it is available. It's mined by hand only by native americans in a ritual style from the only place in the world that has real pipestone. I have a blank myself waiting to be carved, and a traiditional native american pipe made from it. If you want to carve one without drilling out stone you can find briar blanks many places that are ready to carve. Most other woods are not as dense and will not last nearly as long. I have briar blanks that I still haven't carved. It's good to age briar a good 5 years at least before carving. Most pipe companies have places where they age briar before they carve new pipes.

Just some ideas to google.