I decided to just go for it after my little bit of cleaning yesterday. Picked up a sample of tobacco at a local store (9g for about $2 which I thought was ok), obviously I'm a novice but it went fine. Quite impressed. Think I'll probably stick with the pipe for the odd occasion I do indulge in a smoke.

It is a nice little thing, I'm quite pleased with it for the money. I've often considered picking up a second hand pipe but until this one they all seemed to be a bit too heavily used, this one I don't think has had much use at all - or like I say, has been well looked after.