Welcome home! Reaching out to one of the many of the independent pipemakers sounds like a stellar idea. Maybe theres a certain one whos styles you like, of course cutting into the briar you never know what flaws there may be of course.
ya its one of my favorites, its only czechvar in the USA, Budvar everywhere else in the world is the real name. That and Pilsner Urquell, iam a sucker for czech lagers :)