I'm not calling you a liar because I don't know for sure, but the fact is,

My first bong looked exactly like that. To the tee. When you removed the downstem, it had that same crude little hole in it. I think mine was a cheaper version of the spring glass bong collection, which have bongs that look almost identical to that one, and I remember another member, I believe it was oneironaut, had a bong that looked similar to yours is well. These were all store-bought. Again, I'm not calling you a liar because I personally don't know, but the facts that I know for certain are true lean against you a little.

Then again, I'll go out on a limb and believe you because I have nothing to lose if I don't. It's just easier this way, and in the end, what the hell does it matter anyways? Maybe you discovered the secret behind some bong-makers, they just buy them as vases first.