Calabash Gourd Where to Buy

[Milleniumsmoker]

I was wondering if I could get some help on this one. I have seen some of the larger sites, and they do have some nice pieces, but I am looking more for a vintage pipe. I have noticed that these sites tend to be a litter harder to find as they are buried deeper in the search results or don't come up at all.

Does anyone have any recommendations (aside from ebay) of where to go to find vintage pipes / restored pipe dealers? Thanks!

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

ebay is probably your best bet but I'd urge caution as there's a fair amount of dross on there.
I bought one of my Strambachs on there and restored it myself. This mainly involved lots of high strength vodka baths for the gourd and softening up the dry cork. It took quite a while but the results were excellent.

 

[condorlover1]

Ebay, Etsy tends to throw up some interesting pipes

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

I was wondering if I could get some help on this one. I have seen some of the larger sites, and they do have some nice pieces, but I am looking more for a vintage pipe. I have noticed that these sites tend to be a litter harder to find as they are buried deeper in the search results or don't come up at all.

Does anyone have any recommendations (aside from ebay) of where to go to find vintage pipes / restored pipe dealers? Thanks!

I realise you're looking for a vintage pipe but if you change your mind and decide to go for new then you can't go wrong with a Baki. A little more expensive but worth every penny.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I was wondering if I could get some help on this one. I have seen some of the larger sites, and they do have some nice pieces, but I am looking more for a vintage pipe. I have noticed that these sites tend to be a litter harder to find as they are buried deeper in the search results or don't come up at all.

Does anyone have any recommendations (aside from ebay) of where to go to find vintage pipes / restored pipe dealers? Thanks!

Auction sites will be your best bet but just know that many of them have a chamber depth of little more than the tip of your finger.

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

I realise you're looking for a vintage pipe but if you change your mind and decide to go for new then you can't go wrong with a Baki. A little more expensive but worth every penny.

Oh that might be worth exploring, and just find Baki on ebay? Or any sites that carry them?

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Oh that might be worth exploring, and just find Baki on ebay? Or any sites that carry them?

I bought mine from an American supplier but I believe all his pipes are now sold from China. 501.0US $ |128 Finest Block Turkey Meerschaum Pipe by master Fikri Baki pipe Calabash Smoking Pipe original Africa gourd Hand Carved new|meerschaum pipe|tobacco smoking pipesmoking pipe - AliExpress - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32838930803.html

 

[FurCoat]

Meerschaum Market and CPW Pipes sells them. Be aware they sell both gourd and mahogany.

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

Auction sites will be your best bet but just know that many of them have a chamber depth of little more than the tip of your finger.

View attachment 105955

yikes! I may have to rethink the vintage than lol.

I bought mine from an American supplier but I believe all his pipes are now sold from China. 501.0US $ |128 Finest Block Turkey Meerschaum Pipe by master Fikri Baki pipe Calabash Smoking Pipe original Africa gourd Hand Carved new|meerschaum pipe|tobacco smoking pipesmoking pipe - AliExpress - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32838930803.html

View attachment 106105
View attachment 106106

I see nice! How do you find the quality? Are they imported from Turkey and real gourds (as far as you can tell, to be honest I wouldn't be able to tell lol)

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

Meerschaum Market and CPW Pipes sells them. Be aware they sell both gourd and mahogany.

Ah yes, I saw that they had Mahogany. I am not against it per se but I am looking for the authentic look and feel so I would want to go with the gourd. I remember my father's giant gourd calabash. It was quite nice! He smoked it a few times but mostly it was for show. It's the kind of pipe you need to really sit down and enjoy not one you would take outside for a walk often lol.

 

[FurCoat]

Ah yes, I saw that they had Mahogany. I am not against it per se but I am looking for the authentic look and feel so I would want to go with the gourd. I remember my father's giant gourd calabash. It was quite nice! He smoked it a few times but mostly it was for show. It's the kind of pipe you need to really sit down and enjoy not one you would take outside for a walk often lol.

I have a gourd calabash that was gifted to me by a forum member. I have to admit that it clenches incredibly well. I thought I was going to have to hold it the whole time. The bowl is wide and shallow which lends to a little more effort to get the tobacco going. Replacement bowls can be made to order and I plan to have one made with a narrower but deeper chamber.

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

I bought mine from an American supplier but I believe all his pipes are now sold from China. 501.0US $ |128 Finest Block Turkey Meerschaum Pipe by master Fikri Baki pipe Calabash Smoking Pipe original Africa gourd Hand Carved new|meerschaum pipe|tobacco smoking pipesmoking pipe - AliExpress - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32838930803.html

View attachment 106105
View attachment 106106

I just checked it out, looks amazing! I think I will go with this. Thanks!

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

I have a gourd calabash that was gifted to me by a forum member. I have to admit that it clenches incredibly well. I thought I was going to have to hold it the whole time. The bowl is wide and shallow which lends to a little more effort to get the tobacco going. Replacement bowls can be made to order and I plan to have one made with a narrower but deeper chamber. View attachment 106119

that has an amazing color!

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Ah yes, I saw that they had Mahogany. I am not against it per se but I am looking for the authentic look and feel so I would want to go with the gourd. I remember my father's giant gourd calabash. It was quite nice! He smoked it a few times but mostly it was for show. It's the kind of pipe you need to really sit down and enjoy not one you would take outside for a walk often lol.

I have 4 gourds and a wooden and I would definitely advise getting a proper gourd calabash. The wooden ones are way heavier.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

I just checked it out, looks amazing! I think I will go with this. Thanks!

Take into account the size of the gourd. I've got 2 giant ones a regular and a small. The size of the gourd/chamber affects the strength of the tobacco, bigger the gourd the more it mellows it out.
My giant ones I tried smoking straight Virginias in and they got a bit lost so now I use them for stronger blends like Revor and the Gawith brown twists. My smallest one (a Baki like in the bottom picture) has a very small gourd and I use that for straight Virginias and it's marvelous.

 

[Ahi Ka]

It's the kind of pipe you need to really sit down and enjoy not one you would take outside for a walk often lol.

on this point I disagree. My silver capped gourd calabash has become my favourite pipe to smoke while pushing a pram. Not only is it surprisingly comfortable to clench, it makes everyone smile.

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

on this point I disagree. My silver capped gourd calabash has become my favourite pipe to smoke while pushing a pram. Not only is it surprisingly comfortable to clench, it makes everyone smile.

that makes sense, for me I never clench a pipe so that is where I wouldn't take it out. Glad you enjoy!

 

[OzPiper]

I was wondering if I could get some help on this one. I have seen some of the larger sites, and they do have some nice pieces, but I am looking more for a vintage pipe.

Try Ebay UK. There are always vintage gourd calabashes on offer..
If you're patient, you may even come across an unsmoked one.

 

[mikecronis]

I had a lot of luck with CPW Calabash Pipes. You'll need some cork-oil to set the seal. Just find one that's an agreeable shape. It took me a year to find one that was a pleasing shape as it's actually out of a real gourd. Don't settle for the fake stuff.

CPW Calabash Pipes Official Website - Home

Hand Crafted Artisan Meerschaum Calabash Pipe. It is our pleasure to provide an handcarved original Calabash Pipes.

www.calabashpipesworld.com

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

I was wondering if I could get some help on this one. I have seen some of the larger sites, and they do have some nice pieces, but I am looking more for a vintage pipe. I have noticed that these sites tend to be a litter harder to find as they are buried deeper in the search results or don't come up at all.

Does anyone have any recommendations (aside from ebay) of where to go to find vintage pipes / restored pipe dealers? Thanks!

If you're still looking there's this Andreas Bauer calabash on ebay. It was produced in 1980 and is brand new! It's made using sterling silver and has a real amber stem. A snip at $3,500 and it comes with free p&p ?.

Vintage giant calabash meerschaum pipe BAUER sterling silver year 1980 unsmoked | eBay

THE MOUTHPIECE IS IN AMBER. MANUFACTURE BAUER - WIEN - AUSTRIA. - ORIGINAL CASE OF BAUER. FREE GIFT WITH PIPE - CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY SIGNED BY THE FIRST ITALIAN PIPE MUSEUM. Filter: No.

www.ebay.co.uk