Contemporary Barling Meerschaum pies

[cachimbero]

Hello to all forum members.
Anyone has any experience with the pre¡sent day line of Barling meerschaum?
My wife has been pressing me to let her know which pipe I would like for Christmas and I have finally decided on one of these in a rusticated finish. I am confident about my choice as I have three Rattray's meerschaum ones from K&K and I believe they are sourced from the same producer (Altinay?). They are army mounts (which I like vey much for meerschaum), as all the Barlings ones I have seen. You can see them at smoking pipes.com or the Eu site.
I am a bit concerned about the logo on the stem since I don´t like flashy add-ons on pipes, but it is difficult to assess from a picture.
There is one at a Turkish site that was calling me but my latest experiences with Spanish customs and meerschaums have dissuaded me: I like to know how much I am going to pay for something before I order it, and I am finding surcharges up to 50%. Maybe I'll have to go to Turkey and bring it in my pocket (It may end up costing the same).

 

[LeafErikson]

No experience with them. I can get 3 high quality turkish meers directly from carvers for the price of 1 Barling meer so I’ll likely never purchase one.

 

[Chasing Embers]

directly from carvers

That's the way to go. Bypassing distributors saves a load of cash.

 

[VDL_Piper]

I’ve only seen one on here, can’t remember who possesses it but it was a stunning pipe and if my memory serves me well it was starting to colour like an Altinay translucent Meer and colour very well too.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I’ve only seen one on here, can’t remember who possesses it but it was a stunning pipe and if my memory serves me well it was starting to colour like an Altinay translucent Meer and colour very well too.

They're made by Altinay so that makes sense.

 

[LeafErikson]

That's the way to go. Bypassing distributors saves a load of cash.

The only brand that seems to be extremely expensive even direct from the carver is Altinay (throw Altinok in there too actually) so it makes sense that these are expensive. I got my Altinay a few years ago when they still distributed to tobacco pipes. I think I paid $132 shipped.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The only brand that seems to be extremely expensive even direct from the carver is Altinay

They got that way a few years ago when lots of people were making a lot of noise about them.

 

[LeafErikson]

They got that way a few years ago when lots of people were making a lot of noise about them.

Hey more power to Altinay if they can sell their pipes for the current prices. To be fair also I think their pipes were cheaper before the global inflation hit.

Also meerschaum pipes really seem to be having their moment in the sun. The most viewed video on meerschaum pipes in the history of the internet came out a year ago. 1.2 million views. I’m sure that had at least some small impact on the meerschaum market. It’s unfortunate how erroneous the Turkish translations are (according to many commenters).

 

[Chasing Embers]

Hey more power to Altinay if they can sell their pipes for the current prices. To be fair also I think their pipes were cheaper before the global inflation hit.

Also meerschaum pipes really seem to be having their moment in the sun. The most viewed video on meerschaum pipes in the history of the internet came out a year ago. 1.2 million views. I’m sure that had at least some small impact on the meerschaum market. It’s unfortunate how erroneous the Turkish translations are (according to many commenters).

The irony of the video is that it's covering a carver who's work is typically priced the same as mid grade factory pipes rarely exceeding $200.

 

[brian64]

They got that way a few years ago when lots of people were making a lot of noise about them.

It's true, Altinay's prices have gone up over the last few years, but so have everyone else's it appears.

Altinay is actually a bit less expensive than a comparable IMP right now on the non-specialty models. It's primarily their bamboos or pencil shanks or transulcents that are quite pricey. I'm surprised at how expensive the IMP's have gotten. Those federal reserve notes just ain't what they used to be.

 

[LeafErikson]

It's true, Altinay's prices have gone up over the last few years, but so have everyone else's it appears.

Altinay is actually a bit less expensive than a comparable IMP right now on the non-specialty models. It's primarily their bamboos or pencil shanks or transulcents that are quite pricey. I'm surprised at how expensive the IMP's have gotten. Those federal reserve notes just ain't what they used to be.

You know those smaller $50-$100 smooth/lattice meers that normally have the screw push/pull tenons? The first carver to sell those at around the same price but with the more permanent Altinay, IMP, Altinok style tenons will make a killing.

Literally just mass producing run of the mill smooth/lattice meers with this kind of tenon for $100 a pop and they’d sell like hot cakes.

 

[LeafErikson]

Those federal reserve notes just ain't what they used to be.

You ain’t lyin man

 

[Chasing Embers]

with the more permanent Altinay, IMP, Altinok style tenons will make a killing.

After finding out it costs around $100 to repair those fittings, I've gone back to preferring the screw in type.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Altinay is actually a bit less expensive than a comparable IMP right now on the non-specialty models.

Again, difference between carver and distributor. That reverse calabash IMP that I commissioned from IMP cost around $150 less than what Meerschaum Market asks for the same pipe.

 

[brian64]

I didn't even notice until now that this thread was actually supposed to be about Barling pies...and here we are droning on about pipes.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I didn't even notice until now that this thread was actually supposed to be about Barling pies...and here we are droning on about pipes.

We're just discussing the raw ingredients before they are ground up.

 

[LeafErikson]

After finding out it costs around $100 to repair those fittings, I've gone back to preferring the screw in type.

Noooo don’t tell me that haha. I love the draw on those pipes. Dammit.

 

[Winnipeger]

I prefer pecan, or good old apple, but different strokes...

 

[brian64]

Noooo don’t tell me that haha. I love the draw on those pipes. Dammit.

That's why I like the fittings on 9mm meers...much simpler and nothing to break...plus a more open draw.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Noooo don’t tell me that haha. I love the draw on those pipes. Dammit.

The newer replacement screw in fittings have a better draw than the older versions. Even my biggest pieces from Kenan, Ali, and Yanik have the screw in fittings.