Help to identify and value
- Thread starter zedriv
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Stanwells are good. Even their lower grade pipes are good smokers. Peterson pipes should be alright. For some reason, they are a love/hate thing, but I have one and it is a good smoker. They have some shapes and finishes that might fit, what you are looking for, and within your price range. Here's one: https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/peterson/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=288501
The op's pipe does appear to be primarily ornamental, despite an 'authentic' shape.
Mine says it's made in Czechoslovakia, and sits on a re-purposed spice rack on the wall with other 'oddities'.
Dr. Grabow pipes should not be overlooked, but the other recommendations have been quite reasonable.
Estate pipes can be very successful hunting grounds.
Mine says it's made in Czechoslovakia, and sits on a re-purposed spice rack on the wall with other 'oddities'.
Dr. Grabow pipes should not be overlooked, but the other recommendations have been quite reasonable.
Estate pipes can be very successful hunting grounds.
You have two things going at once -- your desire to develop your pipe smoking interest, but co-equally your interest in dramatic pipes. For the smoking interest, I'd get one or two pipes that are known good smokers, inexpensive examples of good brands like Missouri Meerschaum (I like the ones with acrylic stems), Rossi made by Savenelli, or one of the low-end Stanwells. But for the drama you seek, I'd do a lot of shopping and a bit of learning, to find something with that pizzazz that also has fair smoking characteristics. Search on Cavalier shape pipes, Lord of the Ring pipes, and others along those lines. Then look for pipes like that in a reputable smoking pipe brand, which exist. Personally, I don't like too much theatricality in my pipes, but I can see others like a little theater in their smoking. Good luck, and show us what you locate, if you find something interesting. The pipe in the original post looks like a wall-hanging decoration; if it smokes well, it would be surprising.
I wish someone would have told me when I started out, buy less pipes and spend more money per pipe. You can get some really stellar pipes in the $200-$300 range through SmokingPipes estate section. I typically have 2 maybe 3 bowls a day and I've come to learn I could easily get by with only about 12 pipes in my cabinet. If I'd known that and taken that approach to the hobby when I started seriously at this 8yrs ago I'd have a much better collection and a much higher percentage of my collection would see regular rotation.
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