I have a birthday coming up and I am looking at a couple of estate pipes, primarily 1 rusticated Bari and 1 sandblasted Barling. Aesthetics are great for both and both need similar cleaning with no major apparent issues. The Barling is almost double the cost. I have read as much as I can and both have fans with few detractors. The valuation seems to be arbitrary. How do you go about making a decision on which you buy or which you tell someone else to buy you for a birthday gift since they have asked? So many other makers in the $150 and below estate market seem inseparable in quality. But the asking prices are all over the place. And the description of the grain is hilarious... What is straight in one looks like flame in another, etc. French vs Italian vs English vs Algerian vs...... Help! All of the pretty ones cannot be equal. But damn if they don't all have fans.
