Better Stamping on Pipes

The stamped lettering on pipes, the stamping, is the single best, and only dependable, way

to identify the maker and origin of a tobacco pipe. Many brands, like Dunhill and Peterson,

are methodical in providing clear stamping that gives you a good idea about a pipe. Lately,

many artisan carvers and other manufacturers like Luciano have become quite proactive in

providing a name and date on their pipes. I wonder if a word-of-mouth campaign to encourage

this would help make it almost universal, and perhaps increase the information given a little, on

every pipe. A standard stamp should probably include the name of the maker (company or artisan),

the date of manufacture, the nation and if possible the state/province where it was made, a model

name and/or number, and perhaps even the city or town of manufacture. I think even house pipes

and seconds could give a manufacturer of origin without diminishing the retail dealer. Also, the

quality of the engraving or impression of the stamp should be firm and clear, and big enough to

read. I bought a fine, sturdy Amadeus pot shaped pipe but the name is only partially legible. As

pipes become more expensive, and the estate market increases, identifying pipes becomes more

important in resale, and provides a strong element of interest in buying new pipes as well. If you

agree, talk it up with your pipe manufacturing and artisanal carver contacts. What do you think?

The pipe carver I have most bought pipes from puts his name and the year. Of course, an artisan carver

isn't going to have model numbers; each pipe is a separate work. But with group-produced pipes, it helps

identify them. I say group-produced because a lot of hand-work goes into even "machine made" pipes.

I still like the idea of people adding at least the country (besides name and date). And by date, I really mean

the year. If most stamps had the maker name, the year, and the nation, think of all the guess work that would

save us on Forums alone. Pipes often have a lifespan longer than their owner, and might have two or three or

more owners over time. I just think it gives a pipe dignity and more identity to have at least basic information,

and maybe a little more. But your point is taken; if there is really no place on the pipe that doesn't deface it,

by putting stamped information -- if that is really the case with an artisan pipe -- then put nothing. I'd go

along with that. Most pipes, there is somewhere tasteful to tuck the stamp. But if not, not.

You could look at it the other way. The stamps can identify and give credit to pipes that are not

prestige names, may be relative unknowns, but have quality, integrity, and design, by at least

remembering where they were made, by whom, and when. That's most of mine.