I just received an S. Bang and here are the specs:
STAMPING:
S. Bang
Copenhagen
Handmade
in Denmark
A
DETAILS:
Diameter: 1.37"
Length: 6.29"
Depth: 1.57"
Weight: 2.12 oz.
This is my 2nd S. Bang (both from Copenhaven, a 'C' not a 'K')I've purchased on the estate market. The first was at this last Chicago show from Great Estate Pipes. As anyone knows who has ever purchased from Chase, he is a master restorer. At that time I purchased the estate Bang (which is a 9mm filter pipe) and a Rainer Barbi. Both beauties, really.
The question I have been asked is: "Are they worth it?", meaning, of course, the money spent.
I had a hard time answering. For the last couple of years, I have been trying to purchase the artisan end spectrum of pipes including Rad Davis, Jerry Crawford, Scott Thile, (slowing selling my Dunhills') J & J Pipes, Michael Parks, Ewe Jopp etc etc. Not the highest end in the world, but high for me.
Other than Micahel Parks, the S. Bangs are the most expensive estate pipes I have purchased, at least so far.
I'm going to say that if budget is a concern (and when is it not?) dollar for dollar Rad Davis is, in my opinion, the best value for the money out there. His fit and finish and general smoke-ability in just about every pipe that he has made is simply a great deal. As we know, he is no longer making new pipes, so his values on the estate market may begin to climb.
Taking nothing away from any of the other folks that I've purchased from, there is something to say about my Bang pipes. I could not say that they smoke that much differently than any of my others. It's something else: the fit and finish, including the 'feel' of the stem entering the mortise; the way the pipe fits in the hand, the 'je ne sais quois' overall.
Some may say that I'm trying to justify my purchases, and there may be some truth to that. Truthfully, if I were blindfolded and smoked each one, I probably wouldn't be able to tell. But I think I may feel the difference in the shape and fit.
Edit: Picture links fixed - Alan: Using Photobucket, from the right side "Share Links"> just copy and paste IMG the URL into the thread. DON'T use the IMG function box on the thread reply box. (use that for other internet pictures) Photobucket adds the code to insert directly into forum threads.
STAMPING:
S. Bang
Copenhagen
Handmade
in Denmark
A
DETAILS:
Diameter: 1.37"
Length: 6.29"
Depth: 1.57"
Weight: 2.12 oz.
This is my 2nd S. Bang (both from Copenhaven, a 'C' not a 'K')I've purchased on the estate market. The first was at this last Chicago show from Great Estate Pipes. As anyone knows who has ever purchased from Chase, he is a master restorer. At that time I purchased the estate Bang (which is a 9mm filter pipe) and a Rainer Barbi. Both beauties, really.
The question I have been asked is: "Are they worth it?", meaning, of course, the money spent.
I had a hard time answering. For the last couple of years, I have been trying to purchase the artisan end spectrum of pipes including Rad Davis, Jerry Crawford, Scott Thile, (slowing selling my Dunhills') J & J Pipes, Michael Parks, Ewe Jopp etc etc. Not the highest end in the world, but high for me.
Other than Micahel Parks, the S. Bangs are the most expensive estate pipes I have purchased, at least so far.
I'm going to say that if budget is a concern (and when is it not?) dollar for dollar Rad Davis is, in my opinion, the best value for the money out there. His fit and finish and general smoke-ability in just about every pipe that he has made is simply a great deal. As we know, he is no longer making new pipes, so his values on the estate market may begin to climb.
Taking nothing away from any of the other folks that I've purchased from, there is something to say about my Bang pipes. I could not say that they smoke that much differently than any of my others. It's something else: the fit and finish, including the 'feel' of the stem entering the mortise; the way the pipe fits in the hand, the 'je ne sais quois' overall.
Some may say that I'm trying to justify my purchases, and there may be some truth to that. Truthfully, if I were blindfolded and smoked each one, I probably wouldn't be able to tell. But I think I may feel the difference in the shape and fit.
Edit: Picture links fixed - Alan: Using Photobucket, from the right side "Share Links"> just copy and paste IMG the URL into the thread. DON'T use the IMG function box on the thread reply box. (use that for other internet pictures) Photobucket adds the code to insert directly into forum threads.
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