Is This An Absurd Price For A Kaywoodie?

uncleblackie

Starting to Get Obsessed

Dec 20, 2014

280

10

• Mar 14, 2016

• #1

1929-31 Kaywoodie
I like these old Kaywoodie's but I can't recall seeing one get this high. Is there something special about this one that I'm missing?

 

voorhees

Lifer

May 30, 2012

3,834

939

Gonadistan

• Mar 14, 2016

• #2

Maybe. Maybe not. Early KW's are gaining traction in the estate market. I can easily see it going for $125. But that is a lofty bid. Good for the seller.

 

johnnyiii

Can't Leave

Nov 30, 2013

320

7

hertford nc

• Mar 14, 2016

• #3

Maybe it comes stuffed with crack. :crazy:

 

mayfair70

Lifer

Sep 14, 2015

1,968

2

• Mar 14, 2016

• #4

I had my eye on that one. Very displeased when it went so high last night then lost two Peterson's and another as well in bidding war. Don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful pipe. I especially like the stem. I wonder if the interested parties are on this forum? We'll see.

 

markus

Part of the Furniture Now

Mar 18, 2014

770

489

Bloomfield, IN

• Mar 14, 2016

• #5

I'm watching this thread, because I think this is a good question.

What is a rock ambera stem? I suspect the stem may be unique, not sure though.

 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings

Jun 15, 2013

19,775

45,378

Southern Oregon

jrs457.wixsite.com

• Mar 14, 2016

• #6

There are two determined bidders dueling. That's a common recipe for overpaying. Evidently the pipe is worth it to them.
The bowl is in pretty good condition, and the pipe is from a highly collectible period. Maybe it's an uncommon shape. The stem's a bit chewed up on the underside and it's overclocked, so the pipe is hardly mint.

 

buroak

Lifer

Jul 29, 2014

1,867

14

• Mar 14, 2016

• #7

That finish/stem combination is considered desirable, but the price has risen to the point of absurdity, especially considering the condition of the stem. The Kaywoodie market has been seeing this kind of craziness of late. I need to cash in...

 

uncleblackie

Starting to Get Obsessed

Dec 20, 2014

280

10

• Mar 14, 2016

• #8

mayfair70: I had my eye on it too. I was shocked to see the jump in price.
markthelad: Rock Ambera is Bakelite with an amber-ish appearance, according to what I have read. Not certain, but I don't think you see these stems past the early 40's. I once owned a Dublin shape with a Rock Ambera stem and I really like the look of it with the black Kaywoodie logo.

 

ssjones

Moderator

Staff member

May 11, 2011

18,446

11,353

Maryland

postimg.cc

• Mar 14, 2016

• #9

I was also watching that one,but was surprised at the big jump. Someone wants it bad to fill a missing spot in their collection I suppose. The nomenclature is excellent(so are the pictures) but the bowl and stem leave a lot to be desired.

 

deuce26

Can't Leave

Jan 29, 2014

456

4

Slidell, Louisiana

• Mar 15, 2016

• #10

Sable is definitely correct, the stem looks over locked. I do love old Kaywoodies though. I have an old billiard that is one of my best smokers. That stem is not for me though.

 

xrundog

Part of the Furniture Now

Oct 23, 2014

737

1

Ames, IA

• Mar 15, 2016

• #11

I guess I need to list my RA pipes on eBay. People think Rock Ambera is Bakelite. Bakelite is what the later yellow swirl stems are. Rock Ambera is, I believe, pressed amber. It's fragile and wears easily. Hence it's hard to find good examples when they show up at all. I'd say the pipe in question is really pretty good for a Rock Ambera pipe.

 

aristokles

Can't Leave

Jan 18, 2011

399

0

• Mar 15, 2016

• #12

That is one rare KW, to be sure. It may well be worth the current bids, or more, based on that rarity. BUT that particular specimen is ruined being so over-reamed. Shame.
I see 'xrundog' has a comparable pipe for sale here, one in much better shape, one of the same vintage, type, and at a better price.

 

clickklick

Lifer

May 5, 2014

1,700

212

• Mar 15, 2016

• #13

I wouldn't spend $5 on that.
There, I said it.

 

cosmicfolklore

Lifer

Aug 9, 2013

34,000

75,782

Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC

• Mar 15, 2016

• #14

I'd give $5 for it. :wink:

 

jdhayes

Starting to Get Obsessed

Jan 15, 2016

112

2

• Mar 15, 2016

• #15

I'm watching this one too. Just to see where it goes. I love old Kaywoodie's but am I going to pay more than $20-$30. Nope! To each there own, but pipes past the $100 range confuse me.. its like paying $100 for a screw driver, in the end its a tool. Just like a pipe is a tool really. Again, I'm not knocking anyone who buys expensive pipes, I can see that they are works of art too. Personally, I'm not going to pay that though. And on a slight tangent.. for the love, stop reaming and buffing the hell out of these old pipes!

 

xrundog

Part of the Furniture Now

Oct 23, 2014

737

1

Ames, IA

• Mar 15, 2016

• #16

To be fair to the old timers, their pipes weren't collectable. So they used pen knives or whatever was handy to clean them out. Bowls chewed up by knife marks are pretty common. And many of them probably never saw a buffer but are simply worn from lots of handling. The exterior bowl is in pretty decent condition. It's actually surprising to me that the bit isn't more worn. The old timer probably wasn't a clencher or a chewer.

 

mso489

Lifer

Feb 21, 2013

41,210

60,459

• Mar 15, 2016

• #17

Overbidding tends to jack up prices so it's not good to see.

 

randelli

Part of the Furniture Now

Nov 21, 2015

914

5

• Mar 15, 2016

• #18

@buroak - I am looking for an H9 relief grain if you have one...

 

buroak

Lifer

Jul 29, 2014

1,867

14

• Mar 20, 2016

• #19

Randelli, I cannot help with that one.

 

sparrowhawk

Lifer

Jul 24, 2013

2,941

219

• Mar 20, 2016

• #20

Wow. I'm not enough of an expert on pipes to be able to determine a proper price for this one, but, ignoramus that I am, I can't see that much money for a Kaywoodie. See my new post on a related subject: didn't want to hijack this thread.