My Favorite Shape: the Skater. Know of Any out There for Sale?

lasttango

Part of the Furniture Now

Sep 29, 2012

875

17

Wilmington, De / Ithaca, NY

• Jan 7, 2017

• #1

I have searched all over the place and it's tough to find a good looking, new skater.

I recently bought a vintage Hilson skater at P&C for $50. It's nice but it's not quite as nice as I would have liked. A bit small. Seems very machined.
There's a beautiful Beckler Meer at smokingpipes. I bought that exact pipe this time last year and I loved it. I had to return it because it actually didn't pass a pipe cleaner. Well, it passed it, but the pipe cleaner continued under the bowl revealing a bit of a mis-drill - I asked them if they could fix it, but they preferred just to credit my account. I loved that pipe.
Other than this, I have seen a few estate Charatans.
If you happen to come across any nice looking Skaters, feel free to shoot me a link or post here. I would greatly appreciate it. -Geoff

 

lonefrog615

Might Stick Around

Nov 19, 2015

73

0

• Jan 7, 2017

• #2

Check this one out brother. I have a couple Randy Wileys. Great artisan and this is one is a real looker at a fair price.
https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/randy-wiley/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=215347

 

theloniousmonkfish

Part of the Furniture Now

Jan 1, 2017

943

497

• Jan 7, 2017

• #3

Here's a Tinderbox Unique(Charatan), not too bad on price, pics don't show the shape well.

 

lasttango

Part of the Furniture Now

Sep 29, 2012

875

17

Wilmington, De / Ithaca, NY

• Jan 7, 2017

• #4

Thanks... I prefer one that is new and in the English style... Dave Neeb had a nice Charatan on his site that appeared new

 

theloniousmonkfish

Part of the Furniture Now

Jan 1, 2017

943

497

• Jan 7, 2017

• #5

Good luck, you're looking for an unsmoked Charatan pretty much, right?

 

lasttango

Part of the Furniture Now

Sep 29, 2012

875

17

Wilmington, De / Ithaca, NY

• Jan 7, 2017

• #6

Well, that would be nice... see them time from time... though some American and Italian pipemakers occasionally make one. Love/Hate shapes tend to disappear quickly.
Here's the one Dave has at his site... I think the price is okay ($225), but not quite the skater shape I am looking for...

http://www.mkelaw-pipes.com/html/pipee3071.html

 

northernneil

Lifer

Jun 1, 2013

1,390

1

• Jan 7, 2017

• #7

What about this Ropp pipe. Would it fit the bill?

 

lasttango

Part of the Furniture Now

Sep 29, 2012

875

17

Wilmington, De / Ithaca, NY

• Jan 7, 2017

• #8

The Ropp certainly fits the budget... wow~ I think Ropp pipes are a great value. Quite good pipes.

 

mso489

Lifer

Feb 21, 2013

41,210

60,459

• Jan 7, 2017

• #9

That Ropp is a cutie, but at .70 ounces it's also a small one. Small pipes can do a lot, especially with flake/plug/coin/rope cut tobacco. But if you want a medium size pipe or larger, this may not fill the bill. I came to small pipes late, but with a little push from fishnbanjo, I have bought several of them.

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,436

109,341

• Jan 7, 2017

• #10

Ken Erickson Skater

 

mso489

Lifer

Feb 21, 2013

41,210

60,459

• Jan 7, 2017

• #11

Boy, that's a pretty one, with the square shank and saddle stem.

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,436

109,341

• Jan 7, 2017

• #12

I like that shank too, and look at that grain! 8O Plus it's on pipestud's eBay shop.

 

jazz

Part of the Furniture Now

Feb 17, 2014

813

65

UK

• Jan 8, 2017

• #13

What about this thing?
Not sure if you can call it a skater but I'm not sure what else you would call it.

 

rigmedic1

Lifer

May 29, 2011

3,896

75

• Jan 8, 2017

• #14

That is one shape that you don't see much anymore. I don't think anyone is producing it now. I had two Yellobole skaters in the 80's, and they were Brylon. The two skater shapes I have now are one by Sam Martin, and another that looks like a Charatan but is marked C.B.P. Benchmark. Your best bet would be to ask someone like Ryan Alden to make one for you, or scour the estate market. I see Charatans pop in on eBay from time to time.

 

jjjarhead

Might Stick Around

Nov 14, 2014

66

0

• Jan 8, 2017

• #15

there is a no name meer here

 

mayfair70

Lifer

Sep 14, 2015

1,968

2

• Jan 8, 2017

• #16

I hope no one had their hearts set on the Tinderbox/Charatan Theloniousmonkfish posted. I showed it to my girlfriend remarking how much I liked the shape and she bought it for my Birthday. Thanks Thelonious !!

 

theloniousmonkfish

Part of the Furniture Now

Jan 1, 2017

943

497

• Jan 8, 2017

• #17

Mayfair, those are nice pipes, congrats. It should have a decent sized chamber.

 

clickklick

Lifer

May 5, 2014

1,700

212

• Jan 9, 2017

• #18

Maybe commission one? It would then for surely meet your shape expectations!

 

londonmake

Starting to Get Obsessed

Feb 11, 2016

138

11

• Jan 9, 2017

• #19

Skaters require balance to smoke properly.... heehee

 

lasttango

Part of the Furniture Now

Sep 29, 2012

875

17

Wilmington, De / Ithaca, NY

• Jan 31, 2018

• #20

Thought I'd revive this thread since I was the OP. Since I posted this last year, I did pick up an unsmoked Upshall Skater and an unsmoked Charatan Skater... Both are size 5/6 and sandblasted black.
I picked up some heavier smoked estates, but they ended up not being appealing as they were too broken in.
I'd love one with great flame grain and a light/natural finish.
Some folks mentioned having one commissioned by someone. Ryan Alden was a name that was posted. I don't know him well, though his pipes look great. I bet Bill Shalosky would make a great skater. I don't know if I could afford his work. I imagine it would be closer to $500. Anyone else come to mind that might do a nice skater?