Unusual Stanwell

[PLANofMAN]

As is becoming a yearly tradition, when my birthday month starts rolling around, my wife buys me a pipe for my birthday. And by that I mean we agree on a budget, and I purchase a pipe.

I normally go for a Stanwell 63 or 64, and usually a military mount, or something designed by Sixten Ivvarson. This year, I was captivated by an unusual mounting on a Sixten designed quarter bent apple. Unfortunately it has a small hole in the stem, but that should be an easy repair.



This appears to be a cross between a stepped (special) mount, and a push stem military mount. It is also the only Stanwell pipe I've seen with an "N" stamping. I suppose it could be a Nanna Ivvarson made pipe, a prospect I consider incredibly unlikely, and figure the stamp is instead a reference to the unusual mount. Additionally, it is stamped with the crowned "S" logo on both mount and stem.

Anyone else have a Stanwell "N" marked pipe?

Edit: Excluding the the Nanna Ivvarson Stanwell collaboration special edition line, which are marked N01-N04

 

[PLANofMAN]

The mystery deepens. This model always has that unusual sloped ferrule, and every other one I can find is stamped "M" for military mount.

 

[VDL_Piper]

I can't help but think it is a N04 with just a misplaced stamped N and quite an unusual mount as that looks like Vulcanite on Vulcanite.

 

[Alejo R.]

Maybe someone made a mistake and stamped an N where an M should have been.

 

[Waning Embers]

quite an unusual mount as that looks like Vulcanite on Vulcanite

That's actually pretty common for older Danish pipes and Savinellis.

 

[PLANofMAN]

Maybe someone made a mistake and stamped an N where an M should have been.

That's what I'm leaning towards, although I've seen a smooth 04 with a "G" stamp, and no explanation for that one either.

I can't help but think it is a N04 with just a misplaced stamped N and quite an unusual mount as that looks like Vulcanite on Vulcanite.

It is vulcanite on vulcanite. There's quite a few Stanwell military mounts that are done that way (I have four other Stanwells with similar mounts). It was an easy way for them to make a bigger pipe (and sell it at full price too) from an otherwise too small piece of briar. I can appreciate it for the convenience of being able to take apart my pipe mid smoke, and collect it, while acknowledging the practice as pure bullshittery on their part, as vulcanite is far cheaper than briar.

 

[PLANofMAN]

Finally got it yesterday. Unfortunately, I think I'm going to return it, as the top of the bowl is chewed up above and beyond what I consider "normal wear and tear." For reference, this is what a sandblast no. 04 should look like:


Do you guys think my expectations out of line for this? I spent $70 on it, and if I'd spent $35, I'd probably keep it and just polish the rim.

 

[PLANofMAN]

Ended up keeping it, per a suggestion from another forum. I think it turned out well.