Is This Charatan Worth It?

[sittingbear]

Okay team, what we have here is a (probably Lane or Reuben era) Charatan's Make that I've had my eye on for a while on the online flea market (ebay). As you can see from the pictures, the stem does not align with the shank. It appears the tenon might be bent. You can also see there is a small red mark at the base of the tenon. I have some some amateur pipe repair and I think I could take my heat gun to straighten it out, but I wonder if that red marks indicated that it has actually snapped off and glued back on.

I wrote the seller about this and they said (and I quote), "I see nothing g wrong at all with this pipe. It is beautiful."

In the condition that it appears to be in, they're asking a lot, but if this is an easy fix, it may be worth it.

Thoughts?

 

[Briarcutter]

IMO That's either a bad repair or not the original stem. Easy fix? Not sure about that. How would the tennon get bent to begin with? Unless it an really,really good price,I'd think twice about that one. What grade is it? That stem doesn't look original to me, something funky going on,but I know nothing! Looks like the Lane "L" on it though.
.

 

[sablebrush52]

The stem doesn’t appear to be original to this pipe. From what I’m seeing, it doesn’t fit from any angle and trying to “tweak” the tenon won’t address the problem. The pipe needs a properly made replacement stem.

 

[ssjones]

I'm with Sable. Pass unless the cost allows for a $100 Dibos stem

 

[sittingbear]

I think you're both right... I didn't even think about looking for the CP nomenclature, which appears to be missing. It looks like a Perfection Freehand though.

Last I heard, @georged was not taking new repair jobs..?

 

[ssjones]

Last I heard, @georged was not taking new repair jobs..?

If so, you have another problem.

 

[Infantry23]

That's a hard pass for me.

 

[doctorbob]

Hard pass for me too.

 

[sablebrush52]

I think you're both right... I didn't even think about looking for the CP nomenclature, which appears to be missing. It looks like a Perfection Freehand though.

Last I heard, @georged was not taking new repair jobs..?

Check with George.

 

[huntertrw]

If you can purchase this pipe at a price that would allow you to purchase a replacement stem, then you might contact Forums member RustiePyles CPG. I was referred to him by Forums member Chasing Embers, and he is making for me a duplicate stem (copying in acrylic the original made from red Bakelite) for an antique CPC Johnsons Hand Made billiard.

Hope this helps!

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Check with George.

George has had a pipe of mine for a new stem for a while now..
No question, George is the best, but if you’re in a hurry, it may behoove you to seek stem elsewhere.

 

[Sobrbiker]

if you’re in a hurry, it may behoove you to seek stem elsewhere.

I’m pretty sure that “in a hurry” and getting a quality stem replacement made are mutually exclusive.

I sent a Stanwell, the stem of which I jacked up with my first try at pipe repair (and why I always caution people to practice on junkers initially), to a highly recommended and known repair outfit. I asked them to make a new stem.
Before:


After (returned with the comment that it didn’t need a new stem made):


It’s at another repairist currently, hopefully getting a new stem. outcome

 

[xrundog]

That’s a bad tenon glue job. Do not buy that pipe.

 

[sittingbear]

That’s a bad tenon glue job. Do not buy that pipe.

That's what I thought too.

 

[Wapask]

Save your money and move on brother. More trouble than it's worth IMO.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Okay team, what we have here is a (probably Lane or Reuben era) Charatan's Make that I've had my eye on for a while on the online flea market (ebay). As you can see from the pictures, the stem does not align with the shank. It appears the tenon might be bent. You can also see there is a small red mark at the base of the tenon. I have some some amateur pipe repair and I think I could take my heat gun to straighten it out, but I wonder if that red marks indicated that it has actually snapped off and glued back on.

I wrote the seller about this and they said (and I quote), "I see nothing g wrong at all with this pipe. It is beautiful."

In the condition that it appears to be in, they're asking a lot, but if this is an easy fix, it may be worth it.

Thoughts?
View attachment 432777View attachment 432778View attachment 432779View attachment 432780

What grade is it ?

 

[sittingbear]

What grade is it ?

Perfection

 

[wyfbane]

Perfection

That is not a particularly high grade of Charatan. You already said they wanted a lot of money for it. If that pipe is more than $45, do N O T do it, even if it is an easy fix.

 

[sittingbear]

That is not a particularly high grade of Charatan. You already said they wanted a lot of money for it. If that pipe is more than $45, do N O T do it, even if it is an easy fix.

I'm not planning on buying it at this point, but I thought the Perfection was the second highest grade?

 

[wyfbane]

@ sittingbear

It is below a Belvedere which I always thought was the bottom. Nice, but the bottom.

Looking it up, I was pretty shocked at how many grades are above Supreme.

Charatan’s make freehand straight grains
Summa Cum Laude
Crown Achievement
Royal Achievement
Achievement
Coronation
Supreme 200
Supreme 150
Supreme 100
Supreme S
Supreme
Selected XLG
Selected
Executive XLG
Executive
Distinction XLG
Distinction
After Hours
Free hand Relief

Charatan’s make “Apprenticeship” standard shape grades
Special
Relief Grain (tan)
Relief Grain (dark)
Belvedere
Perfection