Feed my PAD please

[MontyTX]

I’m getting a case of the PAD again now that I’m smoking pipe tobacco more frequently than cigars these days. Looking in the up to $250 price range. Stanwell used to be my favorite, but the last few I’ve bought have been just ok. Turns out, I’ve been living under a rock in the world of pipes and just recently found out that Stanwell hasn’t been made in Denmark for over a decade… the last Stanwell I bought I had to return for serious QC issues, and the replacement wasn’t much better. I don’t care too much for Savinelli or Peterson anymore, I’ve found them to be hit or miss as well. Kind of tired of buying sub-$100 pipes that have a 50% chance of not being a great smoke.

Can anyone speak highly of any of the following? Thanks!

Briar Works

Bruno Nuttens

Chacom

Erik Stokkebye

GH Zhang

Mastro Geppeto

Moonshine

Neerup

Nording

Randy Wiley

Ropp

Winslow

 

[Dixie Piper]

Ropp is a good one. Can't speak for the other brands though.

 

[PaulRVA]

I can speak for Randy Wiley and Bruno Nuttens being worth the coin.
GH Zhang I haven’t acquired but I will eventually.

 

[Mr_houston]

I have a few Randy Wiley pipes. He makes good pipes.

You should look at Mark Domingues’ pipes at Lone Star Briar Works. His pipes are very well crafted and reasonable.

 

[BlueRidge]

Ropp étudiants are a great bang for the buck if you like smaller pipes.
my only Chacom is a great looker and smoker
have a few Nordings but not the traditional freehand style they're known for, all good to go
I had a BriarWorks but the drilling was horrendous imo so I sold it

 

[Auxsender]

I adore my 6 or so Ropp pipes.
They’re small and light and made of decades old briar and 2 of them have incredible blasts.
I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another Ropp if I needed another pipe which I absolutely do not.

I really want a Nuttens Bing.

 

[MontyTX]

Ropp étudiants are a great bang for the buck if you like smaller pipes.
my only Chacom is a great looker and smoker
have a few Nordings but not the traditional freehand style they're known for, all good to go
I had a BriarWorks but the drilling was horrendous imo so I sold it

Disappointed to hear that about Briar Works. SP has a bunch around or less than $150. I'm tempted by Ropp, but I have a bad track record with vulcanite stems... super tempted by a Randy Wiley Galleon Bent Billiard at the moment. But I'm also seeing a few Nordings of interest. Ugh, decisions, decisions.

 

[Auxsender]

Disappointed to hear that about Briar Works. SP has a bunch around or less than $150. I'm tempted by Ropp, but I have a bad track record with vulcanite stems... super tempted by a Randy Wiley Galleon Bent Billiard at the moment. But I'm also seeing a few Nordings of interest. Ugh, decisions, decisions.

With the exception of my horn stemmed Ropp Vintage Bulldog, all of the listings said their stems were made of vulcanite and ALL of them are in fact made of acrylic. Not sure what happened there at Shmoking Pipes.

 

[MontyTX]

With the exception of my horn stemmed Ropp Vintage Bulldog, all of the listings said their stems were made of vulcanite and ALL of them are in fact made of acrylic. Not sure what happened there at Shmoking Pipes.

Good to know, thanks. Sorry to ask a rules question here, but am I allowed to post direct links to SP of pipes I'm looking at?

 

[OzPiper]

Sorry to hear of your recent problems with Stanwell pipes.

I love Stanwell pipes - the Made in Denmark ones, of which I have several.
I do not own any of the Italian made ones, so I’m not qualified to comment on their quality.

3 of the last 4 pipes I bought are Danish made Stanwells and I have been more than happy with them.




Site sponsors The Danish Pipe Shop and Mr Stanwell have good inventories of Danish era Stanwells, including a few unsmoked NOS.

 

[Auxsender]

Good to know, thanks. Sorry to ask a rules question here, but am I allowed to post direct links to SP of pipes I'm looking at?

Not sure. I know people have posted screen shots of pipe listings without issue.

 

[shanez]

I have several Bruno Nuttens pipes and they're all fantastic.

 

[MontyTX]

I just bought this fellow. I like the size and design of a lot of the Randy Wiley pipes, and at just under $200 it’s a nice price point. I like the idea of getting into handmade pipes, we’ll see how it goes.

 

[MontyTX]

Sorry to hear of your recent problems with Stanwell pipes.

I love Stanwell pipes - the Made in Denmark ones, of which I have several.
I do not own any of the Italian made ones, so I’m not qualified to comment on their quality.

3 of the last 4 pipes I bought are Danish made Stanwells and I have been more than happy with them.
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View attachment 437247

Site sponsors The Danish Pipe Shop and Mr Stanwell have good inventories of Danish era Stanwells, including a few unsmoked NOS.

I LOVE my Denmark made Stanwell. Unfortunately I only bought 1 before they moved shops… thanks for telling me about where I can find Stanwell NOS, if my experimentation with artisan pipes doesn’t work out, I’ll be more willing to pay for pre-2010 Stanwells.

 

[Mike N]

From an aesthetic standpoint, there is no doubt Chacom has really stepped up its game the last few years. All the pipes you are considering are well-known brands. Because I prefer ebonite stems over acrylic, I generally spend a few more bucks for an artisan pipe. My two favorite “factory“ makers have always been Ser Jacopo and Savinelli, neither of which you have listed, but you should definitely consider in the future.

 

[bootlegpipes]

BriarWorks and Moonshine 100%

Other options: Radice, some IG artisans

 

[skydog]

BriarWorks and Moonshine 100%

Other options: Radice, some IG artisans

I love all the Briarworks and Moonshine pipes I have. Never had a problem with their drilling or had to return one for any other reason.

That said, I wouldn't write off Peterson, their QC has improved under Laudisi ownership and I've been extremely happy with all the Petes I've gotten recently. Their 160th anniversary pipe that is being released soon has me salivating.

 

[Oddball]

Same as skydog on Briarworks.
I have Bruno Nuttens and it's really really nice

 

[RPK]

I had a Rattray that I gifted to a good friend. A Beltaine model if I remember corretly, liked it a lot and have been thinking about replacing it.

 

[Hillcrest]

Given the number of pipes you have been dissatisfied with and your changing tastes, you might consider having @Briarcutter make you a custom pipe to your specifications and wishes. Then you will have what you want. Just 2 cents.

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