A Birdseye Comparison

[beefeater33]

Here's a fun little exercise. I have always been a sucker for a pipe with quality birdseye. I've owned one of the following pipes for several years, the other just arrived today from a recent e-bay purchase. Both have ample birdseye. One of them cost $500 and the other cost $15. I've covered the nomenclature in the pictures.......... Looking for any thoughts, comments, which one do you prefer and why? Which one is the Cheapo pipe and which is the expensive one?? I'll reveal the identities of the pipes tomorrow............. ::
Pipe #1:

And Pipe #2:

 

[voorhees]

This should get interesting. I also see bargain pipes with excellent grain and expensive pipes with similar grain.
I'm going to say #2 is the higher priced pipe. I think the grain on #2's rim is nicer and the birds eye is tighter.
But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Both are nice.
Stem work is also important in the decision.

 

[jndyer]

I am going to go with #1 being the more expensive pipe.

 

[yaddy306]

I agree with Jason that the grain on #2 is tighter, so it's probably the more expensive pipe (although many other things would factor into the price).

But I prefer the birdseye on #1; it has more of the three dimensional effect that I like.

 

[davet]

Both very nice but,I like the grain on the first one better. I don't see $485 difference though 8O

 

[didimauw]

I like this game! #1 is el cheapo!

 

[tuold]

I don't know which is more expensive, but No 1 has the nicest looking grain to my eye.

 

[macaroon]

I'm with tuold. Number 1 looks most attractive to my eye, so I'd personally be willing to spend more money on it.

 

[jefff]

#1. That's the one I'd want.

 

[mayfair70]

Wow. I have no idea.
I like the color of #1, but I'm thinking #2 might come across better in person. I would like to see more of both.
This is fun!!

 

[alexnc]

no idea either - would love either in my collection. though I might like the first one more - because of the tone as much as the grain.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The first one seems to have some pitting, I'd go with #2.

 

[sablebrush52]

Beats me! Pipe #1 reminds me of a Castello Occhio di Pernice Dublin that I own, though the Birdseye on mine one is finer and more uniform. Pipe #2 has Birdseye more like the British pipes I own, Barling and Dunhill, both. They're both great looking pipes. No clue.

 

[alexnc]

#2 is the pricey - #1 the cheapo - you gotta tell us eventually

 

[samcoffeeman]

Odd, I actually see pits in both pipes. I'm with Sable on one of them being an Occhi de Pernice. I thought that before I even read his post, so we're thinking along the same lines. I'd choose #1 to be the more expensive pipe.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Based on possible pits in pipe No.1, I'll guess the second is the pricey one. And I'll give you four times what you paid for the cheapo, whichever it happens to be!
(Are the white spots in the first photo blemishes, or photo artifacts?_
Great post/quiz/thought-provoker!

 

[beefeater33]

Well that was fun!

Pipe # 1.......... A Kaywoodie Flame Grain, 3 hole stinger, shape #08. I just got this yesterday, the buyer listed it as unsmoked, but it was clearly smoked at least once. I'm not complaining though, its the best grain I've ever seen on a Kaywoodie, and honestly don't know why it got the Flame designation........ :crazy:

Here's a link to the ebay listing, the seller's pictures are a bit better than mine.....
Kaywoodie
Pipe #1:

And Pipe #2, a Castello Occhio di Pernice Dublin. In hand, I really prefer the Kaywoodie's Birdseye looks, but the Castello smokes like a dream.............. ::

Thanks for playing along, that was fun!!

 

[beefeater33]

(Are the white spots in the first photo blemishes, or photo artifacts?_

jpmcwjr, the whites spots are glare from the lighting, the pipe is really blemish-free...........

 

[danielplainview]

This was fun. We should play guess the el cheapo more often.
Gorgeous pipes. This just goes to show you don't have to pay a fortune to get a nice pipe.
Now, can we see a full shot of the pipes?

 

[davet]

That was fun :clap: