Altinay & Altinok Expensive For Meerschaum?

[PipeIT]

I’ve been admiring some of the pipes on Altinay and Altinok, wanting to add a Meerschaum to my collection at some point.

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On Altinay I noticed this Bing that caught my eye;

https://www.altinaypipes.com/shop/pencil-shank-bing-meerschaum-pipe-with-carbonfiber-inlay/

I contacted Altinay to find out if they will be making more of these, they said there will be more for $390.

For $390, pipes/makers that come to mind I’d spend these prices on are;

Castello
Cavicchi
Jack Howell
Jose Rubio
Radice

I’m not sure Altinay is worth these prices, when you compare against these carvers above, not comparing Meerschaum to Briar, but just quality for $390.

Hmm ? ?

 

[BarrelProof]

Lemme help you out...

@Said.ALTINAY

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Relative to other Meer Carvers, their prices seem in line. Whether or not they're worth it compared to a high end briar, only you can decide. I enjoy my few Meers but to be blunt, the stem work and drills on Meers don't come close to a pipe from Jack Howell or Carvers of similar skills. Meer Carvers seem to focus more on the carve and the artistry and less on the smoking qualities. Which is too bad. I would add, I have an Altinay and it is a very fine Meer.

 

[BarrelProof]

I have been thoroughly impressed with my Altinay pipes at all price points.

 

[Chasing Embers]

You should have been around six years ago when IMP temporarily went out of business. There was a closeout sale and none of the pipes were over $150. I now prefer meerschaum to every other medium and those prices seem average for non figural pieces. I did however pay less than $390 for my giant Kenan skull.

 

[PipeIT]

With the known smoke quality of what Meerschaum pipes are, I’ve always wanted one.

The problem for me is understanding the market, whereas I understand better the Briar Market, from the big factory names, like Castello, Peterson, Savinelli, etc., to name a few, and then many of the smaller and artisan Briar Carvers that are out there, Radice, Howell, Cavicchi, etc., to name a few...

I haven’t spent much time researching the Meerschaum Market.

 

[shanez]

For the bing you posted you are getting every bit, if not more, of the same level of quality and skill.

It's a beautiful pipe and the shank would be too delicate without a liner. It looks like the maker is ahead of the weight curve utilizing carbon fiber instead of stainless steel for a liner.

 

[Chasing Embers]

With the known smoke quality of what Meerschaum pipes are, I’ve always wanted one.

Honestly not much different from a briar if any. I just think its fun to watch them color.

 

[mingc]

$390 is about as expensive an Altinay model there is. That pencil thin shank and carbon fiber insert is probably the reason. Also the two alternate stems.

I have an Altinay. It's pretty well out together. Probably better than my Costello Trademark, which has an uneven air gap at the shank/stem junction and a pretty chunky button.

 

[anotherbob]

Oh meer smokes differently then a briar. But not really that differently. If anything it's a little clearer but also a little more dull at the same time. I wish I could explain it better but it's nothing dramatic. Frankly I feel like watching it color is really the most fun difference.
Oh and no matter how neglectful I've been the meer has never soured. Where if I just stop cleaning my briar they get funky and nasty.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Oh meer smokes differently then a briar.

Other than a meer muting the flavor until its chamber is blackened, broken in I guess, I couldn't tell meer from briar in a blind test.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Probably better than my Costello Trademark, which has an uneven air gap at the shank/stem junction and a pretty chunky button.

I've never cared much for Castello's shaping and the razor sharp edges on those buttons is a pain.

 

[anotherbob]

Other than a meer muting the flavor until its chamber is blackened, broken in I guess, I couldn't tell meer from briar in a blind test.

honestly I think I could with one or two blends. Otherwise no. For some reason flake medallion tastes really different in my meer. There are like one or two others. Otherwise no way. The difference is there and noticeable but far from as dramatic as people like to say it is.

 

[PipeIT]

Thanks for all the input guys. ?

Well a Castello is next on my list, that is for certain, then I’m on Jack Howell’s wait list, then after that or before, I’ve been really wanting one from Jose Rubio, next Cavicchi.

But if the Meers were less expensive I’d jump on one now.

I was surprised that Bing was $390.

 

[Chasing Embers]

But if the Meers were less expensive I’d jump on one now.

Check SRV meerschaum.

 

[tfdickson]

I’m an admirer of all 5 of the other makers you mention, and I agree all 5 make pipes well worth what they charge (Radice usually comes in much less than $390 and of that group are probably the most bang for the buck). For the right Altinay, I would happily pay $390. That said, 99 out of 100 Altinay pipes won’t be the right one for me but the same is true for the other 5. What has worked well for me is thinking in terms of buying the pipe, not the price. If it’s a special piece that you’ll enjoy for 10, 20, or 30 years $100 in either direction is irrelevant. If it’s not special, why bother at all?

 

[coming to_falling too]

Check SRV meerschaum.

I just picked this up earlier

 

[Chasing Embers]

If it’s a special piece that you’ll enjoy for 10, 20, or 30 years $100 in either direction is irrelevant.

I'm currently on the 147th smoke of an IMP I bought last month. Definitely worth the cost of admission.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I just picked this up earlierView attachment 78924

Reasonably priced and have the same stem setup as IMP.?

 

[Chasing Embers]

After a while a meerschaum starts emitting an external smell of the tobaccos that have been smoked in them. Pleasant when cool, extremely pleasant when warm.