An Illustrated Guide to Buying a Good $20 Pipe

[Briar Lee]

Marx used Algerian in all grades and I have some other smaller Marxmans not graded, like this $10 example that costs another $10 for shipping and taxes.



The good stem on this means it really wasn’t smoked to death.

That cake will just peel out, and the outside will clean right up again.

Lee sold a ton of these small Pears. All the other makers likely did too.

When a pipe smoker carried around a pipe and smoked it all day, these must have been popular.

 

[spike]

They’re not much to look at, but I’m glad they smoke well.
Good work.

 

[Briar Lee]

Although it’s a gamble if this $20 pipe is a dynamite smoker if you can tolerate a good size fill you can smoke like the billionaires do eating poor folks for breakfast, lunch and supper.

This is a no name reject, that didn’t make the grade, but we can see why plainly.

I’ve found the best way to grade overall condition is the condition of the stem and button.

 

[Searock Fan]

Interesting thread. You can learn something new every day!

 

[Briar Lee]

If you stretch your twenty dollar budget to thirty for big, long examples of good briar, $30 plus $7 taxes and shipping can buy a magnificent C B Perkins Canadian in barely smoked condition.



The stem looks upside down on a choice piece of Greek or Italian briar.

A 6 3/4” pipe is a Jumbo, if not a Giant size.

This 5 1/2” Perkins Canadian I own is a big, nice sized pipe. The one I just bought will dwarf this one.

 

[PipePic]

its an interesting idea but honestly,,

how do they compare to a Ropp made using a stummel that was carved in the same year and left on a shelf since?

 

[Briar Lee]

its an interesting idea but honestly,,

how do they compare to a Ropp made using a stummel that was carved in the same year and left on a shelf since?

Age hardens wood, at least it does wooden fence posts and barn wood. You must drive nails into them when new, because after a few years they get iron hard.

And judging by all the old pipes I have stamped Aged Briar it’s supposed to make a pipe smoke better.

That CB Perkins Canadian turned out to be new and unsmoked.

Someday I’ll dab some honey in the bowl and fire it up, but when I do it’s still going to taste like burning briar a little bit even if it’s older than I am.