Another dumb ? from Z

[zonomo]

I dont get it and was hoping for some enlightenment. Why are some pipes extremely expensive and others are much less expensive. In the pics below, one is a $16,000 used pipe from 1988 and the other is a new pipe for about $100. Would one really get $15,900 worth of additional value from one pipe vs the other? I realize some people can afford BMWs and others only Kia's. Both fine cars but I am trying to understand this better. Thanks for your patience with me.

 

[bigvan]

Bo Nordh

 

[irishsmoker]

Alot of it is the quality of briar, engineering, and the carver.

 

[crpntr1]

And one was professionally smoked...

 

[colesradioactive]

The $16,000 pipe is, and I'm sure many will agree, a delusional price to say the least. I could be wrong as I don't own a Bo Nordh pipe or know very much about them but from what I can gather, it's a $2500-3500 pipe. As Irish stated, it's about material quality, engineering, and of course the skill and reputation of the hands doing the carving. Just as with anything else, "handmade" will always cost more than a pipe that rolled off of an assembly line, but some damn fine pipes come from either category but the flip side is that you can also get some pii-poor pipes from either category. For instance the famous Dunhill brand, all of their pipes are factory made with the exception of their Quaint line and the average price for a new Dunhill is around $400.00, while a Rad Davis handmade pipe has a starting price of about $350.00 for a new one.
*Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about the Dunhill quaint series being handmade, there are SEVERAL people on here far more knowledgeable than me on this subject.

 

[zonomo]

humm... ok. Maybe I'll better understand in a few years.

 

[martiniman]

Better definitely BUT also a reflection of supply and demand.
Peterson's are solid but not exactly hard to get.

 

[baronsamedi]

Your more expensive pipes are generally understood to have more care put into the quality, aging and curing of the briar, drilling, shaping and overall engineering and special attention paid to the integrity of the wood grain and its relationship to the shaping of the pipe. How important each of these things are and what people see or choose to see in the pipe in question are what determines what people are willing to pay. Of course basic economics, marketing and branding will influence the price of pipes as much as any other product.
This doesn't mean a $50 pipe will smoke like crap or that one can't smoke a $5 corn cob and enjoy it, but like anything else in the world, with pipes you get what you pay for.
That's why I always tell people to buy the best pipe they can afford and to pick one that has a design that they find aesthetically pleasing.
I will say that if I were to pay $16,000 for a pipe, that thing better light itself with freakin' fairy dust everytime I smoke it and when I dump the ash, it better turn into a unicorn and run away so that I never need an ashtray!

 

[numbersix]

I am a newbie, so take what I say with a grain of salt - most of my learning comes from reading. But a more expensive pipe will have a lot of qualities a cheaper pipe won't have. The age of the briar, the way they condition a briar, carve it, etc all play a role in the price and quality of smoke.
But some prices, like the $16,000 one are only worth the money to a collector. I would argue that you won't get a better smoke out of that $16,000 pipe than you would from a quality Dunhill or equivalent pipe going for a fraction of that price.

 

[joshwolftree]

I will say that if I were to pay $16,000 for a pipe, that thing better light itself with freakin' fairy dust everytime I smoke it and when I dump the ash, it better turn into a unicorn and run away so that I never need an ashtray!

+1 Also I would like it to come with an attractive Swedish girl to pack it for me

 

[wayneteipen]

Why is a Monet original worth more than a Thomas Kinkade print? Therein lies your answer.

 

[cigrmaster]

The 16k may be high it may not be, if it sells for that then it was priced correctly. Bo is dead and his pipes are considered by many to be the quintessential pipe. I am sure I will never smoke one to know, but I have heard from people who own them, there is not a better smoking pipe to be had. Now how much better does it smoke than my 375.00 Rad Davis pipe, certainly not 15k plus, but people who collect these do not do so for just their smoking properties. It is like collecting Picaso's or any other piece of art.
Mow in regards to how a 150.00 Peterson smokes compared to a 400.00 artisan pipe, there is a difference. Some people are willing to pay for that difference, others are not. People should buy what they like and what they are comfortable with. It is hard for people to understand the difference because if you have not smoked a well made artisan pipe, you will not have a frame of reference.

 

[zonomo]

Well my understanding is that my Boswell was hand made and to my new eyes and adolescent hands, its a beautiful wonderful smoke. (that's why i just ordred my 2nd one :D )

 

[vaboatbuilder]

well since this pipe is on two threds now i will ask, would such a pipe not loose value if it was smoked. even professionally smoked?

 

[simnettpratt]

I will say that if I were to pay $16,000 for a pipe, that thing better light itself with freakin' fairy dust everytime I smoke it and when I dump the ash, it better turn into a unicorn and run away so that I never need an ashtray!

That was priceless. Also agree with josh it should come with an attractive Swedish girl. Then again, if you have $16,000 to spend on a pipe, you probably can already afford an attractive Swedish girl.

 

[colesradioactive]

For $16,000 I think the pipe should establish a telepathic link with me so I can enjoy my favorite blends without even having to smoke them

 

[cajundad]

+1 for cigmasters analogy . Some folks buy pipes to smoke , some to collect . In my opinion , what good is a pipe that is never used for what it was built for ? A pipe that is not smoked , is sort of like a gorgeous ,curvy ,playmate sworn to celibacy ( what a waste ) ! It's only my opinion , but on a factual not , when referring to art collectors , many folks are interested in seeing rare art . I try to show my pipe collection to folks and they have pretend to give a squat . You know the old saying , opinions are like butt holes , everybody has one . I truly do believe that a pipe is what someone will pay for it , and the Old supply and deman certainly applies to that Bo Nordh , but It was also professionally smoked (lmao).

 

[crazypipe]

Imho mosts times you are paying for a name. ::

 

[mluyckx]

Wayne pretty much said it.
It's craftsmanship, name, reputation, beauty, collectionability (if that's a word).... you name it.
More expensive pipes do have a better quality, attention to detail, finish, smoking qualities, etc.. but after a given point, it becomes a collectionable item, reputation and name more so than a drastic improvement over quality.
That's why a Shelby GT500 from 1967 goes for 150K-200K and a 2012 goes for 50K. Still a mustang, still a Shelby. But one's a collectible, the other not. Not a perfect analogy, but I hope you get the gist

 

[bluestar]

I want to know where I can find one of those professional pipe smoking jobs!