Any Good Sources For Gourd Calabashes?

[shanez]

Other than fleabay and etsy does anyone know of reliable sources for a real gourd calabash? Preferably new but in good shape estate will work.

It seems the interwebs is flooded with no-name wood versions but I'm looking for more like the one in the movie Inglorious Basterds. It doesn't have to be that exact one but something similar.

Thanks.

 

[mingc]

Baki's calabashes on AliExpress. Not cheap.

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[shanez]

If I could figure out how to pick the specific pipe out of the pictures I just might. I found one f his on sale on another site for about $430. There's a couple of nice Kaywoodie estates on fleabay for about $364.

I'm hoping to stay around $400 for new and $200-$250 for estate. I think the new market price is possible but the estate market is weirdly priced for some reason.

 

[Waning Embers]

I'm looking for more like the one in the movie Inglorious Basterds.

That one's a Strambach.

 

[shanez]

Well, the deed is done. Found an estate in great shape for my target price. About half the price of an estate Kaywoodie version.

I like the almost ridiculous proportions it has as well as the wood ferrule.











Size compared to another:



I've got my eye out for a Strambach just in case one pops up including having my brother who just moved to Germany to keep an eye out over there.

I still might pony up for a Baki after my rental house sells. I've got my eye on a couple of Yanik meers too though.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Damn. ?
Cork looks to be in good shape, too. Honestly, it looks like it wasn’t even smoked that much. Any idea how old it is?

 

[shanez]

No idea on the age. Here's the description from the seller:

Vintage Large Gourd Calabash estate pipe in excellent condition with no flaws found. From researching internet sites I believe this to be a gourd body with what appears to be a Meerschaum insert and vulcanite stem. Unknown date of manufacture, but at least 25 years ago, probably much more. Very high quality of workmanship. The 2nd standard sized calabash is not included, just shown for comparison to large size advertised. Thanks for looking! *Please excuse any errors or incorrect terminology on pipes, we know little about them. The pipes are being sold for a 93 years young lady we helped move into assisted living (her husband passed in the 1990's). Please contact us to correct any errors.

The seller sounded honest enough and with a little buyer protection from fleabay I figured why not? The seller has a couple of other nice pipes up for sell all with a "Buy It Now" status.

 

[logs]

Nice pipe. Looks like you've got a winner, provided it hasn't been perfumed or ghosted...which can be a common occurrence with estate calabashes--particularly if they come in a velvet lined case (which for some reason always seem to have some added potpourri scent). A good gourd calabash will be a great smoker!

 

[mingc]

Well, the deed is done. Found an estate in great shape for my target price. About half the price of an estate Kaywoodie version.

I like the almost ridiculous proportions it has as well as the wood ferrule.

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Size compared to another:

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I've got my eye out for a Strambach just in case one pops up including having my brother who just moved to Germany to keep an eye out over there.

I still might pony up for a Baki after my rental house sells. I've got my eye on a couple of Yanik meers too though.

Nice! A good calabash will smoke super dry. The old cork seals can be an issue. The Kaywoodies have stringers, which you may or may not like.

 

[ashdigger]

Excellent. I enjoy mine so much I grabbed a few more. Two will need some elbow grease, but that exactly why I grabbed them.

 

[shanez]

Too funny!

I just saw the updated Smoking Pipes side ad here indicating 8 fresh estate pipes. So I clicked on it and there was Kaywoodie gourd calabash in pretty good shape for $165. I clicked on it and it was sold in that fast of a time frame. I'm not surprised considering they're going for about double that on fleabay.

Someone got themselves a great deal!

 

[ashdigger]

I just had one delivered. It came with a new Meer cup. I just filled it with salt and alcohol so the cleanse has begun. I’ll post pics after it’s cleaned up. It looks like the smooth one you posted above, while not being the size of Michigan.