Any Regrets About The One That Got Away?

[sablebrush52]

So we've discussed pipes that we regret buying and pipes that we regret selling. But what about pipes that we didn't get, either because we waited too long to buy, or because we weren't willing at the time to spend the money.
There have been any number of pipes over that years that have "got away" and I've forgotten about all of them. All except one. In my case it's actually two, because the pipe in question was a Barling cased set from 1915, the year of my father's birth. The set was in beautiful shape and I bid mightily for it against a buyer from Singapore who was crazy determined to get it. At the time I decided that it was way too high to pay and dropped out. Four years later, I still remember that "one". Anyone else have one that "got away"?

 

[pitchfork]

This Gert Holbek (the "Polonius"). I was traveling that week and wasn't able to bid (or plan a bid for when it closed). I wouldn't even say I regret not being able to buy it (it went for well above my usual budget), but it's definitely the one that got away.

 

[trailspike48]

About a week ago I might have gotten this one. I was going to bid a tad over $300 and it sold for $260. I may have gotten it or I may have underbid anyway. But I didn't pull the trigger, so I've been having some angst about letting this one get away. It's a caliper grade Ruthenberg.

 

[captainsousie]

Mine is a pair of World's Fair Comoy's that went for a bit more than I bid. If I had known what I was seeing at the time I would have bid a lot more.

 

[pitchfork]

Any pics, captain?

 

[irish]

When I very first started collecting pipes I went into an old Pipe, Tobacco and magazine shop in Big Spring , Texas . There was an older German lady running it and I didn't see any pipes so I asked her about pipes and she said that her husband had passed away and she had gotten out of the pipe business but she said she had a few in the back left and went to get them. She returned with a beautiful freehand and a Dunhill . She offered them to me for a hundred dollars . At that time a hundred dollars might as well have been a thousand and there was no way I could swing it . I have regretted not going and borrowing the money from my parents or someone every since . The freehand was a very unique shape and I have only seen one other like it over the years and it was on eBay and the winning bid went well over a what I can afford to pay for a pipe . I didn't even know what a Dunhill was at the time and she even explained to me that Dunhill was a high end pipe well worth more than she was asking for both . I went back a few years later and the little old lady had passed away and the shop was no longer a tobacco shop at all just a magazine and newspaper shop . To this day wish I had purchased those pipes !!

 

[pitchfork]

Great story, irish.

 

[petes03]

From the post title, I thought we were talking about women! LOL!

As for pipes, yes, there are several that I greatly regret not buying. But oh well, there's always the next one!

 

[burlpettibon]

Trailspike, that is a GREAT looking pipe, I'd be kicking myself too!
Personally, I have a couple, but it was all a matter of finances at the time and since there was nothing I could have done it doesnt keep me up at night or anything. One was a Radice Morta pipe that only went 10 dollars over the budget I had set but when I set a budget I stick too it. Another was an Ashton Bulldog (rusticated and brand new) that the bidding ended at 60 bucks and I didnt have two pennies to rub together at the time.

 

[captainsousie]

Any pics, captain?

Sadly, no. It was early on in my collecting and I didn't save any pics from that time.

 

[cigrmaster]

trailspike48, if I had seen that pipe I would have been all over it, it is a beauty. You would have beat me if we were both bidding because my high bid would have been 275.00. I have been pining for a caliper grade pipe from him but so far all the ones I have seen have been to big and heavy.
The only one that got away hurt badly. It was a Tom Eltang bamboo shanked pipe that went for around 300.00. I forgot to bid on it and it was a beauty, it went for well less than his pipes usually go for.

 

[piperl12]

So far the only one that got away was a 1999 Stanwell pipe of the year. Nothing special but should have bought it at the time because I went back a month later and it was gone. The Irony was that pipe had been in that store since 2000. This happened back in the spring.

 

[puffy]

Mine was a 1990 Dunhill.I really liked that pipe.I just couldn't bring myself to pay the cost of over $300.Back then that was a lot of money for a pipe.I still wish that I had it though.

 

[kashmir]

Oh, so many, many have gotton away. Primarily through lack of funds. Too many to list, but thank goodness there are so many pipes out there. Many priced within reach.

 

[cigrmaster]

kashmir, you can take comfort knowing that your set of Comoy's did not get away and those will be with you forever. How about a pic of the one with all the birdseye that I love. I never tire of looking at that pipe.

 

[cigrmaster]

Kashmir, you must have read my mind, I saw you posted that exact pipe on the straight grain thread. That thing is amazing, I would appreciate it if you would amend your will and make sure that one goes to me. lol

 

[craig94yj]

I think life in general is full of "the one that got away". I am too new to this hobby to share a great story, but I can assure you that there is one looming in my future. I have learned to be thankful for what I have and not worry about the things I don't have.

 

[kashmir]

Thanks Harris.

And amen to what Craig just said.