Ardor: Urano Bent Bulldog Making Me Dream Big

[carolinachurchwarden]

This new Ardor bulldog is making me drool. I don't know why, but it's just slapping me in the face right now begging me to take it. And I'm broke. And now I just want to drink some whiskey while I smoke my new cob and wish it didn't cost $400. Not sure exactly WHY it costs $400,but I still wish I could own this little beauty.

 

[saltedplug]

Like you when I started I used to be repulsed by pipe prices. Still am, when the royalty sell their pipes for $2-5K. Tarek Manadily often said that the prices of pipes are unjustified and unjustifiable, which to me has come to mean that prices are set by total business and the maker's expenses at home for himself and his family. For example I got on a pipe seller's back about prices, and his reply was "I've got all the expenses that everyone else has: mortgage. college, groceries, etc., etc. But pipes by Jess Chonowitsch, Todd Johnson, Former, the royalty, are clearly exempt from any rational valuation.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Nice pipe. I picked up a giant Ardor bulldog at the New Orleans Pipe Show, and I love it. Great pipes.

 

[upnorth1]

She's a beauty all right. I refuse to pay that much for a pipe, but that's me. If you are looking for a good smoker, you don't need to spend that much. There will always be "that pipe" on the horizon. She's pretty though.

 

[Briar Baron]

I have several Ardors and they are among my favorite Italian makers (and more than 50% of my pipes are from Italian makers).
As for the price, yes that is serious $, but I sometimes justify paying such a price since you will probably get 20+ years of enjoyment from it.
How many useless white-goods appliances will come and go in that time totally wasting your money? The pipe actually offers good value compared to the junk we buy.

 

[mikethompson]

Sometimes it helps to look at things on a 'cost per' basis.
For example, if you smoked 200 bowls in that pipe, it would work out to $2/bowl. Is that better?

 

[tbradsim1]

My largest Ardor, 225grams an all day smoke. Nice pipe young man.

 

[cortezattic]

$400 is retail. The manufacturer is getting closer to half that amount. How much is their time and overhead worth?

 

[bannyc9]

Gorgeous pipe, and I can see why the drool follows. The next pipe is always the most sought after...

 

[bannyc9]

BTW, Smokingpipes has it at $335....

 

[carolinachurchwarden]

I agree with much of the sentiment of how much is it worth. Honestly, I don't know. I've made a couple of pipes myself. I know what goes into it. How much work I put into it without having what you might call proper pipe making tools. I could never see asking $400 for it. Just me. I could see owning a few like this, just because ultimately you like what you like and it is a gorgeous pipe. Is it really worth that much? I don't know. If that's the price of something you really want, then that's what you have to pay to get what you want. In the end, it's more a matter of is it worth that much to you? Part of me says no, but the part of me that wants it says "here's my money... Now give me that pipe."

 

[Briar Baron]

Bannyc9 is correct, $335.....that must be a sign

 

[upnorth1]

On the other hand I've spent much more on things that didn't give me as much enjoyment, or last as long as a pipe. While I won't spend that much I understand the reasoning behind doing so.

 

[warren]

I always enjoy these discussions regarding value, price, costs, etc. The pipe is priced to sell to the right buyer. The pipe is all wrong in its proportions to my eye. So, I wouldn't spend a dollar on it. But, I'm not the person the vendor is marketing to. It's priced for the customer who likes it and is willing to spend the money.
And, as an aside, totally unsolicited, "If you buy junk you probably won't ever get into a position to afford quality."

 

[disinformatique]

Before you buy that giant, ask yourself are you the kind of guy who can smoke the same tobacco blend for atleast 2 hours or more? I bought a giant ass danish freehand 4 years ago. Smoked about half a dozen times, now its rotting in my drawers.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Love the shape, but rustication always says lower quality to me. Were it sandblasted, I could bring myself to pay that for it, but I can barely bring myself to pay $100 for a rusticated pipe regardless of the name stamped on it.

 

[npod]

Why $?

1. Ardor is >100 years old. They have street cred.

2. Italians, gotta love ‘em (no seriously, you gotta “pay” them).

3. That’s a signature Ardor shape (kinda) with a new variation, thus more money.

4. They are known for their big (read massive) pipes.

5. They age their briar 10 years.

6. There is a small but cult folowing for large Ardor pipes.

7. This a comfort or house pipe that will literally last a lifetime and more.
All dat and the pipe above is priced about right imho. Not my cuppa, but I guarantee that pipe will sell fast and that the person who buys it will love the heck out of it.
Case in point: Bradley holding his Ardor proudly for display.

 

[ssjones]

but I still wish I could own this little beauty.

You better check the specs carefully on that pipe, before pulling the trigger. If it is like most Ardor's, it is anything but little.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I'm with Chasing Embers. Not paying $335, much less $400, for a rusticated pipe unless it is from Castello. I'm not even paying that for Castello these days when there are so many other choices. But that pipe, smoke it 10 times and sell it on eBay, you'd be lucky to get $175. With that said, it is made by a quality company and it will eventually catch the eye of someone with $400 to spend.

 

[carolinachurchwarden]

I know. I'm not usually much for spending that much money on anything except maybe woodworking tools. You can only be as good as the tools and skill you have to work with. It all makes since about the cost, but it still all boils down to how much you think it's worth. New houses in Raleigh crop up all the time that ain't worth $150,000, but they're asking $300k and $400k because buyers are willing to pay that much. I'll see how long it hangs around and see if I'm willing to drop that much coin on it. I search quite often for different pipes all along, but just haven't been impressed or slapped quite as hard personally by the feeling of want for this thing. Oh, and the specs are:
Measurements & Other Details

Length: 5.63 in./143.00 mm.

Weight: 3.20 oz./90.72 g.

Bowl Height: 2.22 in./56.39 mm.

Chamber Depth: 1.79 in./45.47 mm.

Chamber Diameter: 1.03 in./26.16 mm.

Outside Diameter: 2.24 in./56.90 mm.

Stem Material: Acrylic

Filter: None

Shape: Bent Bulldog

Finish: Rusticated

Material: Briar

Country: Italy