Are These Meers Chip or Block?

[craZivn]

Hello all, I know very little about meerschaum pipes but I'd like to try one. I spotted these at a tobacco shop, is there a way to tell if they're chip or block by inspecting them?

I can always ask the clerk next time but based on past experience I'm doubtful if they even know what Meerschaum is, tobacco pipes aren't the main focus of this shop.

They're priced at $65 which seems cheap but if there's something to look for that would tell me for sure I'd love to know.

Thanks!

Ivan

 

[Chasing Embers]

They're priced at $65 which seems cheap

Meerschaum needn't be expensive. This one was only $120.

is there a way to tell if they're chip or block by inspecting them?

Wet your finger and touch the chamber. If your finger sticks, it's block.

 

[Humblepipe]

I'd say the appear to be block meerschaum pipes. Middle-of-the-road Turkish made ones. Decent price for decent pipes from the looks of things.

 

[AJL67]

Agree with all above, they are probably just smaller Meer as well, from the the carvings, just a guess.

My first meer was one of the small indian head skull pipes, I got it on SPC.com for cheap too, now I'm hooked on them and smoking them 97% of the time.

 

[anotherbob]

what everyone said. Plus most of the cost of a meer is the carvers skill and reputation. The material is cheap. The skill to carve it isn't. It's almost always going to be block. It's actually pretty much pointless to make pressed meer. It takes special machines to make pressed. I got my meer for 50 bucks and it's totally fine just plain.

 

[jerry]

Looks to me like block, and probably not very large … not that there’s anything wrong with that.

 

[jhowell]

Sterling silver will leave a mark on chip but not on block...

 

[jhowell]

A natural opal and block meerschaum have the same feel on your tongue...

 

[yanoJL]

Oh man, Ivan, I'm a sucker for the smooth, classic-shape meers. I'd happily add any one of those in the top pic to my stable. Those look great!

Just to echo what @Chasing Embers wrote, if you wet/lick your finger, it will stick to block meerschaum (Inside the chamber, as the outside will be coated with a wax).

 

[craZivn]

So I went back and took a closer look with the intent of buying one of the smooth ones and decided to pass, the machining wasn't great but what really turned me away was the fact that the stems are threaded and I know it'll drive me nuts if things aren't lined up correctly when the stem is snug to the shank. And, none of them lined up correctly in that situation so they'd have to be a bit loose to be lined up right.

So I'll keep an eye out for something else. Thanks everyone for the education!

Ivan

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

From what I can tell, they're Paykoc brand Meerschaum pipes. They're hand carved block meers, and make for a nice smoking pipe. Many cigar, tobacco shops carry Paykoc meers as they're not that expensive. I don't own any Paykoc meers, but I've never heard any complaints about them.

 

[craZivn]

Is the threaded stem adjustable, or is there a way to tune them if they don't line up?

I'm having second thoughts on passing now, LOL

Ivan

 

[jonasclark]

Paykoc are fair pipes. These are indeed basic-level block. The only thing I'd suspect of being pressed/chip are the little mini meers.

 

[dsturg369]

Is the threaded stem adjustable, or is there a way to tune them if they don't line up?

I'm having second thoughts on passing now, LOL

Ivan

A spacer.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Is the threaded stem adjustable, or is there a way to tune them if they don't line up?

I'm having second thoughts on passing now, LOL

Ivan

A spacer.

The threaded piece I'd supposed to remain in the pipe and the tenon pulls out of it. Those have replaceable screw in mortise and tenon inserts. Only remove and insert the stem by turning it clockwise to avoid removing the mortise insert.

 

[pappymac]

Just curious. Did you check the price on the two pipes in the blue box at the top of the second photo.
That's looks like a matched set of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The only one of those I've seen have been CAO but I know other carvers have done sets like that.

 

[pylorns]

The way I understand it you dont actually see much pressed meer these days.

 

[jhowell]

Just curious. Did you check the price on the two pipes in the blue box at the top of the second photo.
That's looks like a matched set of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The only one of those I've seen have been CAO but I know other carvers have done sets like that.

Good eye!

 

[craZivn]

Just curious. Did you check the price on the two pipes in the blue box at the top of the second photo.
That's looks like a matched set of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The only one of those I've seen have been CAO but I know other carvers have done sets like that.

I'll check it next time I stop in there! The one definitely looked like Holmes (don't know who else wears a deerstalker and is worthy of carving) but it never even occurred to me that the other might be Watson.

Ivan

 

[anotherbob]

I'll check it next time I stop in there! The one definitely looked like Holmes (don't know who else wears a deerstalker and is worthy of carving) but it never even occurred to me that the other might be Watson.

Ivan

well if he was studly hot it was (lil joke for the readers, since there is one story that holmes basically said watson could seduce ladies by saying hello). Bonus points for anyone who can provide the right quotes.