Best Kept Secrets
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Just about any quality estate or pipes currently available from all sorts of sources, not sure of the distinctions made or the question?
For vintage estates Kaywoodie would be one that comes to mind as would Comoy, Dunhill, Sabatini, Chacom, Dr Grabow, Brebbia.
I’ve smoked a pipe for over a half century and learn something new about it almost every day.
Unless they were made by prestigious and expensive London makers, a pipe made from Algerian briar well seasoned and ten years aged that is flawlessly beautiful is not a bargain, the secret is out, they cost lots and lots of money.
But this Pre 54 Marxman “Big Boy” could sell for as little as $15 if you get lucky.
It’s made of sponge soft, ancient, Algerian briar harvested before 1954 and aged most of a decade and was likely nearly a hundred years old then. Once you get the taste for old Algerian briar you won’t want anything less, to smoke.
It’s also the ugliest briar you can buy.
To admire and collect, the secret is Pipes by Lee.
Unless they were made by prestigious and expensive London makers, a pipe made from Algerian briar well seasoned and ten years aged that is flawlessly beautiful is not a bargain, the secret is out, they cost lots and lots of money.
But this Pre 54 Marxman “Big Boy” could sell for as little as $15 if you get lucky.
It’s made of sponge soft, ancient, Algerian briar harvested before 1954 and aged most of a decade and was likely nearly a hundred years old then. Once you get the taste for old Algerian briar you won’t want anything less, to smoke.
It’s also the ugliest briar you can buy.
To admire and collect, the secret is Pipes by Lee.
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I can buy chacom estates for chump change. Less that 50 bucks a pipe. Sometimes half that.
But do I really need more pipes?
Of course I do!
In France Dr Boston are Butz Choquin seconds.
But do I really need more pipes?
Of course I do!
In France Dr Boston are Butz Choquin seconds.
Years ago, I would grab Irish Seconds whenever I could, but Peterson stopped offering them for sale and prices began to spiral upward until they rivaled those of estate Peterson brand pipes. They smoke every bit as well as a Peterson brand, so they can still be a good value if they're realistically priced -- I would say, no more than 60% of the price of a comparable Peterson estate. Occasionally, you can still snap them up for cheap.
Inspect them carefully as some are made of putty held together with scraps of briar. Others have just a few, or very few, putty fills. They may be either rusticated or smooth finished, and will have a fishtail bit. I have seen Peterson seconds with a P-lip, but those were stamped "Irish Bents" instead of "Irish Seconds."
The photo shows a Peterson Sherlock Holmes "Original" pipe and the same shape in an Irish Seconds.
Inspect them carefully as some are made of putty held together with scraps of briar. Others have just a few, or very few, putty fills. They may be either rusticated or smooth finished, and will have a fishtail bit. I have seen Peterson seconds with a P-lip, but those were stamped "Irish Bents" instead of "Irish Seconds."
The photo shows a Peterson Sherlock Holmes "Original" pipe and the same shape in an Irish Seconds.
You can still buy Irsih seconds in the EU. They are pretty crazy cheap...about 70 bucks. Im not a huge fan of black pipes...the majoity are black. I imagine because it hides the blemish. I still may keep an eye on them and pick one up. its hard to pass up a new pipe for the cost of an estate
The majority are not black and without the “not Draculas” skewing the results, black is the minority for finish on Irish Seconds at SP EU.
There are 412 available at Peterson right now! We bought one for my wife’s father when in Dublin a year ago - couldn’t find a flaw, but lucky enough to have a bunch to sort through.
Affordable pipes by great designers
Estate Stanwells - especially ones from their Danish era
I find myself browsing them at SPE. Unlikely I'll buy one but I like looking at them and thinking "wow that's cheap!"
If I was going to gift someone a pipe I'd want to check them out first.
If I was going to gift someone a pipe I'd want to check them out first.
I picked up a collection today that had one of these stamped Irish Bents. At first I thought the bowl may have been burnt through as it looks like it's been repaired, but the pipe is in such good condition, this didn't make sense. Interesting the comments about the puddy. For sure this has some. Pipe is in great shape otherwise. Paid 10$ CAD for it. Will clean it up and see if it makes it into my collection or I sell it.
If we tell you our secrets, they won't be secrets anymore and they word will be out, and they'll become more expensive.
Jk for a high quality artisan pipe for the price of a higher end Peterson, it's Foundation by Musico.
Jk for a high quality artisan pipe for the price of a higher end Peterson, it's Foundation by Musico.
Exactly. Looking at members online, there are often many more visitors viewing threads than members so it's often best to not divulge everything you know.
Royal Danish. Great price and great smokers. They are Stanwell seconds I believe.
