Britain's Best Briar Pipe Found in Antique Shop - Should I Buy?

[Sigmund]

I bet someone good with pipes could shape that into a proper stem and button again....but Im not an expert by far.

 

[SmokeyJock]

@SmokeyJock: You pipe needs a new stem and I see some genius has messed up the silver collar on the shank that will need a small amount of silver work done on it. Get in touch with Northern Briars www.northernbriars.co.uk as they do this sort of work especially the silver ware. They have banded several of my ancient meerschaum 'cutty' pipes over the years and their work is as good as the Victorian repairs you see on some older pipes.

Thanks so much for the advice! I wish I'd known how many lovely, helpful people were in this forum when I first started smoking pipes

 

[condorlover1]

I bet someone good with pipes could shape that into a proper stem and button again....but Im not an expert by far.

It could be done but with amber I would be very careful as that stuff is like juggling hand grenades. As an unwanted bonus the pipe would be too short relative the stem length which might result in (a) hot smoke (b) nose hair incineration due to bowl proximity to your facial air intake (c) esthetically unbalanced and very difficult to clench. Best get a nice new stem and re-solder the silver band or better still replace the same and then wow your friends down the pub with a retro Victorian waxed mustache, side whiskers and matching Victorian pipe.

 

[jaingorenard]

Another option for a replacement stem (not sure on silverwork) is Mike Billington at Blakemar Briars. I really like his stems. @simong is Cambridge Pipe Repair still going?

 

[chumleeroy]

Found this lovely looking pipe in an antique shop yesterday on my lunch break, really tempted to go back and buy it today - what do you lot think? Anyone know what the stampings mean?View attachment 340730View attachment 340731

Great find, for 20 bucks I'd have snatched it up

 

[Searock Fan]

Interesting! A briar that looks like a meerschaum.

 

[OzPiper]

@simong is Cambridge Pipe Repair still going?

I have a feeling that Geoff Watson (Cambridge Pipe Repairs) may have hung up his hat.
I tried contacting him recently but have not heard back