Comoy's Bulldogs

[topd]

That Birds Eye just makes my mouth water to own one like it... Absolutely Beautiful.... I never

even knew any existed that look like that pipe.... Stunning! I just cant say enough.

 

[spartan]

I enjoy looking at birds eye grain more than i like straight grain.
Those bulldogs are out of this world.

 

[kashmir]

Here's a couple of Comoy bulldogs that popped up on my radar screen. The Blue Riband may bid high, but the Grand Slam probably won't. When I buy pipes like these, I'll ream them down, retort them with isopropanol, then give the a good scrub down with Q-tips and pipe cleaners, till copesetic. Then another retort for good measure. The outside will get a good scrubbing with isopropanol till paper towels come clean. Then carnuba wax and hand buffing. As for the thin vulcanite stem, a lot of Brebbia stem polish and elbow grease.
Item #1: Comoy's Blue Riband bulldog.
End time: Jun 9, 2013 4:44:29 PM
URL: http://www.ebay.com/itm/HERMIT-COMOYS-BLUE-RIBAND-MADE-ENGLAND-80-DIAMOND-SHANK-BULLDOG-GREAT-GRAIN-/230992085210
Item #2: Comoy's Grand Slam bulldog -
End time: Jun 8, 2013 7:39:41 PM
URL: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Comoys-Grand-Slam-bulldog-super-birdseye-/281116088951

 

[durham270]

That's a true masterpiece. Awesome bullseye!!

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Stunning pipes Kash. If I had won the $600 million I would have been all over your collection like a cougar on a crippled chicken.

 

[yazamitaz]

If I had won the $600 million I would have been all over your collection like a cougar on a crippled chicken.

:rofl: Good one Peck
The bent bulldog has now become my favorite style of pipe. HOLY CRAP, I think I have finally committed to something in this hobby. Thanks to fellow member Withnail, he introduced me to a maker that he really likes. The name is Blakemar briar and I am looking at this for my birthday present.
Blakemar
They call it a rhodesian but due to the diamond shank I would think this is a bulldog.

 

[kashmir]

The beauty of the estate market is it don't cost an arm and leg. Just some homework, patience and a bit of luck. And some willingness to clean them up. What I like about estates is their history and patina. Also the pipes come seasoned, which is more than just cake. Chances are if the pipe comes to you well seasoned, why that means it was a good smoker for someone. And it ups your chances for finding a majik pipe a la Fred Hanna, who gives the chances at 1 / 250. Also, I think a lot of pipes that didn't smoke well were thrown in the trash by their owners and those pipes that do come down to us trough the ages, have proved themselves worthy. That's one of the main reasons I shop estate.

 

[yazamitaz]

Totally agree with you there Kashmir. I am always on ebay looking for either a "good value" estate pipe or something that I can bring back to life. I haven't dropped $200 - 300 on a high name estate yet only because I don't know the value of pipes, especially estates. Of the 17 I have only 8 are new if that tells you anything

 

[kashmir]

I hear you. Most of my Comoys were under $150, except the Blue Ribands and the Specimen and Selected Straight Grains which attract a lot of attention on the estate market. Also, Comoy sandblasts like the Silver Cloud (stamped Comoy's) used to be selling for under $100, but since Neill Archer Roan's article* came out, these are now selling for $300+. The best value for money in Comoys are the Tradition, Grand Slam, Old Bruyere, London Pride and Royals. Of course, Comoy made a huge number of seconds not stamped Comoys, but I have limited experience with these:
Ace of spades, Astor, Ayres, Britannia, Carlyle, Charles Cross, Claridge, Cromwell, Dorchester, Dunbar, Drury Lane, Emerson, Everyman, Grand Master, Gresham, Guildhall, Kingsway, Lion's Head, Lord Clive, Hyde Park, Lloyds, Mc Gahey, Moorgate, Newcastle, Royal Falcon, Royal Lane, Scotland Yard, St James, Sunrise, Sussex, The Academy Award, The Golden Arrow, The Mansion House, The Exmoor Pipe, Tinder Box Royal Coachman, Townhall, Trident, Westminster, Wilshire.
Neill's blog entry on blasted Comoys:
http://www.apassionforpipes.com/neills-blog/2012/11/8/pipeness.html

 

[juptierspipe]

Kashmir: Love that pipe my man,the finish on it almost looks 3D!! Great camera work too by the way.

 

[ssjones]

Lovely Dogs! I'm a big fan of the 409 shape, but don't yet own one. And in Blue Riband grade?, smashing!
I was watching but lost track of that Hermit Blue Riband, I was almost sick to see it sold for $53! A pipe smoker will probably never own a pipe that smokes as good as that one will. I can't believe I let that one slip by.

 

[kashmir]

Hi Al - If we're talking about the same Comoy's Blue Riband from Hermit's, its still on the auction block with two days to go. Current bid stands at $53, but I'm sure it'll go higher.
End time: Jun 9, 2013 4:44:29 PM
URL: http://www.ebay.com/itm/HERMIT-COMOYS-BLUE-RIBAND-MADE-ENGLAND-80-DIAMOND-SHANK-BULLDOG-GREAT-GRAIN-/230992085210

 

[ssjones]

Whew, kicking myself if that only brought $53. I bet it goes $125 or so.

 

[plateauguy]

I'll be damned ! Just opened a package that contained two estate pipes that a friend picked up for me, and low and behold there was a Dr Grabow Sculptura. Not a Comoy by a long shot, but still in decent condition, needs a good cleaning and disinfecting.
It's shame I didn't know that I had pipes coming, because yesterday on Etsy I bought a $20 Rex bulldog to practice restoring before investing in Comoys.
What have you started Kashmir????

 

[wyfbane]

Oh my!! That is a gorgeous set of pipes. Unbelievable birdseye. Thanks for sharing.

 

[kashmir]

Plateauguy - Your post got me thinking about eBay estate pipe names that I've used over the years for search functions. So, here are some pipe names to put into your search box on EBay. I've smoked quite a few of these, or have heard and read fellow pipe smokers on various forums extoll their virtues. A lot of them can be had for well under $100, many under $50 in no reserve auctions.
American estates: Barclay-Rex, Biltmore, Schoenleber, Ehrlich's, Edward's, Wally Frank, S.M. Frank, Bertram, etc.
UK estates: Atwood, Ancient Mariner, BBB, GBD, Ben Wade, Bewlay, Hardcastle, Parker, Dr. Plumb etc.
I don't have experience with any of these, but Comoy's "seconds" I've heard make great smokers: Ace of spades, Astor, Ayres, Britannia, Carlyle, Charles Cross, Claridge, Cromwell, Dorchester, Dunbar, Drury Lane, Emerson, Everyman, Grand Master, Gresham, Guildhall, Kingsway, Lion's Head, Lord Clive, Hyde Park, Lloyds, Mc Gahey, Moorgate, Newcastle, Royal Falcon, Royal Lane, Scotland Yard, St James, Sunrise, Sussex, The Academy Award, The Golden Arrow, The Mansion House, The Exmoor Pipe, Tinder Box Royal Coachman, Townhall, Trident, Westminster, Wilshire.
Then of course for those with deeper pockets, there's the UK high or higher grades: James Upshall, GBD, BBB, Comoy's, Charatan, Dunhill, Ashton, Sasieni, Astley's, etc.

 

[plateauguy]

Kashmir,

Thanks for the info - I am always impressed with the knowledge that everyone shares. I appreciate it.
A Guildhall was my first pipe, and is still my old reliable.

 

[ssjones]

I stuck in a last second bid a four pipe lot this afternoon on Ebay and won. One GBD and a Comoys in the lot. It's not a Bulldog, but a Shape 215 Comoys Guidall pipe and it appears to have the 3 pc "C" logo. I had a #215 Patina Comoys, which was sacrificed to purchase my 499 Extraordinaire. I was really interested in the GBD Seventy-Six banker Shape 1353, a GBD shape that I don't own. Stay tuned for restoration posts.

 

[kashmir]

Nice haul, Al. From what I've seen of your prior work, I'm sure you'll do a great restoration job on them. Please post some before and after shots. Sure to be a handful of fiine smokers.