Don't Purchase Meerschaum From This Retailer!! Buyer Beware

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

MisterBadger

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 6, 2024
647
4,765
Ludlow, UK
I thought that Turkey had made it illegal to export meerschaum. The chances that you'll get a good grade of meer stone is rather low.
Spain, Greece, Moravia, Somalia and, I believe, Namibia also have deposits of Meerschaum. No idea about the quality, though - probably not good or we'd know about it - could be from any one of those countries?
 
Jul 17, 2017
1,775
6,625
NV
pencilandpipe.home.blog
I am not trying to convince you whatsoever. Just some experience to shed a light. Do you know how many blocks we throw away to make a decent pipe? It is 6 or 7 out of 10 on average. Especially while making smooth pipes. That’s so hard to find a ‘good’ block. When a customer orders a raw block to make his pipe out of it, nobody would give a guarantee that it is a perfect block. Because, most likely it wouldn’t be.

When we start carving a block to make a pipe, all our fingers crossed. Because, we paid for it already. Unless it ends to be a good one, your money would go for nothing! It is definitely not similar to briars. Every raw meerschaum has its own hidden story.

Good luck!
Sinan
This is the only reply we need
 

olkofri

Lifer
Sep 9, 2017
8,179
15,024
The Arm of Orion
I am not trying to convince you whatsoever. Just some experience to shed a light. Do you know how many blocks we throw away to make a decent pipe? It is 6 or 7 out of 10 on average. Especially while making smooth pipes. That’s so hard to find a ‘good’ block. When a customer orders a raw block to make his pipe out of it, nobody would give a guarantee that it is a perfect block. Because, most likely it wouldn’t be.

When we start carving a block to make a pipe, all our fingers crossed. Because, we paid for it already. Unless it ends to be a good one, your money would go for nothing! It is definitely not similar to briars. Every raw meerschaum has its own hidden story.

Good luck!
Sinan
Thanks for the enligthening tidbit. Guess that explains why Meerschäume have a higher price tag right off the bat: all that overhead.
 

anotherbob

Lifer
Mar 30, 2019
16,853
31,604
46
In the semi-rural NorthEastern USA
I am not trying to convince you whatsoever. Just some experience to shed a light. Do you know how many blocks we throw away to make a decent pipe? It is 6 or 7 out of 10 on average. Especially while making smooth pipes. That’s so hard to find a ‘good’ block. When a customer orders a raw block to make his pipe out of it, nobody would give a guarantee that it is a perfect block. Because, most likely it wouldn’t be.

When we start carving a block to make a pipe, all our fingers crossed. Because, we paid for it already. Unless it ends to be a good one, your money would go for nothing! It is definitely not similar to briars. Every raw meerschaum has its own hidden story.

Good luck!
Sinan
I sort of see this in a weird way. I saw a video of a carver almost done with a large intricate piece and right at the end found the fatal flaw. His face showed disappointment and little surprise. He shrugged and said that's a thing that happens.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MisterBadger

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
45,284
119,422
I sort of see this in a weird way. I saw a video of a carver almost done with a large intricate piece and right at the end found the fatal flaw. His face showed disappointment and little surprise. He shrugged and said that's a thing that happens.
The same can happen with briar. Out of ten blocks, one or two may be free from flaws.