El Morjane Algerian Briar Pipe Score

[Lumbridge]

I loaded up the dark one (I think it's a Liverpool shape) with some Haunted Bookshop tonight and had a very pleasant, cool, dry smoke. The chamber is a bit narrow, so I got about half an hour out of the bowl. Pretty happy with how this pipe performed.
"The Dark One" is a pretty cool name for that pipe, come to think of it. It sounds ominous, like an evil wizard or something. Yeah, I'm a nerd.

 

[Humblepipe]

I believe these simpletons were made out of the factory of Raoul Amiel near Philippeville in Algeria. He was French and trained locals to make pipes in his Algerian facility. Little in the way of machinery. It's amazing that there were so many found unsmoked. Definitely utilitarian, but why not for the right price?

 

[Lumbridge]

I believe these simpletons were made out of the factory of Raoul Amiel near Philippeville in Algeria. He was French and trained locals to make pipes in his Algerian facility. Little in the way of machinery. It's amazing that there were so many found unsmoked. Definitely utilitarian, but why not for the right price?

Interesting, where did you find info on them?
They are fairly crude pipes by today's standards - I wouldn't be surprised if they were made mostly with hand tools. The bowl chamber and airway drilling seems to be straight and good to go, however.

 

[Humblepipe]

Interesting, where did you find info on them?
They are fairly crude pipes by today's standards - I wouldn't be surprised if they were made mostly with hand tools. The bowl chamber and airway drilling seems to be straight and good to go, however.

I put two and two together. I read somewhere that these pipes were likely made near Philippeville in Algeria. I read somewhere else that Raoul Amiel of France (whose family was involved in pipe making on Continental Europe) had a factory there. The period of time Raoul Amiel and family were active coincides with when these pipes were likely made. Not 100% certain, but close

I should add that I purchased a few of these myself months ago. That got me taking a deep dive into the pipes origins.

 

[Briar Lee]

I was forty years old when I went on vacation to Canada and smoked my first, unquestionably genuine Havana cigar.

Don’t try to convince me, that except for the 1962 embargo there would have never been a Nicaraguan and Honduran cigar industry. Havana cigars are the absolute best, and were famous for a reason.

Anybody who thinks genuine Algerian briar isn’t the best smoking briar in the world ought to buy one of these ugly little pipes.

No wonder the best smoking pipes in the world were made from Algerian briar.

You have to smoke one to realize it.

 

[canucklehead]

It's kind of ridiculous, how many does this guy have?

Judd's Lot of 25 New Old Stock Unsmoked El Morjane Algerian Briar Pipes | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Judd's Lot of 25 New Old Stock Unsmoked El Morjane Algerian Briar Pipes at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.ca

 

[NCHARLEYRIDER]

In the last month or so I’ve gotten incensed over Algerian briar pipes, and bought a bunch of em’ for $15, $20, even $25 for a fancy one.

Imagine my glee to score three unsmoked El Morjane pipes for only $30. I’ve never heard of the brand, but brand new ten dollar Algerian pipes ought to sell out quick.

Anybody ever heard of these?

View attachment 203371

Do you know about RnATreasures? They have a sell of 12 random aged Algerian briar pipes for $25. I have several of their pipes and they look and smoke great. Pretty good deal 12 pipes for $25 and they are Algerian briar.

 

[NCHARLEYRIDER]

I found out from a friend here tonight these pipes are from a stash made up about fifty years ago.

When they are gone, there won’t be any more.

Aged Billiard Algerian briar wood

Aged Algerian Briar Wood Billiard Morjane El Kafa Algerie Unfiltered Unsmoked

rnatreasures.com

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I have four now, and that’s plenty.

They run small. My guess is the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria made an attempt to operate the left over factories from before the revolution to make tourist trinkets to peddle to visitors to El Kala.

El Kala - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I can’t imagine too many wives have ever put up a howl to go vacation wearing a bedsheet in beautiful El Kala in the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, but Wikipedia says it’s a tourist attraction for people inside and out of Algeria.

They have 12 for $25 right now.

 

[NCHARLEYRIDER]

I have six now and just ordered the 12 for $25 don't see how one could go wrong at that price

 

[FLDRD]

In the last month or so I’ve gotten incensed over Algerian briar pipes, and bought a bunch of em’ for $15, $20, even $25 for a fancy one.

Imagine my glee to score three unsmoked El Morjane pipes for only $30. I’ve never heard of the brand, but brand new ten dollar Algerian pipes ought to sell out quick.

Anybody ever heard of these?

View attachment 203371

Definition of incensed | Dictionary.com

Incensed definition, inflamed with anger; enraged: "I will not tolerate discrimination of any kind within my administration!" said the incensed mayor, filled with righteous indignation. See more.

www.dictionary.com

 

[kilroyjune6]

My first briar was an El Morjane. I ended up getting a few more. I haven't smoked any of them in a while, but they always smoked good. I should dust them off.

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

There was a guy at Chicago pipe show RNA treasures(nice guy,his dad used to own tobacco shop for decades so he inherited all his inventory) and he was giving those el morjane pipes away in a small gift packs for free..I got me one ..it is not really bad at all..no fills drilled straight passes cleaner...I did not smoked it yet but about ready to...

 

[towhee89]

In the last month or so I’ve gotten incensed over Algerian briar pipes, and bought a bunch of em’ for $15, $20, even $25 for a fancy one.

Imagine my glee to score three unsmoked El Morjane pipes for only $30. I’ve never heard of the brand, but brand new ten dollar Algerian pipes ought to sell out quick.

Anybody ever heard of these?

View attachment 203371

Damn it Lee, you got me again. I just won a El Morjane for $11.21 shipped (I could handle that price) I saw there are a lot of them out there and wanted to wait for the best deal.

 

[towhee89]

Basket Pipes

Our collection of briar basket pipes includes French, Italian, German, and various other finely crafted briar pipes. Non branded basket pipes otherwise known as "No Name" briar pipes are typically large production, fine quality pipes made in the same factories that world renowned pipe makers...

barlowdorr.com

These folks are selling them also, I saw.

 

[towhee89]

My two El Cheapo pipes came in today.

The black one is in good shape. Both pipes needed quite a bit of cleaning as they were filthy inside and out despite being unsmoked. Full of wood, greasy grime, and vulcanite dust, and what looked like stain and possibly reddish polishing compound. I gave them a swab with a bit of cheap Scotch, as it was all I had. It took a little over an hour to get them both cleaned to my liking.

Unfortunately, the shank on the panel developed a good crack when I put the stem on it. It also has a sizeable crack in the rear wall of the bowl that goes all the way through, which I'm pretty sure was already there. The fills, while ugly, I would overlook seeing as I only paid $10 for the pipe, but the cracks make me sad. I messaged the seller to see what he'd do for me on that one.

Besides that, the pipes feel good in the hand and look to be drilled straight.

If I end up stuck with the cracked one, I'm going to try smoking it anyway just to see how it performs even with the split in the bowl. I plan on trying out the black one on the morrow to see how it smokes.
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I'm more than a wee bit paranoid that this is going to happen to mine when I get it should I be that worried? What is your opinion of these pipes now that you've owned them for some time also?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'm more than a wee bit paranoid that this is going to happen to mine when I get it should I be that worried? What is your opinion of these pipes now that you've owned them for some time also?

His were unsmoked. Pipes that old that have remained unsmoked can become dessicated and will crack when exposed to heat and moisture.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I’ve bought a couple and they taste nasty, even after any and all cleaning. Decades old funk and stain, stem work is crap, junk vulcanite.
They’re truly junk (and I love bringing back and smoking eighty year old estates). Not worth the time and aggravation.

 

[JoburgB2]

Anybody who thinks genuine Algerian briar isn’t the best smoking briar in the world ought to buy one of these ugly little pipes.

No wonder the best smoking pipes in the world were made from Algerian briar.

You have to smoke one to realize it.

Well it is subjective, is it not? Thanks for sharing your opinion. In forty years of pipe smoking, I never gave much thought to the origin of the briar in a pipe. I do not know how you define “best”, but I am sure I will be unable to discriminate consistently whether Algerian, Italian, Grecian, etc. briar is “best”. In addition, who knows where something is made and with what materials, despite whatever may be stamped on a shank? I personally do not seek out pipes that appear unattractive with haphazard rustication just because they are cheap, or because they are purportedly made with a certain briar. But that’s me. I am not disputing your contention or having a go. You found something you like and are letting us all know about it. Thanks for putting Algerian briar on my radar screen, but I doubt it is going to have much impact on my purchases.

 

[JoburgB2]

Wow! I did a quick search on this site for Algerian briar, and to say there are many posts on this subject is an understatement! And BriarLee you seem to be an expert here. So I have some learning to do! Which is the benefit of this site! Thanks!

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I was fortunate enough to get two dozen El-Morjane pipes for $44.33 from Rnatreasures in April of 2023 (basically a buck eighty-five each); they made great stocking stuffers and are fine for beater pipes once you get past their funkiness; there were a variety of sizes and finishes in my batch and I particularly like the tiny ones; I made a seven day set for my buddy, John; @cosmicfolklore now has the $6.2 M one I made so he could smoke his G.L. Pease alternate reality Haruki Murakami Lane 1-Q84 Som Besths blend: