Estate Bang-Is It Worth The Money?

[brudnod]

...and yes Allan that is a beautiful pipe by any standard.

 

[sablebrush52]

If you don't regret the purchase, it's worth the money.
From a pure technical standpoint, enjoying a great smoke doesn't require a large outlay of cash. It's 75% technique, 25% equipment. The rest is wish fulfillment.

 

[Chasing Embers]

There have been a couple of Abi Natur pipes that I would have paid a grand for. If the purchase inspires you to drop that kind of cash, then in the sense of worth, I would say yes.

 

[mso489]

The Bang estate pipes I saw online run in the thousands. To me, those prices are absurd. To someone who sold their tech business for several hundred million or more, its pocket change. For others, who have the money but not infinitely deep pockets -- ah, for them, it is a philosophical question. Still, I don't think it is disingenuous to say that a little Yello-Bole briar Checker panel pipe with a saddle stem (around $30), or a similar little Kaywoodie blast Saxon push bit panel for about the same can give you years, decades of pleasant smoking, and with a little care and upkeep, smoking about as good as it gets. (Minor disclaimer: I find the Bang designs a little bulky for my taste, beautifully worked but not altogether pleasing. A different artisan pipe might strum my heart strings more and have me pining for a winning lottery ticket.)

 

[shaintiques]

It is a nice looking pipe Alan. I like Bangs but don't own one...yet. Briarblues has one that is amazing but at $3000 not in my price range. I do hope to come across one that is in the future.

 

[foggymountain]

Is it worth how much? You are selling Dunhills to get Rads? I went in the other direction. I prefer smooth Dunhills to Rads.

 

[allan]

Foggy-I have four Dunhill's left and I'm keeping them. I was only saying that one can get a great pipe from Rad Davis at much less money than my purchase of an S. Bang.
I purchased this Bang for $500.00 with free shipping. I have seen several Bang's going for over $1000, but usually they are stamped 'Kobenhaven', not 'Copenhagen' (sp?).
Sable:

From a pure technical standpoint, enjoying a great smoke doesn't require a large outlay of cash. It's 75% technique, 25% equipment. The rest is wish fulfillment.

For most any of the artisan pipes, I agree 100 per cent.

 

[clickklick]

Looks like a replacement stem to me. That or its an earlier piece. Or has been buffed to hell. Value is subjective.

 

[clickklick]

From the pipephil website the Copenhagen mark was used up until 1984

 

[allan]

@clicklick:

Looks like a replacement stem to me.

The fit on this stem to the mortise is perfect and the button and end piece are beautifully done. Just what I would expect from a Bang pipe.
What about the stem gives you that indication?

 

[clickklick]

No worries it is pre 84 so the non crispness so to speak is from that era. I should have looked it up before I spoke. My apologies. Its just an earlier piece.

 

[allan]

I've tried to study up on Bang pipes, but I've not found any distinct way of telling the age of their wares, other than the fact that in-1984 when the factory was purchased by Noltensmeier and Hansen and the name was changed from the Cobenhaven to Kobenhagen.
Do you know of any other indications?

 

[hippiebrian]

If you are worried you paid too much, there is a good chance you did.
If you smoke it, didn't mortgage the farm on it, and it makes you smile and not think about the price of the pipe, you didn't pay too much.
This holds true whether you buy at the 5000 dollar range or at the 8 buck cob range.
Me, I tend towards the sub 150 dollar range, and have not regretted a purchase yet. Well, maybe those two Petes I tried (because I'm a glutton and didn't stop at one) that smoked hotter than Satans nipples. Ya, except those.