Estate Pipes Nice To Look At, But-

[Morrison Jeremiah]

I see Estate pipes that I like on eBay and I have to buy them, but the problem is I smoke them a couple of times and then put them on a rack to display, and the only pipes that I smoke on a daily basis are artisan- made ones that I bought from new. maybe it's because they are the only pipes that feel as though they are my own, plus the most important thing is that they definitely give a better smoke. Factory-made pipes that I buy new I also smoke a couple of times and then put them on a rack. Is PAD bad ? It seems to be a common affliction, but I dont regret it.

 

[Grangerous]

Most all of my recently acquired pipes are estates that have been professionally restored. I’ve never wanted to attempt a restoration myself. That said, I rate each acquisition on its own merits. Some of my best lookers don’t smoke very well. Some really surprise me.

pAd and tHis fOruM…did this to me.

I was happy with my tobacconist’s basket pipe offerings and the Grabow's purchased from drug store displays and a cob or two.

I’d never needed more than the 6-10 pipes I’d acquired and buying someone else’s old pipe — never crossed my mind. But the forum and more specifically, Blue Room Briars and other high quality restoration services changed my mind. I now own numerous old factory Stanwell’s, 1956 Dunhill Shell Briar, an African Meer and numerous other beautiful pipes.

What is a “new” pipe anyway? As soon as you smoke it — it’s an estate.

On edit: I’ve never commissioned an artisan pipe. Perhaps ? I need to explore this? PAD is real.

 

[Jwebb90]

I’ve never been one to spend much on pipes. This is for two reasons. Firstly, I do not have the disposable income for most artisans. Secondly, any extra money that I have I’ve put toward tobacco. A good portion of my pipes are estates that I have picked up from antique stores. I’m not really an eBay guy but I thoroughly enjoy the hunt at local shops. I’ve been pretty fortunate at what I’ve come across.

 

[mso489]

Morrison J., it sounds like you have found your pipe milieu, just the right zone for obtaining your pipes. If it were me, I'd just unburden yourself of the pipes you don't smoke, rotate the ones you do smoke, and stick to your artisan path in the future. Estate pipes can be wonderful, as can new factory pipes, but since you have tried them both and prefer artisan pipes, go with your gut, or your heart.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I mostly smoke artisans but regularly smoke Castellos and Radice. Numerous factory pipes smoke fantastic.

 

[bullet08]

Peterson is my brand and only pipes I smoke, other than MM for OTC. I have nothing against estate pipes. I actually want some old Peterson, but I'm not every good at finding them.

 

[pepesdad1]

Most all of my recently acquired pipes are estates that have been professionally restored. I’ve never wanted to attempt a restoration myself. That said, I rate each acquisition on its own merits. Some of my best lookers don’t smoke very well. Some really surprise me.

pAd and tHis fOruM…did this to me.

I was happy with my tobacconist’s basket pipe offerings and the Grabow's purchased from drug store displays and a cob or two.

I’d never needed more than the 6-10 pipes I’d acquired and buying someone else’s old pipe — never crossed my mind. But the forum and more specifically, Blue Room Briars and other high quality restoration services changed my mind. I now own numerous old factory Stanwell’s, 1956 Dunhill Shell Briar, an African Meer and numerous other beautiful pipes.

What is a “new” pipe anyway? As soon as you smoke it — it’s an estate.

On edit: I’ve never commissioned an artisan pipe. Perhaps ? I need to explore this? PAD is real.

If you are gonna think about a commission pipe...let me suggest a Ron RdPipes or a Cramps (Cramptholomew) pipe..both will knock your socks off.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

Morrison J., it sounds like you have found your pipe milieu, just the right zone for obtaining your pipes. If it were me, I'd just unburden yourself of the pipes you don't smoke, rotate the ones you do smoke, and stick to your artisan path in the future. Estate pipes can be wonderful, as can new factory pipes, but since you have tried them both and prefer artisan pipes, go with your gut, or your heart.

I guess I wrote the post mostly to convince myself of exactly what you just said. Thank you for helping me on my path.

 

[sablebrush52]

Sometimes the thrill is in the hunt. I went through an estate buying spree some years back, when prices slumped in 2007 and 2008. Now it's "been there, done that" and my estate purchases have slowed to a trickle, so far none this year.
I buy Artisan made pipes new for the most part. And since the Britwood I favor hasn't been made in nearly 60 years, estates are where it's at. I've smoked almost all of my pipes at one time of another, though there are a dozen or so that I reach for more often than others.
That dozen includes both Artisan and factory made pipes that are also from several different countries. Artisan made vs factory made, handmade vs machine made means nothing to me. I haven't found any innate superiority along those lines. Most of the pipes I've owned over the years worked equally well regardless of pedigree.

 

[trouttimes]

I have both estates and artisan pipes. For me, part of what I enjoy is imagining the history associated with the pipe I’m smoking. In my mind, I’m often transported back to some time and location, usually in Europe, where life was very different from today. It relaxes me.
My artisans are like young college girls with little experience but the potential of a great future. As long as they smoke well, I enjoy both. Smoke what you like, like what you smoke.

 

[ashdigger]

Since I’m 124 years old I only smoke new pipes. I’d never smoke an estate. The horror.

We all do what we do.

I smoke the absolute shit out of my old pipes and my Alden’s sit. Well not for long.

I smoke every pipe I own, or it finds a new home.

 

[Sloopjohnbee]

I only smoke factory made estates
I have no problem with them
A pipe is a pipe - you put tobacco in the one's you love and smoke - it isn't science
I can't stand cobs - most love them - a cob is a $10 pipe and far from technically inclined

 

[cigrmaster]

I have one factory pipe left in my collection. I prefer the feel of hand made stems and I like the way an artisan pipe smokes in comparison to any other type of pipe. I do have one factory pipe which is the first pipe I bought but haven't smoked it in a decade it is a Savinelli and it smokes fine except for the stem. I also have a few Meers, but I am not sure how to categorize those. As far as I am concerned they are average to poor smoking pipes even though one is an IMP and is supposed to be a good pipe. The stems all suck

My last 12 purchases have all been new pipes and they have all been Jack Howell commissions.. I still look at every estate pipe I can and I see lots of dog crap for stupid prices. I don't understand how people are selling these dogs.

 

[Chasing Embers]

If you are gonna think about a commission pipe...let me suggest a Ron RdPipes or a Cramps (Cramptholomew) pipe..both will knock your socks off.

+1

 

[MarcosEZLN]

If you are gonna think about a commission pipe...let me suggest a Ron RdPipes or a Cramps (Cramptholomew) pipe..both will knock your socks off.

Ron announced in May that he's only taking one commission per month, so unless he's walked that back I imagine it's going to be quite a wait if you can even get on the list. He and Jason (Cramptholomew) both do beautiful work, but Jason (jeverettpipes on IG) might be a little more attainable these days. I'll also vouch for Mike Couch on IG, he made a fantastic strawberry devil anse for me in under a month at less than $200.

To the OP topic, I've recently been buying estate artisan pipes and I think it's the best of both worlds. Usually a real qualitative jump up from factory pipes, often at less than factory prices. I don't mind that somebody else smoked them, as long as they were either cared for or restored well by the seller. When I was a kid my mom used to make me try on pants in the aisles of the thrift stores where all my clothes came from, so I'm not too fancy for a used chunk of wood I'm going to burn leaves in.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Mike Couch on IG, he made a fantastic strawberry devil anse for me in under a month

Wow, all of my commissions from various carvers were done in less than a week.

 

[MarcosEZLN]

Wow, all of my commissions from various carvers were done in less than a week.

As in, from the time you made the arrangement or from the time they started working on your pipe? None of the carvers had a backlog of commissions? Either way, that must be nice. I didn't mind waiting a few weeks for Mike's pipe, but 1 week is practically as long as it might take a slow retailer to ship out a factory pipe.

 

[Chasing Embers]

from the time you made the arrangement

This

Guess I have good timing.?‍

 

[OzPiper]

Like many members, I have factory pipes & artisanal pipes, new & old, cheap and not quite so cheap. But what sets my heart racing is a classically shaped piece of old briar, esp if it has a hallmarked silver band. There are the occasional, but in reality, very few 100year old unsmoked pipes around. If that's your preference, then estates is the go.

I know that many have a problem with putting something in their mouths that someone else has chomped on. I have no problem with that, but will not buy or wear "vintage" clothes.

Whatever floats your boat

 

[sablebrush52]

I know that many have a problem with putting something in their mouths that someone else has chomped on.

So they've all only been with virgins? Seems unlikely, or boring.