Fodder for the anti-artisan crowd

[foolwiththefez]

fishnbanjo seems to have scores of pipes I'd prefer.

I'd say that the appearance of this pipe is handsome. It combines the classic bulldog shape with the popular nose warmer size.

Is it worth over $3K? Not to me.

I agree with both mso and newbroom. Then again, I've never paid more than $90 for a pipe and that was extravagant to me so anything $100+ is just out of my (current) price range.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Jay,
You are too kind. Nothing short of a reshaping would do it for me, then your nice contrast stain in browns and black, perhaps.
I should confess or admit I am not a nose warmer fan to begin with.

 

[tennsmoker]

Too little pipe for too much money. Ridiculously priced.
As for defacing national parks, she needs to be made to clean up her mess, and then sent to jail where she can draw on her cell walls.

 

[hierophant]

Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all...can't rip it too hard on looks. It kind of looks like a Mr Brog pipe. No knock on Mr Brog, they're decent pipes. And they don't cost $3000.

 

[michaelmirza]

I adore SmokingPipes, but my one complaint about them is how prominently they feature and parade pipes in ridiculous price ranges that most reasonable people will never be able to afford responsibly. It feels almost insulting in a way.

 

[cullansghost]

Why, for that price I could afford 10.5 oz's of the world's most "exclusive" and "rare" tobacco and a new Peterson's silver spigot to smoke it in, with change in my pocket. I, in no way, begrudge this man his money, but I have seen better looking pipes tumble off an assembly line.

 

[jpmcwjr]

You could snag ~10 pipes made by Ryan Alden! And each and everyone a better looker, and smokes at least as well.

 

[pappymac]

@hieroplant - Mr. Brog would sell that pipe priced in the $39 - $49 range. And it would be smokeable.

 

[bigpond]

Tao is one of the "big dogs" from the danish school. SPC is following market rates for his pipes, the danish pipeshop and scandpipes sell at the same rates.

 

[samcoffeeman]

I sent them an email about that, just want to see what they have to say about those obvious marks.

 

[samcoffeeman]

"Those are marks are most likely just from where they drilled the chamber. It should not have any effect on the pipe or the quality of smoke. In fact, after a few bowls the chamber will darken and those marks won't even be visible. Let me know if I can help with anything else."
I responded with, it just looks like a flaw that shouldn't be there on a $3k+ pipe. If it was my business, I'd have sent it back to the maker.
I actually sorta know the person who answered my question. They are new to SP and I don't want to be too hard on them.

 

[sparrowhawk]

Holy Smokes! Not to sound like a Philistine, but that price is beyond reason. I shiver at the thought of spending over $200 for a pipe, and then only for customs made to my specifications. The average price I'll pay is usually $100.

 

[ssjones]

That is the oddest looking button/draft hole that I've ever seen. I rarely look at Tao pipes for 3,000 obvious reasons, so checked another and it had the same weird button. I'll take my Alden seven ways from Sunday over that one. It looks like the Danish school could use a few carving lessons from a young Texan, hold your head high Ryan.

 

[troutface]

It's sort of like the Glock of pipes. I'm sure it works just fine, but wouldn't you rather shoot this:

 

[noquarter]

The pipe sure looks good to me.I'll buy it if it's within my price range. Then again, I'm not really obsessed with the idea of perfection for functional art pieces.

 

[jpmcwjr]

To many of us, it's neither art nor especially functional. It's so far from perfection that its $3000 price is ludicrous.

 

[deathmetal]

I'm sure it works just fine, but wouldn't you rather shoot this:

Yes. Many times yes.
But can you smoke through it (without dying)?

 

[jefff]

And chances are the Glock is roughly the same price.

 

[deathmetal]

 

[bigpond]

Sam-Bravo! Hardly a surprise though. The takeaway is spc understands the final destination for such a pipe is likely the shelf. Either that or they were hoodwinked and couldn't get their cash back after receiving the pipe lot. :roll:
Al, his ebonite stems on scandpipe aren't as bad. Taken as a whole, it leaves me with the impression that the carver just doesn't give a damn and is resting on his laurels (name) to cash in. He's also pretty old.