Give me your opinion on these flaws (see pics)

[SBC]

I'm interested in this pipe on feebay, but before bidding, I'm trying to decide whether to worry about a couple flaws in the shank.

Here are a couple different perspectives on the first flaw:





I'm trying to figure out what I'm looking at here. Why is it so dark? Was this a crack which has been darkened by smoke over time?

Then here is the second flaw:



This one is pretty obviously a natural void in the briar. Even though it's larger than the other one, I'm less worried about it. I think that if it were going to compromise the integrity of the pipe, it would have done so long ago.
Agree?
I'd probably fill this one with a briar dust / glue mixture.

Many of you might wonder why I'm interested in a pipe with such unsightly flaws, but you wouldn't be interested in why I'm interested in it. I'd just appreciate your take on whether these flaws are probably functional concerns.

Thanks!

 

[ashdigger]

That pipe is a goner. That crack is discolored from smoke and tar.

If you clean it you’ll dislodge the goo keeping it together.

That’s a hard pass for me.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

That pipe is a goner. That crack is discolored from smoke and tar.

If you clean it you’ll dislodge the goo keeping it together.

That’s a hard pass for me.

Agree

 

[anotherbob]

that first one looks bad.

 

[sablebrush52]

I would skip this one and wait for something better.

 

[bullet08]

Yupe. No need to look at it further. That thing won't do.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Was this a crack which has been darkened by smoke over time?

Yep, and totally irreparable.

 

[condorlover1]

Not even a hose clip would fix that shank and I have seen that done before, no really!

 

[OzPiper]

That first is a definite crack.

I fired up a newly arrived estate only to hear loud crack
My heart sank when I saw a (similar) crack along the shank

A definite pass on that one

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Many of you might wonder why I'm interested in a pipe with such unsightly flaws, but you wouldn't be interested in why I'm interested in it. I'd just appreciate your take on whether these flaws are probably functional concerns.

Inquiring minds want to know.

I would agree with others that there will be functional concerns.

I believe the maker used to work for Barclay-Rex—is that why you're interested?

 

[SBC]

Thanks, Everyone!

@IronMonkey, Ok, I'm impressed. I zoomed in to avoid those initials, but apparently you'd already been looking at this one. ;-)

 

[crashthegrey]

Second flaw is fine. First one is a crack with heat damage. I concur with the above.

 

[ssjones]

That pipe is a goner. That crack is discolored from smoke and tar.

If you clean it you’ll dislodge the goo keeping it together.

That’s a hard pass for me.

Bingo, hard pass on that piece of firewood.

 

[john19]

For me, go for another pipe.

 

[AJL67]

Well at least it's not as bad as THIS where the seller said he didn't even notice the crack until he was making the listing. lol

 

[Briar Lee]

Keep waking around the Bay!

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Thanks, Everyone!

@IronMonkey, Ok, I'm impressed. I zoomed in to avoid those initials, but apparently you'd already been looking at this one. ;-)

Actually, I hadn’t—as a visual person, the background in the cropped photos gave me visual cues to use, along with an obvious search term to do a quick search—it took less than a minute to find, and get a little closer to satisfying my curiosity about your interest in this flawed pipe. I do have a keen interest in Barclay-Rex pipes, especially ones made in house (being a New Yorker, they hold a place close to my heart, and are a short walk from my 9 to 5 gig) and this maker ties into that interest.

 

[SBC]

Actually, I hadn’t—as a visual person, the background in the cropped photos gave me visual cues to use, along with an obvious search term to do a quick search—it took less than a minute to find, and get a little closer to satisfying my curiosity about your interest in this flawed pipe. I do have a keen interest in Barclay-Rex pipes, especially ones made in house (being a New Yorker, they hold a place close to my heart, and are a short walk from my 9 to 5 gig) and this maker ties into that interest.

Then you know about that maker's background with a certain other marque. There's another of his up right now, in much better shape -- I'll leave it to you if you're interested -- I don't prefer the shape.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Then you know about that maker's background with a certain other marque. There's another of his up right now, in much better shape -- I'll leave it to you if you're interested -- I don't prefer the shape.

Yes, and thank you.

 

[kcghost]

There are too many pipes in the world to buy that one. You would a have made the seller very happy and you would have been most unhappy.