Guess the grade of these pipes...

[Searock Fan]

Thank you for your insightful contribution. Not sure where you saw the word "Norway" though.

Erik Nørding is Danish. The pipes are made in Denmark.

It's okay though, Danish pipes are not to everyone's taste (it took me a while, but I've come to the conclusion that people who can't appreciate Danish pipes are not, in fact, uncultured swine). The fewer people who like them, the cheaper the prices on the estate market. Bad for my heirs I guess, but good for me in the here and now, eh?

You're right. I misread it. I think it's time for new specs. It's "Nording" so I'm afraid my opinion stands. From what I can tell from other pipe guys and a couple of trips to Demark where I visited several makers and from smoking some, the Danes don't cure their briar, so you end up smoking sap as well as tobacco. They seem to be more interested in looks than in smoking quality. As a matter of fact the most prefect straight grain I ever owned (or saw for that matter) was an Ann Julie. It was unsmoked and I didn't smoke it, but simply sold it for a very high price.

 

[PLANofMAN]

... From what I can tell from other pipe guys and a couple of trips to Demark where I visited several makers and from smoking some, the Danes don't cure their briar, ...

Erik Nørding built his own high tech curing ovens, but goes fairly low tech on the rest of the pipe work. Carlton Hacker even gives the ovens a mention in the first or second chapter of his "21st century guide to pipe smoking."

I can't speak for the rest of the Danes. Every Stanwell I've had has been well cured, though again, here, I can't speak for the Italian made Stanwells, only the pre-move pipes.

It's also been 30 years since I've smoked a 'new' Stanwell, for whatever that's worth.

 

[Waning Embers]

There's been speculation that he uses powdered meerschaum in the coating...

From one I disassembled, I couldn't find any evidence of it, just a lacquer in colors of cream, black and brown. The rumors that they color when smoked are also false.

 

[anotherbob]

I think the criteria for grading is a bit subjective anyways. To me they look like middle of the road pipes as far as the wood and grain are concerned. Do like the more subdued blasting on these though.

 

[PLANofMAN]

I think the criteria for grading is a bit subjective anyways. To me they look like middle of the road pipes as far as the wood and grain are concerned. Do like the more subdued blasting on these though.

Subdued blasts are more of a European thing. The deep craggy blasts are typically only done to cater to American tastes.

 

[anotherbob]

Subdued blasts are more of a European thing. The deep craggy blasts are typically only done to cater to American tastes.

Otherwise then cobs which I like and find pleasing I general don't really tend to like American briar. It just often looks off to me. Not bad, but just not right according to my sensibilities. For instance not a huge fan of craggy blasts. Well more with that I prefer a more subtle touch the craggy stuff is cool too, just not as cool.

 

[Dshift]

Subdued blasts are more of a European thing. The deep craggy blasts are typically only done to cater to American tastes.

This explains why I see two very different sandblasts on Peterson Kaprufs.
Here are two examples of 999 Kapruf:

This is what I get in Europe 90% of the time.


And this is my 999 kapruf - so much more dramatic

 

[Waning Embers]

Subdued blasts are more of a European thing.

Also a way of salvaging an uninteresting block by different carvers worldwide. A reason why blasts are often less expensive than smooth pipes though more work went into them.

 

[Searock Fan]

Also a way of salvaging an uninteresting block by different carvers worldwide. A reason why blasts are often less expensive than smooth pipes though more work went into them.

The reason why blasts and textured is less expensive that smooths is because most (myself excepted) fanciers of high end pipes value, and are willing to pay for nice grain. Texturing or blasting a piece of briar without good grain is simply a way of salvaging an otherwise good block. Remember, nice grain does not make a pipe smoke better.

 

[PLANofMAN]

If both of the pipes I posted were smooth, the grain pattern would look thusly. I strongly suspect that the original plan with both was a smooth pipe.

 

[Waning Embers]

If both of the pipes I posted were smooth, the grain pattern would look thusly.

Having owned many cross grain pipes

I knew what I was looking at.

I strongly suspect that the original plan with both was a smooth pipe.

Most likely but probably didn't have desired grain and were blasted to compensate.

 

[PLANofMAN]

Having owned many cross grain pipes
View attachment 409821View attachment 409822
I knew what I was looking at.




Most likely but probably didn't have desired grain and were blasted to compensate.

That blowfish is pretty, but that bottom pipe...

Looks like a Longchamp that got covered in ostrich hide. I can appreciate the artistry, but I can't unsee these.

 

[xrundog]

I have never seen an unstamped Nørding or an 00 grade Nørding, so they caught my eye. Superlative grades on a sandblasted pipe are kind of a 'meh' thing anyways, right?

At first glance I thought it was rusticated. And I was wondering why a lumpy surface like that needs to be graded.
I am obviously missing something and that’s okay. I don’t understand everything at the art museums I’ve been to either.

 

[PLANofMAN]

At first glance I thought it was rusticated. And I was wondering why a lumpy surface like that needs to be graded.
I am obviously missing something and that’s okay. I don’t understand everything at the art museums I’ve been to either.

Humans like to pigeonhole things into categories, and we place undue emphasis on the higher categories. It's one of the more pretentious aspects of this hobby. As people have pointed out before, a pre-WWII Kaywoodie drugstore pipe has better grain than most top 1% pipes today.

This one is turning out to be a pretty pipe. Initial cleaning (haven't touched the stem yet, and haven't fully reamed it either):

Myself, I have a thing for variable finish pipes. They are more interesting in a touchy feely way, whether it be a blast or rustication.