Help Me Design a Meer

[AroEnglish]

I want to get a small (chamber 1.3x0.75 max), short (under 4.75"), lightweight (under 1oz), spigot meer but haven't figured out exactly what I want. I do want it to have a classic look/ proportions but I'm not sure about the shape or the chubbiness. I think I want to do either:

• A straight, slim billiard
• A bent, fat billiard
• A straight, fat apple

I'm looking for any pics for inspiration or suggestions/thoughts.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Visit the site of Carvers and places like Meerchaum Market. If you see something you like, find a carver. I recommend Altinay, he did the custom I'm showing a photo of. Also scroll through the thread here "Show Off Your Meerchaum."

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I chose to use elements from photos I’d taken of Muckross Abbey near Killarney which we had visited, particularly its famous and centuries old Yew tree. Here are some pics - the stem is what came with it, I had to replace it and Doug Finlay was kind enough to do that work. So maybe something visited on a trip or favorite spot in general.

 

[Chasing Embers]

 

[AroEnglish]

Pinging @OzPiper @Ahi Ka @ashdigger @bluegrassbrian as guys who own pipes that would fit the shapes I'm thinking of (whether meerschaum or not).

 

[mortonbriar]

This is out of left field, but I just happen to have an empty house right now and I am cooking a pasta with a Wu Tang album (enter the wu tang) blasting at obnoxious volumes...anyway, I just thought that a big W in the Wu Tang style would make a great front of meer design.

 

[AroEnglish]

This is out of left field, but I just happen to have an empty house right now and I am cooking a pasta with a Wu Tang album (enter the wu tang) blasting at obnoxious volumes...anyway, I just thought that a big W in the Wu Tang style would make a great front of meer design.

100%

 

[OzPiper]

I like spigots, but I’m not sure if you can get the right proportions with a slim billiard
Short, chunky ones definitely
This is the only army mount meer in my collection


These stubby chubbys are all briars. But not spigots.
But their profiles/shapes and size maybe close to what you’re looking for

 

[OzPiper]

Check out the spigotted Barling meers at SmokingPipes
Good lookers, but pricey !

 

[spearheadbill]

Check out the spigotted Barling meers at SmokingPipes
Good lookers, but pricey !

I second that! I have a military mount Barling and the fit and finish is excellent. I heard that Altinay makes them for the Barling stamp but I don't know. Great pipe though.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Check out the spigotted Barling meers at SmokingPipes
Good lookers, but pricey !

They're just Altinay pipes with a Barling stamp.

 

[AroEnglish]

I like spigots, but I’m not sure if you can get the right proportions with a slim billiard
Short, chunky ones definitely
This is the only army mount meer in my collection
View attachment 370155

These stubby chubbys are all briars. But not spigots.
But their profiles/shapes and size maybe close to what you’re looking for
View attachment 370159
View attachment 370157
View attachment 370158
View attachment 370161
View attachment 370160

This is exactly the inspiration I was looking for. And I think you're right about the spigot. The only reason I wanted to opt of a spigot was I didn't know if meer carvers did army mounts that weren't spigots. I guess you don't know if you don't ask.

 

[chilllucky]

I think the coolest thing that can be done in meerschaum and not briar is real piercing work. It'll take a couple grams off the weight, too!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The only thing that makes me cringe slightly about a spigot or Army mount on a meer, is knowing that there is a slight taper to the stems on those and the stem stays in place by compression of the surrounding block. On a Briar, the ferrule keeps the wood from flaring out too much, but the briar is somewhat spongy or flexible. On a meer spigot, you have the soft stone compressing the stem. If shoved with a little too much force, the ferrule is not going to prevent that soft stone from crumbling.
But, I agree that they do look cool, as I have always had an aesthetic preference for metalwork on a pipe.

My ideal Meer would be a large fat squat bully with a good sized bowl, slight bend on a tapered stem. I see them every now and then, but they usually sell faster than I can pull the trigger.

 

[AroEnglish]

I think the coolest thing that can be done in meerschaum and not briar is real piercing work. It'll take a couple grams off the weight, too!

You mean like this?



Pic from @Chasing Embers's post.

 

[AroEnglish]

The only thing that makes me cringe slightly about a spigot or Army mount on a meer, is knowing that there is a slight taper to the stems on those and the stem stays in place by compression of the surrounding block. On a Briar, the ferrule keeps the wood from flaring out too much, but the briar is somewhat spongy or flexible. On a meer spigot, you have the soft stone compressing the stem. If shoved with a little too much force, the ferrule is not going to prevent that soft stone from crumbling.
But, I agree that they do look cool, as I have always had an aesthetic preference for metalwork on a pipe.

My ideal Meer would be a large fat squat bully with a good sized bowl, slight bend on a tapered stem. I see them every now and then, but they usually sell faster than I can pull the trigger.

Thanks for the insight, Michael! I'll keep that in mind when inserting the stem.

 

[Ahi Ka]

The only thing that makes me cringe slightly about a spigot or Army mount on a meer, is knowing that there is a slight taper to the stems on those and the stem stays in place by compression of the surrounding block. On a Briar, the ferrule keeps the wood from flaring out too much, but the briar is somewhat spongy or flexible. On a meer spigot, you have the soft stone compressing the stem. If shoved with a little too much force, the ferrule is not going to prevent that soft stone from crumbling.
But, I agree that they do look cool, as I have always had an aesthetic preference for metalwork on a pipe.

My ideal Meer would be a large fat squat bully with a good sized bowl, slight bend on a tapered stem. I see them every now and then, but they usually sell faster than I can pull the trigger.

On my military mount meers the ferrule sits proud of the meer shank, so the compression/friction which holds the stem in places comes from the silver not the stone. At least that’s how I recall them. No pipes on me except a cob and moonshine.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

On my military mount meers the ferrule sits proud of the meer shank, so the compression/friction which holds the stem in places comes from the silver not the stone. At least that’s how I recall them. No pipes on me except a cob and moonshine.

Interesting. I will have to get me a meer-spig just to see the mechanicals on that.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Here’s some inspiration aroman.

MBSD Meerschaum Deluxe Silver Bent Egg Block Meerschaum Pipe, Briar-Mortise | eBay

One of these series is the Deluxe Silver, which features a mortise strengthened both by briar on the interior, and sterling silver on the exterior. In the past, I’ve leaned more toward black, amber, and cumberland-style colors because that’s what I associated with classic briar shapes.

www.ebay.co.uk

I’m always drawn to antique, but this one is even calling out to me.

Also, cosmic, it has a close up of the inside of the ferrule

 

[brian64]

This is exactly the inspiration I was looking for. And I think you're right about the spigot. The only reason I wanted to opt of a spigot was I didn't know if meer carvers did army mounts that weren't spigots. I guess you don't know if you don't ask.

My only meer army mount...an Altinay: