How Are The Italian Stanwells Doing?

[mso489]

About a year ago, maybe a little longer, I was given to understand that the manufacture of Stanwell

pipes was being relocated to Italy. Italy is a great pipe culture, as is Denmark, but how a hybrid

might work, I wasn't sure. Has anyone bought an Italian-made Stanwell, and how does it compare

with the Danish made pipes? I've depended on Savenelli, Giani, LaRocca, and Cassano for my Italian

pipes, and Johs for my Danish. I always stop and look at Stanwells. How are these new Italian-made

pipes doing?

 

[Perique]

In addition to my proper Stanwells, I have an Italian made featherweight. I think it's an excellent pipe. Since Italy has a fine tradition of pipe making, there's no reason why the newer Stanwells shouldn't be of good quality.
Regardless, I am saddened by this trend. I like to get the flavor of each country and nationality's style and nuance in the products I purchase. Unfortunately, the business school guys will doubtless ensure the continued trend. Italy is just a relatively benign stopping point on the race to the bottom.

 

[mrjerke]

I just recently picked up a Featherweight and love it. Smokes great and I couldn't ask for more at that price. I'd get another if they had the other shape I want.

 

[jarit]

I haven't smoked an Italian made Stanwell yet, but from what I've seen I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. My local tobacconist had a pair of Stannies in the same shape; the other one was stamped "Made In Denmark" and other "Danish Design" (I was told that these are Italian made). They looked absolutely identical (apart from the grain pattern, obviously). The fit and finish were very good on both pipes.
I have to say one thing, though. IMO, not all the recent POYs and Christmas pipes are as nice as they used to be. None of their stems are flush fit, and they look bit different in styling. For example somehow this 2011 Xmas pipe doesn't look very "Stanwelly" to me:

BTW, here's the 2014 POY, designed by Manduela:

(both images from www.danishpipeshop.com)

 

[kashmir]

Well stated Perique.

My sentiments exactly.

My contention has long been that business schools do nothing but further the wretched state that this world has become. It is indeed a race to the "bottom", as you have so eloquently stated.
Although in this particular case, I would trust Italian standards of craftsmanship, as there are few who can surpass their sense of design and execution. The question of course becomes what influence the Italians will stamp on the Danish designs. The same can also be said of the move of Comoy's production facilities to Italy.

 

[mso489]

Agree there is a problem with leadership that has "expertise" in business administration, but no deep understanding of the

business that is being pursued -- automobiles, tobacco pipes, or whatever. There is also a global playing of labor costs,

taxes, customs and tariffs, and other variables. Even moving a pipe production operation to another pipe producing country

takes time to rebuild the sense of pride in the product and connection with the consumer. If production is moved

to a country that has little or no pipe making history, this time to build an identity could take decades, or never happen at all.

I could make inexpensive pipes in various low wage countries around the world. But how long would it take me to make quality

pipes? In some places, a tobacco pipe wouldn't even be recognizable as to what it is. No fault of the people, it's just not part

of their culture. We'll see what happens.

 

[peter70]

I have recently checked a number of Italian made Stanwells and the general quality seems to be ok. Still, I have noticed, that the smooth pieces seem to have more putty, than they used to have, when made in Denmark. Something they share with many Itaian made pipes. They do seem to rather save a nice grain with putty, than sandblast or rusticate. The sandblast is different, not better, or worse, but you can see and feel, that it was done differently. The mouthpieces seem to be from a slightly different, softer type of Acrylic and the bits a little thicker. Fit and finish are in the same league on most pipes, but there are a few, where the moutpieces fit is not perfect and the bned is twisted.
I have also recently aquired a few Stanwell pipes from Italian manufacture and the smoking qualities are good. They need about 10 smokes to be broken in and taste really good, but this was the same with Danish made Stanwells.

 

[rigmedic1]

I purchased a Stanwell Golden Danish 83, a Jess Chonowich design, about a year or so ago. It is a solid pipe, decent smoking characteristics, and I do not notice any fills in the rusticated finish. The fit and finish are good, better than a couple of Irish pipes I have purchased in recent years. I also have a featherweight sized Stanwell Bamboo, well made and smokes G.L.Pease Cairo really well.

Seems to me that the Italian Stanwells are well made and a good value. However, I have never owned a Danish made Stanwell to compare.

 

[ravkesef]

I have both the Danish and the Italian. I heard they will be changing the name to Stanwelli :roll:

 

[foggymountain]

I had two of them. Neither was much good. But, to be honest, none of my three 1950s Danish Stanwells were exceptional either. I liked them mostly for the shapes.

 

[peter70]

Stanwell's assets were always the shapes, which were developed by Danish pipe artisans. From my point of view, the workmanship and wood quality had it's peak in the 80s and 90s, but the last Danish production was not really better, than the Italian one.
Kind regards,

Peter