How do I tell if it's a briar?

[dongreyface]

Ok, so my question is this; if a pipe is a briar pipe, do the manufatures usually say so? Meaning, if I go shopping for a pipe, and it doesn't actually say briar on it, am I to assume it is, or to assume it's some cheaper material? I just purchased a Bjarne pipe from Pipes and Cigars, but the description said nothing of the material. How do I tell if I can't actually hold the pipe in my hand before purchase?

 

[olderthandirt]

Ask the seller.

Using Pipes and Cigars as an example, if you contact them with a question they're usually VERY fast in responding.

 

[nemrod]

Briar is the de facto standard, if it doesn't say anything else and is wood it's almost certainly briar with the only exception if it's a cheap China-made pipe where they just say "wood" and don't specify. Still, if you think it doesn't look like briar ask and I doubt there is anyone who would lose a sale by refusing to answer.

 

[matchstickman]

Bjarnes are pretty good quality, from what I understand, and anything that is of any quality whatsoever is going to be made of briar. As I understand it, there are few woods that are as heat resistant as briar.

Briar is the de facto standard, if it doesn't say anything else and is wood it's almost certainly briar with the only exception if it's a cheap China-made pipe where they just say "wood" and don't specify

Second on that one