How Do You Find the Right Pipe Maker to Commission?

[kcghost]

There are a scad of good carvers for a particular shape of pipe. Select a carver you like and ask about the shape you want and if he feels confident he can deliver it. If you like the carvers responses you can sign a deal with him or just move on to another carver on your list. Silly as it sounds if you're any kind of stickler for detail let the carver know. You can say "billiard" to these guys and what they hear is "your take on a billiard". And you do not want that.

 

[TheWhale13]

Does anyone know a carver in Europe that does classic shapes? All I've found are extremely expensive or just makes freehand shapes. I love Jack Howell's pipes, but it would be too expensive to order them from overseas.

 

[Toast]

Classic shapes covers a pretty wide spectrum. What sort of thing did you have in mind?

Bruno Nuttens is worth a look - he has a good spread price wise & is pretty traditional. Northern Briars, Chris Askwith... There are a lot.

I have a Jack Howell, getting it from the States didn't add a significantly to the price.

 

[sasquatch]

You are getting good advice from many here. Find a guy whose work you like, and talk to him, it's that easy. It always freaks me out when someone emails me and asks for a pipe that is 100% unlike anything I have ever made or displayed.... like why would you choose the one guy in the world who doesn't do this kind of pipe? So find a maker who does what you are interested in and open a channel of communication. There's lots of different budget tiers from 200 to 2000 dollars.

 

[mso489]

This isn't meant as a killjoy comment at all, but it's worth a thought. There is always an advantage buying something already completed that you can see and handle, if you are in a position to do so. That way, you know exactly what you are getting, and you are often looking at the item the carver does best. When you have input on a commission, you are collaborating with the carver, and this can be wonderful or not, depending on how well you understand each other and how well the carver happens to do that particular assignment. Whereas, if you are looking at the pipe, and it moves your heart, you don't need to go through the whole interaction. The carver might have a distant personality or a language barrier, but might be able to do something that is inspiring to you anyway. Also, it depends on how well you do with human relations. Some of us do better with that than others.

 

[Beers 'N Briars]

I know this thread is a little old, but I'm getting a commissioned pipe from J. Mouton and he's been absolutely pleasant to deal with.

 

[runscott]

I had a very rigid process of evaluating various carvers.

Here’s what I did. Mind you, it’s not conventional.

I climbed to a very tall active volcano, tossed in the midget or dwarf or whatever 2022 calls a munchkin, if he floated I located another one. If he sank or burst into flames, I used Ryan Alden.

I really think it’s a good system. I have over 30 of his pipes.

I wouldn't have admitted that.

 

[OzPiper]

You haven't indicated what shape(s) you're considering. Nor your budget
It's like asking for opinions on what shoes to buy - such an open question !

There are so many artisanal pipes posted by members in numerous threads.
Do some research, narrow your choice down to a few makers you like.
Contact them to see what their lead times are
Go from there.

 

[bayareabriar]

So what you’re saying is you’ve
murdered over 30 “Little People” ? ?‍️

little people is not the preferred nomenclature

 

[runscott]

I look at their social media where most modern pipe makers post their portfolio. I was impressed by @Chasing Embers 2021 Halloween pipe by J Everett, looked at his Instagram and loved the other pipes, so I commissioned one.

My first commission was also a JEverett by @cramptholomew . Since then I have commissioned pipes with Michael Morgason and @sasquatch . I chose each because we had gotten to know one another in Zoom meetings, and I enjoyed discussing pipes and tobacco with them so much, that I considered it an honor to have each make pipe(s) for me. It's fortunate that they are three of my favorite artisan pipe-makers. Actually, the reason I bought my first @sasquatch (BST) pipe was because a forum member whose tastes I highly respect, supposedly smokes pretty much nothing but BSTs.

I hope to eventually commission a pipe from Giacomo Penzo who I discovered through a Petersonpipenootes blog where Mark showed an incredible 309 tribute that Giacomo Penzo had made for him. It was so incredible that I knew I had to have one of his pipes. I now have two - one is an estate and I bought the other from Smokingpipes.

Cigrmaster has shown a number of incredible pipes, which is why I want pipes from basically all the artisans who have made pipes for him.

If not for pipe forums, I would still be smoking nothing but Petersons and basket pipes.