I just started to collect pipes. Any tips?

[titanicexplorer]

I have just started a new hobby- I've been a pipe smoker for years, but recently started to collect pipes. I've bought quite a few off Ebay, but am not really sure what are the most sought after pipes, what they usually cost, and what are values? I'm not collecting for value- I just want interesting pipes I can enjoy- but quiality is important. What pipes are junk pipes, and should be avoided?
This may have been addressed elsewhere, if so my apolgies-

But to anyone here who is a longtime pipe collector- what kind of pipes should I look for? I like the bulldog style- The big wide bowls are nice.
The Meerschaum pipes are usually the most expensive- and atrractive- often having an intricate carving and gorgous white color- But pegging a fair price is guesswork on my part. Are Meershaum's pleasent to smoke? They look too intricate, more likes works of art than functional pipes.
My father used to smoke a white lion headed Meerschaum pipe 35 odd years ago- I have a sentimental attachment to that style. The smell of pipes reminds me of my father- it's an odd thing.
As longtime pipe collector to a newbie pipe collector like me- what advice would you have to offer? Thanks
If this is a redundant thread, sorry, feel free to delete

 

[duncan]

My first suggestion is get a good rotation then spend money on tobacco not pipes. On the side of what to get I would suggest Finding a style you like and go for it. I am a fan of Duncan pipes, I grabbed one due to the name but found they are great smokers also. So that is where I mainly collect now. My suggestion is find a brand that works for you and you alone and stick with that. Peterson, Savanelli, Stanwell, ect. ect are all good Mid priced brands that are great smokers. It is all trial and error till you find what works for you.

 

[titanicexplorer]

Thanks for the advice Duncan

 

[hilojohnny]

Take your time....go slowly....there is no hurry here. It's easy to be impetuous, but it can be difficult to be patient....but it will pay off in the end.... ::

 

[ichbinmuede]

Well as a Canadian boy proud of the people I have to throw the Brigham name out there. I haven't met a Brigham yet that I've been disappointed in. Really though as a relatively new smoker/collector myself what I've been going by is what strikes me and makes me love it. I have started collecting Brigham's because they're the brand I started with and have styles and qualities that I love.

Duncan has given you great advice that is also quite easy to live by.

 

[titanicexplorer]

There are just so many different styles of pipe It's tricky to figure out where to start collecting. i have about 10 pipes- right now I have 1 favorite pipe- I smoke more than the others. I saw a thread that suggested that many of the pipes shipped from China are terrible quality-(which has me worried, as 7 of my pipes are imports) and Meerschaum pipes may be nice to look at, but are not the best smokes.

Ive been watching auctions on ebay, to see what seems popular. The white briar pipes seem to have a following..

Duncan's advice seems solid, and I'll explore those pipes he mentioned..

 

[ichbinmuede]

I have a Calabash with a meerschaum bowl and a solid block meerschaum and find they both smoke quite well. I would call it an excellent material but like briar it comes down to the skil of the maker.

 

[stacen]

I have some advice as a person who was recently in the same position you are describing. Resist the temptation to buy a ton of stuff quickly. Go slowly and and don't rob yourself of the pleasure of aquiring pipes you like. There are so many great pipes out there, and in so many places, also for my tastes it is way more fun to buy off line. Buyng offline also has the advantage of letting you thoroughly inspect the pipe before purchasing. I have had a few dissappointments with online purchases.
Do some online research and find some of the publicatoins and books on the hobby to get an idea of some ways to build your collection. This site will serve as a great resource as well.
I wish you much pleasure from collecting!!!

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

I definitely agree with what's been said here. My first pipe was a Bent Bob's. Smoked extremely hot no matter what I did, but I kept going, kept researching, reading posts, etc. As for collecting, my personal preferences are broad, but I don't tend to stick with a certain brand. So far, I've been extremely lucky with my finds. Just seek out pipes that you're drawn to.
As for meerschaum pipes, they are just as much of a pleasure to smoke as they are to look at. Along with a cool smoke, they also get better with age and more smoking, as the tobacco moisture and flavorings are absorbed to a degree into the meer. The main thing to look for in meerschaums, in my opinion is solid block meerschaum. Solid block meerschaum is usually mined in, or around Turkey. Time into the carving is greater and quality art is highly sought after. Pressed meerschaum is made from the dust of block carved pipes and sometimes molds are used to manufacture them (you might be able to see a seem from the mold down the center of the pipe. These pipes are lesser in quality and higher in quantity.
I have several meers and while I don't smoke them often, I enjoy them immensely when I do.

 

[mlaug]

This is easy. Do you want to collect wide or deep?
A wide collection would include some meers, some briars, some clays, some gourds, some metal...and so on. All sorts of styles and makers.
A deep collection would include a single maker or company and limit collecting to the various shapes they offer to the exlusion of others.
There ya go.
A mind boggling selection to choose from, really.
I would avoid the Chinese, Ukraine, pressed meeers, and other budget pipes sold on eBay.
P.S.
Don't collect anything from Holm, Bari, Nording, or Erik.

I'm trying to buy them all. :wink:
You're welcome to all the Petes you can afford.

 

[ohin3]

None of us are any different than you, we have just had more time to hone our tastes in pipes. I dunno, certain things appeal to me some days and not at all on other days. I have bought some pipes that I loved until I smoked them and then hated them because they smoked bad and I haved bought cheap pipes due to circumstance and loved them so much that they stayed in my collection. Bottom line, buy what you like, sell the ones you don't like, and buy more of the ones you like. Some folks love Savinellis, some folks don't, some folks like Dunhills, some don't, or cant afford them ha ha ha...etc...it's all a matter of preference. It is good to, before you purchase a pipe, come here and ask if anyone has any experience with the pipes made by that pipe maker. Good luck and enjoy the journey.

 

[wolfscout]

ha. I started out with a wide collection. Buying whatever struck my mood as I journeyed through life. Then... When my Grandpa died and I inherited his pipes... I have found I desired a certain manufacturer and information on the history of said company. Now I have near 50 Dr Grabows. Some are very old. His still sit in his pipe rack. Cleaned and polished and awaiting to be picked up and used. Sentimentality can add great value.

 

[unclearthur]

I have ended up with FAR too many pipes partly from buying lots to get one or two that are of real interest to me. My focus is Peterson BC and Older GBD pipes. Of course it never hurts to buy from an up and coming new carver either. :twisted:

 

[kcvet67]

It helps to do a little research before investing much money. Pipedia has a lot of good info:
http://pipedia.org/index.php?title=Main_Page
pipephil.eu is excellent for helping to identify pipes:
http://www.pipephil.eu/logos/en/index-en.html

 

[hebel]

Some corn cobs from aristocob are good one too, a diplomat or a country gentlemen would be good for you collection, cheap too, about $9 each

 

[papipeguy]

Are you in it for fun or profit? Like the others here I say buy what you like and once you get started the rest will follow. In 2 years you'll wonder where they came from. Scour the antique stores, flea markets and yard sales.

 

[titanicexplorer]

I'm in it for the pleasure, not the profit.

I enjoy my pipes , and hope to build a nice assortment.

 

[pstlpkr]

I'm going to veer a little off of what everyone seems to talking about.

In your early collection, you might just go with what catches your eye.

However; here are the "tips" that I would recommend to the inexperienced pipe buyer.
1) Look carefully and closely to the exterior of the bowl. Are there any pits, putty fills or blemishes in the finish or irregularities in the wood that may suggest a problem.

2) Check the interior of the bowl to be sure there are no Hanging Chads (little pieces of wood that are still attached to the bowl) on the draft hole and that it is centered. If the drilling isn't clean or is off center, this can cause difficulty cleaning and could cause unnecessary dottle.

3) Steer away from pipes with really thin bowl walls. These may smoke hot, owing to a not fully developed smoking style.

4) Insure that the stem fits snugly and flush with no visible separation. Oils from your smoke can seep and can end up on your fingers after a short while. If the stem doesn't fit snugly it may come loose in time.

5) Run a pipe cleaner from the bit to the bowl. If this isn't possible then the draft holes do not line up properly. While this isn't a deal breaker it could provide an internal area that moisture can build up and cause gurgle that could develop into what my Dad used to call kick back. (The inadvertent sucking of that liquid out of the pipe. Yuck!)

6) Most important of all the criteria... buy the pipe you want and not necessarily the one the guy behind the counter is pushing. If it isn't the pipe you wanted, you will never be happy with it.

 

[titanicexplorer]

Great advice lawrence (and everyone else)-

Thank you!

 

[lonestar]

I've bought hundreds of used pipes on ebay, heres my advice;

Stick with the popular quality name brands; GBD Savinelli Stanwell Nording Peterson etc.

Just do a search in the pipes category for one brand at a time.

Click "sort by" and select "price, lowest first"

Now, you have the lowest starting prices first, pick the few that you like and add them to your watch list. Most of them will sell much higher than the starting price, but just pick a maximum price you will pay.

For the brands that I mentioned, I consider around $35 a good price to pay for the average nording/GBD/savinelli/stanwell in decent condition.

Now, you will probably lose most of the auctions you bid on this way, but when you win one of them, you will have a great pipe that you didnt pay much for.

I typically calculate the ending time of the auction, and focus on auctions ending on weekdays during work hours (ending before 5 pm). These auctions get the least attention and tend to sell at lower prices than evenings or weekends.