I Paid Too Much for a Pipe... On Purpose!

[agnosticpipe]

I've been reading about Algerian briar lately, and I know there's been plenty of talk on this forum about the great smoking properties of Algerian briar. So I looked through all my pipes and I couldn't find one pipe that had Algerian briar stamped on it. I do have an old Dunhill (rather rough shape) and a Barling and I know they were probably made with Algerian briar, but I don't know for sure. So I decided to find an estate pipe that's stamped Algerian briar. Oh yeah, there's a lot to choose from, but a lot of them are not the best looking pipes, or are really beat up. I had read that Edward's pipes were always made from this briar and seemed to be stamped so. So I looked at what was available at a decent price. The problem is, that most of them needed some pretty serious clean up, and that is a problem for me as I have arthritis in my hands, mostly my right hand that makes working on pipes now quite difficult. But I did find one that looked like it was in great condition and barely smoked, but it was $40, which was a bit more than most of them. Oh well, I bit the bullet and went for it and I wasn't disappointed. Took very little clean up and is a really pretty Canadian shape of a rather large size. I'm posting a few photos so you can judge for yourself, but there is one question I have about the stampings. On the bottom of the shank by the stem there's an X or cross or a T that I have no idea what it means. Any ideas?

 

[jaytex1969]

Forty bucks for a nice looking pipe that smokes well is a bargain.

The X means that Elon had it made by his media company, formerly Twitter....

Congrats!

 

[telescopes]

That is a nice looking pipe. I have many Algerian Briar pipes but I wouldn't say they smoke any better than my Corsican or whatever briar pipes. They are easier to sand, shape, and delete scratches for sure. The Algerian hype is generally from one source - before that it was another source altogether. But regardless, you have a nice looking pipe.

 

[agnosticpipe]

Forty bucks for a nice looking pipe that smokes well is a bargain.

The X means that Elon had it made by his media company, formerly Twitter....

Congrats!



View attachment 387557

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It is a nice looking pipe, and I hope it smokes very well for you, but... unfortunately, you've been suckered by hype of the Briar Lee variety.

 

[PaulRVA]

It’s the Sap !
Great looking Canadian!

 

[Sig]

Honestly, I'm pretty sure that if any of us had a blind taste test we couldn't tell if we were smoking from briar, Morta, Maple, corn cob or clay.
But that's a great looking pipe and worth $40 if it smokes good.

 

[pauls456]

Honestly, I'm pretty sure that if any of us had a blind taste test we couldn't tell if we were smoking from briar, Morta, Maple, corn cob or clay.

That is much too honest!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Honestly, I'm pretty sure that if any of us had a blind taste test we couldn't tell if we were smoking from briar, Morta, Maple, corn cob or clay.

I'd be willing to bet thousands that I could. I don't know about Maple, as I have never been desperate enough to try smoking one of those, but I most certainly could tell you the differences between the rest.
And, you know what else... I could probably even tell you what was in the pipe as well.

 

[BingBong]

Looks great for smoking Rouseco Buoy Gold.

 

[Sig]

I'd be willing to bet thousands that I could. I don't know about Maple, as I have never been desperate enough to try smoking one of those, but I most certainly could tell you the differences between the rest.
And, you know what else... I could probably even tell you what was in the pipe as well.

I guess we will never know.

 

[Sig]

I'd be willing to bet thousands that I could. I don't know about Maple, as I have never been desperate enough to try smoking one of those, but I most certainly could tell you the differences between the rest.
And, you know what else... I could probably even tell you what was in the pipe as well.

On the other hand, I got $5000 sitting here right now. It's for an auction this weekend, but I'd love to have $10,000.

 

[RPK]

You did OK with a very nice looking pipe for a great price.

 

[telescopes]

On the other hand, I got $5000 sitting here right now. It's for an auction this weekend, but I'd love to have $10,000.
View attachment 387648

Love it. I've managed enough tequila tastings to know that what people think they know isn't the same as what they really know in a blind tasting. Everyone is a "Super Taster" until the actual names of what they chose are revealed. After that, they are full of "Super Excuses".

 

[Bbailey324]

I don't think you paid too much. It is a good looking pipe so if it smokes nice that is a bargain.

 

[Sig]

Love it. I've managed enough tequila tastings to know that what people think they know isn't the same as what they really know in a blind tasting. Everyone is a "Super Taster" until the actual names of what they chose are revealed. After that, they are full of "Super Excuses".

This was very evident in the beginning days of cigar forums.
The experts couldn't tell a $3 cigar from a $20 cigar. It got to the point that even mentioning a blind taste test could get you ostracized from the group.
One forum even BANNED blind taste tests due to the "experts" complaining. Some of these guys were very well known cigar pros who wrote articles in magazines and wrote books about cigars.
Wine is another one. Many snobs can't pick a twist top from a 1947 Burgundy.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I guess we will never know.

It’s an unusual claim your trying to make to this group. Many of us on here have been honing our sense of taste since we got here. You could do it too. It’s all a matter of paying attention and developing a palate.

You just got here. Maybe put your money away until you’ve read the room for a few years. Participate, and maybe you’ll develop a your sense of taste also.

I’ve been in pipe clubs for years. I have to rely on tastes for my wine making business. And, I also enjoy being in a bourbon tasting club. So, I was being braggadocios for fun in my comment, but really… tasting is what brings many of us here.

 

[Sig]

Love it. I've managed enough tequila tastings to know that what people think they know isn't the same as what they really know in a blind tasting. Everyone is a "Super Taster" until the actual names of what they chose are revealed. After that, they are full of "Super Excuses".

Another one is food.
Look for videos of PROFESSIONAL chefs not being able to tell carrots from peas when made into a puree.
It sounds ridiculous but it's 100% true. This was often seen on Hells Kitchen. Chefs usually missed ALL of them.

 

[Sig]

It’s an unusual claim your trying make. Many of us on here have been honing our sense of taste since we git here. You could do it too. It’s all a matter of paying attention and developing a palate.

You just got here. Maybe put your money away until you’ve read the room for a few years. Participate, and maybe you’ll develop a your sense of taste also.

I’ve been in pipe clubs for years. I have to rely on tastes for my wine making business. And, I also enjoy being in a bourbon tasting club. So, I was being braggadocios for fun in my comment, but really… tasting is what brings many of us here.

I don't need a lecture brother.
Everything I say has a touch of humor, maybe you should learn to read the room a bit.
But, ive seen many experts fail at blind tastings, so have many here.
Read my posts below. Many "professional tasters" fail blind taste tests. Not just tobacco, but food, booze, wine, beer.
Ive been on pipe and cigar groups sinse AOL in the 1990s. I had over 30,000 posts on the old Smokers Forums and over 20,000 on Cigar Geeks...as well as thousands on other Forums. We held many blind taste tests, most people failed. The pros get angry, the others learn something.

 

[B.Lew]

Since*