Is this Pit a Big Deal?

[dirmer3]

I bought this pipe on ebay and this pit was not in the description or visible in the pictures. The seller is letting me return it, but I wonder...

How big of a deal is this? Is this one of those things that is a minor cosmetic defect or something that worsens over time? What would you do?

 

[MarcosEZLN]

That looks like a tiny, superficial pit in a very thick part of the bowl. I can't imagine any way it would get worse over time. If anything, it'll probably darken up with handling/smoking and be significantly less visible after a while. Even a pipe with no visible pits on the exterior could have a pit just below the surface much closer to the inside of the chamber. Wood is a natural material so every pipe is a bit of a gamble, but I don't think there's any reason to worry about longevity or smoking quality of that pipe based on the pit in your picture.

There's a pipe that's been making the rounds on another forum, getting smoked hard by a bunch of us for the last 8 months specifically to see if we can kill it, and it's doing just fine. The thing is riddled with pits, chasms really, and it'll probably outlive most of us. Your pipe should be fine, briar is tough.

Unsmoked:


Recent:

 

[Humblepipe]

I bought this pipe on ebay and this pit was not in the description or visible in the pictures. The seller is letting me return it, but I wonder...

How big of a deal is this? Is this one of those things that is a minor cosmetic defect or something that worsens over time? What would you do?

Nothing to worry about...

 

[Davy]

Nothing to worry about. If you like it, keep it and smoke it.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

Nothing to worry about...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[ashdigger]

Looks like a Brad Pitt.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Looks like a Brad Pitt.

Check out the big pit on Brad!

 

[kcghost]

Well, you could tell us how much you paid for the pipe and if you felt the price was sufficient for a completely pit fee pipe. And did you purchase the pipe with the intent of reselling it or trading it. By and large for just smoking purposes it is not a problem. If you are going to trade it or resell it any time in the future, you would have to tell the person who is interested in the pipe about the fill.

 

[warren]

It would mean nothing to me. How it chews on you? I've no idea.

 

[dirmer3]

Well, you could tell us how much you paid for the pipe and if you felt the price was sufficient for a completely pit fee pipe. And did you purchase the pipe with the intent of reselling it or trading it. By and large for just smoking purposes it is not a problem. If you are going to trade it or resell it any time in the future, you would have to tell the person who is interested in the pipe about the fill.

It's a Weber Royal Band with a solid 14k gold band on the shank. The stem doesn't appear to be original because there are no markings on it and doesn't sit perfectly flush with the shank. I paid $35 plus taxes and shipping - so about $45. I think had I know about the pit, I'd have still bought it, but for more like $25.

I don't plan on selling or trading it, at least not any time soon. I bought it to smoke and fill a space in my pipe holder.

 

[JackOrion]

It’s nice to have a few wonky pipes. They serve well to take a little more abuse than the ‘nice’ pipes

 

[ThermionicScott]

That looks like a tiny, superficial pit in a very thick part of the bowl. I can't imagine any way it would get worse over time. If anything, it'll probably darken up with handling/smoking and be significantly less visible after a while. Even a pipe with no visible pits on the exterior could have a pit just below the surface much closer to the inside of the chamber. Wood is a natural material so every pipe is a bit of a gamble, but I don't think there's any reason to worry about longevity or smoking quality of that pipe based on the pit in your picture.

There's a pipe that's been making the rounds on another forum, getting smoked hard by a bunch of us for the last 8 months specifically to see if we can kill it, and it's doing just fine. The thing is riddled with pits, chasms really, and it'll probably outlive most of us. Your pipe should be fine, briar is tough.

Long live Cracky!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Looks more like a ding than a pit.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Give it character. It will also make you less angry when you bump it for the first time.

 

[AJL67]

This thread is the pits.

 

[FLDRD]

This thread is the pits.

This pit is full of puns

 

[dirmer3]

I decided to return it. Not just for the pit, but because it felt wrong that the seller didn't disclose it. Also, the stem wasn't flush with the shank and that bothered me too and also wasn't disclosed or showed in the pictures.

 

[OverMountain]

I’d be more concerned with the stem fit too. Smoke em if you got ‘em.

Use it up, wear it out, patch it up…