Kai Nielsen Pipes
- Thread starter Jbyrd
- Start date
I'm probably going to bye one just trying to get a little info first. They are great looking pipes from what i can tell online. I know that you always take a chance on how they smoke no matter who makes it. Thanks for the reply I was wondering if anyone would respond at all.
When I look at them I think they MUST be well made or include solid gold tenons.. or something.
I think they all look a little off when it comes to bowl/shank/stem ratio.
Maybe they'd make more sense to me if I saw them in person but - to my eye, based solely on shape, the prices seem exorbitant.
Also seems like (on SPC anyway) they keep adding pipes but few sell.
I think they all look a little off when it comes to bowl/shank/stem ratio.
Maybe they'd make more sense to me if I saw them in person but - to my eye, based solely on shape, the prices seem exorbitant.
Also seems like (on SPC anyway) they keep adding pipes but few sell.
That's funny the odd shape is what attracts me to them.
And thus illustrates the dichotomy of pipe preference, AND art in general!
I'm sure there are people who find the characteristics of my favorite pipes to be repulsive.
I have one. It smokes very well. The fit and finish are top notch. Mine has a conical bowl, which I really like.
If you get one, get that swooped stem.
If you get one, get that swooped stem.
Thanks and I will keep that in mind. The one I like has that stem on it or style of stem I should say.
I'm partial to adherence to the classic French/British shape chart, especially straight and bent billiards.
I prefer smaller pipes around 1oz or less, smooth or sandblasted (no rustication).
Grain is important to me. I particularly enjoy cross grain with a multitude of birdseye. Straight grain is wonderful too, but well done examples command a higher price tag.
I like simple things executed exceptionably well.
I also like certain things way out of those aesthetic confines, but they have to catch my eye.
There's a couple of those Kai pipes I don't dislike, but I'd have to see them in person. The price seems high.
Kai Nielsen pipes are really well made, but part of the high price for them is that Kai is a very well established pipe maker, and comes from a family of similarly well established pipe makers. He's the son of Viggo Nielsen, who owned the Bari factory, and made great quality Danish pipes back during the heyday of Danish design. Kai worked in the factory, and then also made pipes together with Viggo and his brother Jørgen under the 'Faaborg' name. Now he does it solo under his own name. So yeah, part of it is paying for pedigree, but they're not going to be bad pipes at all.
Actually, now that I think about it more, his status within the Danish scene makes his prices comparatively quite reasonable.
I am a Bulldog fan myself and I love birds eye.
I have one. It’s one of the most beautiful, best-smoking pipes I own. 
I, too, own only one. I like it a lot and it smokes great. Seeing this thread reminded me that there was a handsome Kai at a good price on a Danish site that I've had my eye on. Went there and it was sold!!