Meerschaum...or Mere Scam?

[David_Lawrence]

Yes, I smell a conspiracy, or more specifically some sort of plastic.

So I recently posted a question regarding my new (estate) meerschaum as the bowl, internally and externally, and every part of the pipe besides the mouthpiece smelled of something industrial and synthetic, not at all what I was expecting.

Members helpfully confirmed that this was not normal and so I wrote it off as an ill advised cleaning fluid applied thoroughly to 'restore' the already aged and parchment coloured pipe. Smoking it though, I didn't get any of the pure 'transparent' neutrality I'd heard about - it burned very well and stayed quite cool but there was nothing different about the smoke.

This may all be normal but I couldn't help but wonder if it really was meerschaum - specifically the 'genuine block meerschaum' its carvings purport. Of course, I have no idea what it should look, feel or taste like in the flesh but I'm strongly reminded of bakelite; even the black burn marks around the rim just look too uniform and like something that came off a factory line.

Here are the photos, though it really feels more inauthentic than it looks (hence the purchase!).








First three taken by me, latter three by the seller. My feeling is that none of the fishiness will come through in images alone but hopefully I'll have a better sense of what to look for after consulting you all.

Much appreciated,

 

[cosmicfolklore]

To know for sure, you would have to cut the pipe in half. It's not as much out of scientific reasons, as it is just cool to see a pipe cut in half. puf

 

[Chasing Embers]

Some meers especially those of African origin have precharred tins when made.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Wipe the chamber out with a wet towel, allow to dry, and try sticking your tongue to the inside of the chamber. If it sticks, you've got block meer.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Some meers especially those of African origin have precharred tins when made.

Did you mean "rims"?

 

[philobeddoe]

That is a Kiko meerschaum pipe, likely a Countryman.

 

[anotherbob]

That is a Kiko meerschaum pipe, likely a Countryman.

yes it is.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Did you wash the crap out of it- crap both as in stuff adhered to it, and as to very thoroughly? You can also soak it over night and see what color the water turns to. (It will gain quite a bit of weight, but will return to original after drying a few days.)

 

[David_Lawrence]

Thanks for all those replies, clearly I came to the right place. Kiko it is then, and it didn't take me long to find photos of all its cousins. Now I know that it is indeed real meerschaum albeit not the fabled high grade Turkish block (and I knew that much from the photos, just wasn't aware of the difference and really should have done my homework).

I will leave it to soak and wash it as best I can, it's nice to know that I have a pipe that can no longer be mined and carved, and at £40 ($50) it's still much cheaper than the ones I'm seeing online, like this one for €130 (£115/$140).

I was going to purchase a brand new Turkish block meerschaum but settled for this when I saw a certain Ascorti Business pipe at a price I couldn't refuse. I think I'll open that package right now, and I'm certain I'll proudly own my own virgin meerschaum in the near future—half measures just play at my curiosity and I love the gradual colouration aspect.

All's well that ends reasonably well. Much appreciated.

The €130 Kiko Amboseli as found on the Lanzola Pipe Shop's website

 

[anotherbob]

I will leave it to soak and wash it as best I can, it's nice to know that I have a pipe that can no longer be mined and carved, and at £40 ($50) it's still much cheaper than the ones I'm seeing online, like this one for €130 (£115/$140).

I was going to purchase a brand new Turkish block meerschaum but settled
All's well that ends reasonably well. Much appreciated.

The €130 Kiko Amboseli as found on the Lanzola Pipe Shop's website

supposedly they smoke the same they just color differently. By the way just buy the fabled meerschaum mine in Utah and start your own pipe business would be my unrealistic advice.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Oh, would that be sweet! Utah meerschaum carved by US artisans!

 

[madox07]

That is a Kiko meerschaum pipe, likely a Countryman.

I concur I have come across those Countryman pipes and the emblematic Elephant logo myself. I never bought one, for some reason I am not quite curious of Meerschaum from Tanganyka, as I believe it is the case with the Countryman pipes.

 

[mso489]

My first Meerschaum was an estate generously sent by a late fellow member, a nice straight billiard with wine grape etchings on a simple bowl, what I would have bought myself. In buying a Meer, it seems to me you are in the hands of the seller, so I'd rather pay a little more and get something that is probably authentic and truly described than take pot shots at what I'd hope I'd get. Even buying from a reputable retailer, the original sources, materials, and details (about the stem mount etc.) seem to be sketchy with the best of retailers. I'm sure long-time Meerschaum smokers learn about all of this, one way or another, but it is more obscure than information about briar pipes and cobs, I feel. I'm not sure what you have there, but I share your uncertainty.

 

[tg51]

Wipe the chamber out with a wet towel, allow to dry, and try sticking your tongue to the inside of the chamber. If it sticks, you've got block meer.

I've never smoked a meer so forgive me if I'm showing my naivety but is the tongue sticking a thing?

 

[cshubhra]

Tongue sticking works for new block Meerschaum. I have done it myself

I read somewhere that it will work for good quality pressed Meerschaum as well, so the test in inconclusive (I have not tested it myself, so I don’t know)

It does not work for a well smoked Meerschaum such as the one above. Also, you really need to be highly motivated to stick your tongue to a pipe bowl dirty with carbon

 

[upnorth1]

I have three African meers, all great smokers. One of them is a Kiko. I think the smell you are experiencing is probably the result of somebody's ignorance of proper pipe cleaning. None of my pipes had the odour you described, or any odour for that matter.

 

[tg51]

@cshubhra In the most non-stalker way possible, I have seen your posts on the "What are you smoking" thread and it seems like you have quite the extensive collection of Meers. I'm a pretty heavy handed person on account of the Ogre hands I have (pointed out to me by other members on one of my posts last week). In your experience how fragile are they?

 

[warren]

Meerschaum, the more delicate the carving the more fragile the pipe. By and large Turkish meers not carved in delicate shapes, seem to take a drop on carpet as good a briar. A drop onto concrete is a whole different matter. 60+ years of smoking meers, not exclusively but, most every night, I've pretty much designated meerschaum pipes as "indoor" smokes by and large. They don't go fishing with me, they don't go into the woods with the chainsaw and such. They do get smoked on the deck though.

I can't speak to African and man-made meer as I've never deigned to own one of such material.

 

[cshubhra]

I have them for more that two years - when I started smoking. I took a long break from smoking, so all of them have been smoked for 7 or 8 months. They have survived newbie mistakes like overclocking the tenon, which I fixed. I have cleaned them with pipe cleaners soaked in alcohol, which they survived. So they are less fragile than people think they are

I handle them carefully though and keep them cased. I have not dropped them. I don’t think they will survive the drop.

Last ... I only have 4 Meerschaum pipes and a falcon with Meerschaum bowl. There are a lot of Meerschaum experts in this forum who have a huge collection (just they don’t show it that often) and have smoked them for many many years.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Check out condorlover and weezil. The have more delicate-ish meer cutties than Carter had pills. (i.e., a shit load). My own experience is similar to warren's. No hard floor or concrete so far!