Meerschaum recommendations

[brian64]

Any meerschaum aficionados out there, which brand(s) and/or style(s) would you recommend?

 

[yoru]

I've heard good things about I.M.P. but I don't even own a meer after the sherlock I tried to buy got taken by another bidder heh heh.

 

[unclearthur]

Avoid the cheap meerschaums on fleabay. They are basically seconds by inexperienced carvers.

 

[mowens]

Brian I got myself a semi-cheap one online. Although I forgot where. The reason I took the cheap route first was to see if I actually enjoyed smoking a meerschaum.(I love it) Secondly, maintenance for a meerschaum is a little more tedious and I wanted to make sure I did it right. I would be cross if I found out that I ruined or broke a nice pipe due to my lack of experience. Now that I have more experience and appreciation for a meerschaum my next one will be very nice. Fred Bass has some awesome articles on them and I'm sure he can point you in the right direction for a suitable brand.
Here are a few links of his articles on meers.
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/put-that-in-your-pipe/slave-to-the-white-goddess/
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/put-that-in-your-pipe/the-meerschaum-pipe-experience/

 

[romeowood]

Oh dear, Brian. Allow me to be the worm-can opener :mrgreen:

Just look at Fred's collection; when you've mopped up the drool from your keyboard you'll have a better idea of what you want NEED.

 

[brian64]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. And yes, that's a beautiful collection Fred has there!

 

[fred]

Thanks guys. Without knowing what your budget is Brian64, it's difficult to

make a recommendation. Have you been smoking a Pipe for awhile? Would this

be your first Meerschaum Pipe? Do you prefer more traditional shapes and what

size of Pipe do you generally smoke?

 

[brian64]

Fred: I’ve been smoking briars for going on 5 years…would be a first meerschaum. Not a huge budget…maybe looking at 1 to 2 hundred range.
I guess what I was really wondering is how someone like yourself might rate some of the brands on the web such as AND, IMP, Aktas, CAO, Beckler, etc. Any of these significantly better or worse than another?

 

[collindow]

I have a CAO. Love it to death.

 

[juni]

I highly recommend Altinok, the customer service is outstanding.
http://altinokpipe.com/

 

[htmn246]

i have 2 SMS mers not overly expensive but good smokes. One is a church warden the other a billard

 

[fred]

Fred: I’ve been smoking briars for going on 5 years…would be a first meerschaum. Not a huge budget…maybe looking at 1 to 2 hundred range. I guess what I was really wondering is how someone like yourself might rate some of the brands on the web such as AND, IMP, Aktas, CAO, Beckler, etc. Any of these significantly better or worse than another? Brian64
I have no experience with AND or Aktas. IMP, CAO (which are not being made anymore),

and Bekler (CAO's lead Carver) are good Pipes. IMP uses the Briar type of connector,

where the tenon is a part of the bit, as does Fikri Baki, Altinok (who is a Seller

for a number of Carvers) and SMS (Sam & Beth Simet, who've been in the Meerschaum

trades for over 35 years.) Here are some links to get you started on your search.

I would also advise reading The Meerschaum Experience, which is the first article

that I wrote for Kevin and can be found on this site.
http://altinokpipe.com/

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/imp/index.cfm
http://bestmeerschaums.homestead.com/bakipipes.html
http://www.therightpipe.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/catalog.listProducts/catId/233/Meerschaum_Pipes.htm
Happy hunting. Let us know what you come up with.

 

[brian64]

Thanks Fred, and everyone else, for the feedback and info! I'll certainly be doing some reading and searching.
The Meerschaum Experience was a great read and big help...thanks Fred.

 

[fred]

Glad that we could help you out.