Morta Pipes Experiences?

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I only own one but with the exception of being an interesting material, it's really no different than any other pipe. I'll likely not buy another. Not terribly scarce, many carvers won't deal with it as it's easily cracked when being worked.

Andrey Kharitonov
$150
View attachment 312060
That is a WILD stem. What is it, exactly? Striking pipe, btw. ;)
 

OzPiper

Lifer
Nov 30, 2020
6,735
36,348
72
Sydney, Australia
Interesting, but shouldn’t it be many in the market out there which are made to look like old? I would imagine that it is not common nor easy to fin prehistorical woods and if one does it would cost a fortune? Or am I incorrect?
Century old Irish morta pipes appear on EBay occasionally. They don’t go a lot of money

My first couple of mortas were Morettis which I bought from his EBay shop. Good quality and excellent value. I recommend them if you have an itch that needs scratching
 
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Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
44,810
116,550
Century old Irish morta pipes appear on EBay occasionally. They don’t go a lot of money

My first couple of mortas were Morettis which I bought from his EBay shop. Good quality and excellent value. I recommend them if you have an itch that needs scratching
Lots of morta goes into pen blanks.
 
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Sig

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 18, 2023
514
2,414
Western NY
Interesting, but shouldn’t it be many in the market out there which are made to look like old? I would imagine that it is not common nor easy to fin prehistorical woods and if one does it would cost a fortune? Or am I incorrect?
Morta, or Bog Oak is not rare or very expensive.
There is not Bog Oak everywhere, but where it is, there is a lot of it.
Its a right place, right time thing.
If conditions are right in the bog, the trees become mortafied. :)
 

woodsroad

Lifer
Oct 10, 2013
12,644
20,157
SE PA USA
In addition to old trees, bogs have also preserved countless human artifacts deposited there long ago as a sacrifice to the gods. In Denmark, over a hundred human bodies have also been exhumed from bogs, most bearing signs of having been slaughtered to appease the gods. If you ever find yourself in DK, be sure to visit one of the several museums dedicated to early human history. I visited one of them many years ago, but don’t remember the name. Maybe this one?
 

captpat

Lifer
Dec 16, 2014
2,389
12,420
North Carolina
I have a morta Cannonball, I'd say it's between a briar and a meer in terms of smoking characteristics. It did develop a crack in the mortise, its propagation has been slowed somewhat by the installation of a band. The vendor replaced the pipe, and I asked for a briar in the same style. I'll probably not purchase another.
 
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rmcnabb

Starting to Get Obsessed
Feb 19, 2024
112
581
I've worked so much oak in so many different forms and capacities from firewood to fine home furnishings, that I'm mortally afraid of oak splinters. I can't look at some of the photos I've seen of morta pipes without reaching for a pair of leather gloves.
 

captpat

Lifer
Dec 16, 2014
2,389
12,420
North Carolina
Well, the morta pipe has a hole in it. Bits of rustication (on the outside) near the bottom of the bowl have started to splinter away and now looking down into the bowl I can see my feet. It's a pretty deep bowl and the wall size seems a bit thin in that location probably contributing to the situation. This may have been a bad piece of morta, the vendor has taken care of me and it did last 3 years, so no complaints. I will not replace it with another morta pipe.
 
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epazikas

Might Stick Around
Mar 20, 2024
78
89
59
Mölndal, Sweden
Well, the morta pipe has a hole in it. Bits of rustication (on the outside) near the bottom of the bowl have started to splinter away and now looking down into the bowl I can see my feet. It's a pretty deep bowl and the wall size seems a bit thin in that location probably contributing to the situation. This may have been a bad piece of morta, the vendor has taken care of me and it did last 3 years, so no complaints. I will not replace it with another morta pipe.
I understand, nothing can last forever…. I think I gave up the idea to buy a morta pipe someday… I will keep with my favorite brands which are Peterson and Nørding…well now I am enjoying a lot El Dagner …
 

Peter - CCB

Starting to Get Obsessed
Dec 26, 2019
250
977
46
Santa Barbara, CA
www.etsy.com
One of the first pipes I got was a Vermont Freehand Morta and it took a couple years before I really paid attention to it and learned to love it. It always looked great. Now it’s one of my favorite smokers and I have 500 + pipes or so. I’m searching for another. It heats up but pace myself and no issues at all with any burnout and it looks as clean as day one. Everything just smokes great in this pipe. How much is the pipe, me, vs the Morta? I’m not sure but bidding on a couple right now to find out.