Over the last twelve months I've acquired my first 'artisan' pipes. Two were commissions, one was an estate buy and two were purchased new from the carver at the Chicago show.
The two pipes I commissioned were from new carvers, who are each in their first 12 months of carving. In both instances I paid around $250.00 for the pipe + shipping. I did my research, I looked at ALL the pipes that each carver had made in the past (via their online galleries), I spoke with each carver about how they approach commissions and ultimately agreed on a shape, a price, a timeline and I eventually got my pipes. I love them both, but each pipe has small details that clearly tell the tale that the carver is still honing his craft. Some of those little details drive a man crazy.
The two pipes I bought new, from established (or establishing) carvers are wonderful examples of artisan pipes, and are clearly a step above those two commissions I mentioned above. The attention to detail is higher. The lines are cleaner. The finish and fit is better. And in both cases, the buttons are works of art. I count the Alden Canadian and Rad Davis Rad-desian as my two finest pipes.
This all to say, that it is my experience that you get what you pay for with artisan pipes. If you really only have $100 or less to throw at a pipe I'd go looking for a high quality estate pipe (likely a factory pipe at that price) or a NOS Stanwell or the like as we've seen sold at P&C over the last few months. Or... stick that $100 in a sock, and do that a few times, then head out to the artisan carver of your choice and buy a smokeable show-piece.
I know that this isn't the question you asked and hope that you're cool with me sharing my $0.02.
-- Pat
EDIT - Post Script
No, Peck is serious but he's giving you a discount bc he usually charges $100. I'm just not sure if it will be smokeable or not
You couldn't pay me $100 to smoke Peck's pipe.
