Pipe Recommendation ($500-$700 range) Special Occasion

[TravB]

Fellow Pipers,

Hello! Respectfully requesting your recommendations for a pipe in the $500-$700 range to commemorate a very special occasion.

The pipe can be any artist/manufacturer, any style…just a great smoker and something beautiful (I know, eye of the beholder, but don’t be shy) that’ll be a tried and true pipe for a lifetime.

I look forward to your feedback, I think this is going to be really fun. If you recommend a pipe and you just happen to know where it’s available for sale, please throw that in too!

Thank you, my friends. Happy Piping!

 

[johnbarleycorn]

I would go with Yeti.

 

[shanez]

The sky's the limit at that price range.

Any particular look/style you're fond of?

 

[warren]

just a great smoker and something beautiful

Give us a hint, what do you consider makes a great smoker. Even more importantly, your definition of a beautiful pipe?

A moderately priced pipe, such as you suggest, should provide you thousands of choices. I'll suggest you do your exploring.

 

[bullet08]

What's the occasion? Custom sounds like a good choice. No guarantee with factory pipes that everything is near perfect.

 

[TravB]

The sky's the limit at that price range.

Any particular look/style you're fond of?

Looking at a Tom Eltang black poker with bamboo, but also love some of the freehand styles (I think lends to the specialness of the occasion) that are out there.

Can you recommend some artists with some great free hands that are available? Thank you!

 

[mso489]

Is this for yourself or someone else? To me, this is well up-market, not moderately priced, but that is also in the eye of the beholder. If this is for another person, and they aren't especially pipe savvy, perhaps a White Spot would be appropriate, since it is a name and traditional look everyone would recognize. If it is for yourself or an experienced pipe smoker, I think you have to spend time figuring out what your, or their, special inclinations might be. You could easily find an artisan pipe by a well-known carver, and maybe get it done on commission to order, to suit yourself (or the recipient). Take your time deciding on this, or discussing it with the recipient to get it right. For that money, I wouldn't try to surprise another person. One person's treasure is another's clutter.

 

[TravB]

Give us a hint, what do you consider makes a great smoker. Even more importantly, your definition of a beautiful pipe?

A moderately priced pipe, such as you suggest, should provide you thousands of choices. I'll suggest you do your exploring.

Great smoker-a pipe that smokes cool, and does it reliably, time and time again. I’ve heard podcasts here on PM that share stories of renowned pipes to which some owners say don’t smoke worth a damn.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I’m looking for your recommendations on what gets you going in the looks department. ?

 

[TravB]

What's the occasion? Custom sounds like a good choice. No guarantee with factory pipes that everything is near perfect.

Career Milestone/Anniversary

 

[TravB]

Is this for yourself or someone else? To me, this is well up-market, not moderately priced, but that is also in the eye of the beholder. If this is for another person, and they aren't especially pipe savvy, perhaps a White Spot would be appropriate, since it is a name and traditional look everyone would recognize. If it is for yourself or an experienced pipe smoker, I think you have to spend time figuring out what your, or their, special inclinations might be. You could easily find an artisan pipe by a well-known carver, and maybe get it done on commission to order, to suit yourself (or the recipient). Take your time deciding on this, or discussing it with the recipient to get it right. For that money, I wouldn't try to surprise another person. One person's treasure is another's clutter.

Pipe is for a lifelong friend, who’s been smoking pipes for a few years now. I think something in the freehand department is where’d I’d be leaning, but I wouldn’t turn down opinions on interesting takes of the classics. ?

 

[tenton]

I personally like Askwith, but maybe not quite what you're looking for, so I'd take a look at a Cavicchi 4 or 5-C.

 

[sablebrush52]

There are a lot of fine carvers , but I would look at two to start, Scottie Piersel and Jack Howell. Both are superb craftspeople and great to work with. You won't find a better made, or better performing, pipe.

 

[TravB]

I personally like Askwith, but maybe not quite what you're looking for, so I'd take a look at a Cavicchi 4 or 5-C.

Thank you, Tenton!

 

[TravB]

There are a lot of fine carvers , but I would look at two to start, Scottie Piersel and Jack Howell. Both are superb craftspeople and great to work with. You won't find a better made, or better performing, pipe.

Thank you, Sir!

 

[warren]

If you could surreptitiously get a couple of photos of your friend a favored pipe or two you could give the carver of choice an idea of shapes he prefers. This might be helpful in coming close to a pipe your friend might enjoy smoking.

 

[TravB]

If you could surreptitiously get a couple of photos of your friend a favored pipe or two you could give the carver of choice an idea of shapes he prefers. This might be helpful in coming close to a pipe your friend might enjoy smoking.

Thank you, Warren!

 

[shanez]

When you say freehand, do mean something a little funky like this?




This is by Jerry Zenn, BTW.

 

[TravB]

Yes, absolutely! I love the funk level presented in this piece…it’s beautiful. Great rec, Shanez! Thank you, my friend.

 

[xmacro]

Can get a beautiful meerschaum for around $300-$400, depending on the carver and intricacy.
I like browsing Meerschaum Market sometimes, lotta nice stuff on there.
Fikri Baki is on AliExpress, search for "TuWun Meerschaum Pipe Store", they're the exclusive dealer for Fikri

 

[TravB]

Can get a beautiful meerschaum for around $300-$400, depending on the carver and intricacy.
I like browsing Meerschaum Market sometimes, lotta nice stuff on there.
Fikri Baki is on AliExpress, search for "TuWun Meerschaum Pipe Store", they're the exclusive dealer for Fikri

xmarco, I didn’t think to look meerschaum, but I’m going to now. I’m leaning briar, but I’m not going to rule it out. Thank you, my friend.