Quality of Modern Pipes vs Good Quality Vintage Pipes

[Sigmund]

I dont think older are better but I do buy estates. Im thrifty and I also seem to like like buying pipes. Some estates are expensive but I get pipes by folks like Kai Nielsen, Peter Klein, Paul Becker as well a Ser Jacopo for the cost of a nicer new Pete. To me its just no contest.

 

[OzPiper]

That particular seller in Greece tends to over buff the stems of many pipes, sometimes obliterating delicate and rare stamping. Do your research before purchasing and make sure the condition of the pipe is as close to original as possible (if that matters to you—this would apply to any seller with regard to condition).

Stampings matter if you are buying a "collector's piece".
Or if you are are a collector or looking at re-selling down the line

Thanks for the advice those are the types of things as a beginner I don't fully understand. And yes those things are important to me, although I do plan on smoking the pipes, I'm not buying them just to collect or display.

I buy pipes primarily for my enjoyment and to be smoked. They are not intended to be rack queens.
I have quite a few pieces that have been overbuffed and where the stampings or hallmarks are illegible.
That's not a deal-breaker for me, if I like the pipe in question.

I have bought from that vendor before.
He does a good job of cleaning up his pipes, and I have been very happy with the ones I've gotten from him.

 

[dunnyboy]

You would be pretty safe buying an unsmoked estate if you like the pipe. A presmoked pipe from a reputable dealer, like smoking pipes, is also pretty safe and the description is usually accurate. I'm sure the shipping will be cheaper if you buy both pipes but why not just get the unsmoked one and save your money for a pipe from a different maker. It's a dead certainty that you'll see something that tickles your fantasy.

 

[johnkerk]

Maybe I should put this in the beginner forum, since I am a beginner, but it seems appropriate here as well. I have been enjoying this hobby for about a month now, and it is looking like I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon. As I start acquiring more pipes I am drawn in two directions, either the modern factory pipes like Savinelli I hear so much about or the various old English Pipe makers who appear to have made really great pipes pre about 1980. For about the price of a lot of new Savinellis I'm looking at two Orlik's on Ebay:

*RARE*UNSMOKED*NOS ORLIK VIRGIN *TOP SERRIE* (pre-Cadogan/pre-1980) English Pipe | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/255741133366

Pre-Cadogan Orlik Of Old Bond Street Smooth Billiard Saddle Stem (124) | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/296880937692

Both of these are priced similar to a new Savinelli, both are pre-cadogan era Orlik's that appear, at least according to Pipedia and the link to dating Orlik's in there to be from the top 3 lines he recommends, and appear reasonably priced. How would one expect them to compare as far as smoking goes? What should I know or be aware (wary) of when buying old vintage pipes? I'm very new to this and frankly I'd like one of each, the Orlik's really are appealling but I feel the Savinelli's are a safer choice.

I believe the pipes you get now are an order of magnitude better! Why? Back in the day pipe smoking was much more popular than it is today. They could not source good quality brier as there was pressure on the resource. Now the quality of the wood is much much higher, because there is less of us and the wood is simply getting older and better before it is hacked down to make a pipe. The grain of today vs what they had 50 years ago was leagues ahead. Now this does not always mean it is a better smoker but it is better wood from the start. Go look at a smooth pipe from yesteryear, look at the grain then go to a high end pipe maker and look at the grain. There is no comparison, what you have for yesteryear is nostalgia, myth and whatnot. 20 years ago it was very hard to find a Savinelli even the rusticated ones like the alligator that did not have fill. Today you can get smooth flawless Savinelli's something that was simply not the norm. It is funny if you consider the pipe is already rusticated so you should not need any filler, but even they had fillers as the quality sucked!

 

[PApiper63]

I own around 150 pipes but have restored over 300. I have a few pipes that I have paid well over $300 for but most of my pipes are old estate pipes that were in rough shape that I have restored. I would say my average dor an estate pipe is around $15-$20. I only own 2 pipes that I consider to be poor smokers. In general the older estate pipes(even some of the least expensive Dr Grabows) smoke about the same as my high end artisan pipes. We have to remember that a pipe is essentially a delivery system for tobacco/nicotine. Most pipes, old or new, inexpensive
or expensive do so that fairly well. Just my 2 cents.