Quiz #2: Identify two $25 Chinese Pipes with Faux Horn

[Mike N]

Since you all aced the bamboo quiz, I’ve made this one a bit tougher. Below are 7 pipes with faux horn on the shank. One is a Dunhill, two are from one of my favorite carvers, Jason Patrick, one is by Tristan and one is a fairly rare Ser Jacopo. The other two are HS Road Town pipes I got on eBay for $23 and $28 each.

Can you pick out the two inexpensive Chinese pipes? Perhaps refer to them top to bottom as 1 through 7. Both photos are in the same order. I’ll post the answer later tonight.

Click on photos to enlarge.

 

[BingBong]

I'll go 1 and 4, not that I have a clue really

 

[xrundog]

1 and 3 from the top.

 

[woodsroad]

I’ll go for “D”, “All of the above”.

 

[mikethompson]

I'd guess #1 and #5 from the horizontal picture

 

[Briarcutter]

Well, we know it's not the one with a "J" on the mouthpiece.

 

[Scottmi]

2 and 6 is my no-money bet.
bonus guess: Dunnie is #3

 

[sablebrush52]

It’s a clever bit of misdirection. It’s the briar that’s fake, not the horn.

 

[Hillcrest]

I'll go 1 and 4, not that I have a clue really

I agree, my guess would be 1 and 4 based on my idea of quality briar/wood. The blast pattern seems contrived rather than natural. But ... flipping a coin is as valid as my opinion ! 2 cents.

 

[georged]

Much easier to do if you'd stand 10-15 feet farther away and smear a bit more Vasilene on the camera lens.

Dimmer light would also help.

 

[prairiedruid]

1 and 6

 

[woodsroad]

Since you all aced the bamboo quiz, I’ve made this one a bit tougher. Below are 7 pipes with faux horn on the shank. One is a Dunhill, two are from one of my favorite carvers, Jason Patrick, one is by Tristan and one is a fairly rare Ser Jacopo. The other two are HS Road Town pipes I got on eBay for $23 and $28 each.

Can you pick out the two inexpensive Chinese pipes? Perhaps refer to them top to bottom as 1 through 7. Both photos are in the same order. I’ll post the answer later tonight.

Click on photos to enlarge.

You might want to figure out how to insert photos.

 

[georged]

Info bit:

The thread title implies that imitation/fake horn is inferior to the real thing.

Not only not true (as long as the imitation material is of reasonable quality), but REAL horn is categorically UNSUITABLE as a pipe material.

Age, humidity cycling, temperature cycling, and so forth cause it to shrink, de-laminate, and crack. Every time, eventually. It's only a matter of time.

Doesn't matter if it's a $5K pipe made by the best carver in the world. The cattle, sheep, goats, and so forth that the horn comes from don't know or care. Horn is simply compacted hair---even rhino horn---and it's not stable.

The good news is Imitation horn looks great, is tough as nails, and can't be distinguished from natural without destructive testing.

 

[BingBong]

Info bit:

The thread title implies that imitation/fake horn is inferior to the real thing.

Not only not true (as long as the imitation material is of reasonable quality), but REAL horn is categorically UNSUITABLE as a pipe material.

Age, humidity cycling, temperature cycling, and so forth cause it to shrink, de-laminate, and crack. Every time, eventually. It's only a matter of time.

Doesn't matter if it's a $5K pipe made by the best carver in the world. The cattle, sheep, goats, and so forth that the horn comes from don't know or care. Horn is simply compacted hair---even rhino horn---and it's not stable.

The good news is Imitation horn looks great, is tough as nails, and can't be distinguished from natural without destructive testing.

What about human bone, any good? I have an idea, Burke & Hare Pipes Ltd.

 

[georged]

What about human bone, any good? I have an idea, Burke & Hare Pipes Ltd.

All truly authentic Halloween pipes have been made of human bone for over a century.

No complaints that I know of from either the material contributors (victims) or the procurement specialists (murderers).

Being the Kevinboard, I'm sure someone will chime in with direct, personal knowledge shortly.

 

[georged]

FWIW, the above post was a lame Halloween season-inspired joke. Sorry if it upset anyone.

 

[Mike N]

For those who did venture a guess, the answer is #1 and #5.

The pipes in order, top to bottom:

1. HS Road Town made in China cost $28
2. Jason Patrick
3. Dunhill/The White Spot
4.Tristan
5.HS Road Town made in China cost $24
6. Jason Patrick
7. Ser Jacopo

 

[Roach1]

Nr.1 looks like it could be quite fragile,with the thin stem and metal ring connected to the bowl.

 

[filmguerilla]

Damn, I guessed the two Jason Patrick's...

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I had guessed 1 and 5—the overly narrow shank on 1, the stummel shape and bowl coating of 5, and the sheen of the finish on both looked very familiar—I’ve been checking HS Studio pipes quite frequently/regularly lately (and purchased a couple, too).