Sasieni Experts: Real or Fake?

[smokeyweb]

Based on the nomenclature, did I buy a fake 1980s Sasieni?

 

[smokeyweb]

Wondering if I made a good buy, or just bought an 80 dollar basket pipe!

 

[pitchfork]

I'm the opposite of an "expert," but what makes you think it's fake? I doubt if anyone would want to fake a late-period Sasieni when they could just as well fake a more valuable, older one.

 

[smokeyweb]

Good point, but the "S" doesn't look the similar to other Sasienis I have seen.

 

[pitchfork]

Good point, but the "S" doesn't look the similar to other Sasienis I have seen.

Ah, I see. Well, I guess that confirms my status as "expert."

 

[smokeyweb]

No worries. Real or Fake, I just hope she smokes well.

 

[ashdigger]

The new pipes (4 Dot v Four Dot) are NOT the same. You didn't buy a fake but an expensive basket pipe . IMHO.

 

[sablebrush52]

Probably real. Nobody with an IQ above a single digit would spend the time it would take to fake an inexpensive, non "collector" pipe.

 

[pitchfork]

Looks very nice. I don't see any fills. If that's the case, then $80 bucks is a fair enough price for an unsmoked "first."

 

[smokeyweb]

Haha. Well, thanks. That helps. I will enjoy my expensive genuine basket pipe then!

 

[sablebrush52]

Haha. Well, thanks. That helps. I will enjoy my expensive genuine basket pipe then!

No insult intended, just making a point that fakes are made with profit in mind. Pipes that go for modest amounts on the secondary market are not targets for being faked.

 

[smokeyweb]

Haha. No offense taken. This was an impulse purchase, which I generally try to avoid, but I liked the shape and looks of the pipe so I jumped. I never buy a pipe with resale in mind... just thought the nomenclature looked atypical. Thanks for the response, guys!

 

[dmcmtk]

I would not say a fake at all, just a later post-family era pipe, as you say, 1980's.

The nomenclature changed again in 1986, with the sale of the company to the Post-Transition firm. The three line nomenclature was changed to two lines, with the first reading “Sasieni 4 Dot” and the second identifying the finish, e.g. Natural, Walnut, or Ruff Root. Note how 4 Dot is spelled, using an Arabic numeral 4, as opposed to spelling out the word “four”. This is the easiest way to spot a Post-Transition Sasieni, as the new company has used both script and block lettering to spell the word “Sasieni” on the shank.

https://pipedia.org/wiki/Sasieni

 

[samcoffeeman]

Agreed, it is real. Also, worth every penny if it smokes good, fwiw.

 

[ssjones]

How about this one:

I can't recall seeing a Four Dot "NATURAL" Ruff Root? Or are they just more rare? Natural finish pipes to me have always been smooth, right?

 

[dmcmtk]

Looks correct to me Al.

When the company was sold in 1979, one of the first things the new owners did was to eliminate the town names from the shanks. The dots were enlarged yet further, and the Sasieni name, though still done in script, was larger, as was the rest of the shank nomenclature, which in all other ways was similar to the Pre-Transition nomenclature. While these pipes are not as collectible as the family made pipes, they were made with care and are high quality.

So 52G (Giant?, most likely) the Hurlingham shape.

 

[ssjones]

So 52G (Giant?, most likely) the Hurlingham shape.

Right, I definitely don't see too my G stamps either.

 

[smokeyweb]

Great info, Dave. Thanks!

 

[lestrout]

Yo smo
Your pipe looks fine to me, even if a Collector (caps) wouldn't chase it. I have a similarly marked Sasieni, and it smokes very well. More than a basket pipe to me (not to say I don't have several basket pipes that puff well)
hp

les

 

[ashdigger]

I'm not against basket pipes, I have two no-name pipes that smoke very well, but I've had quite a few that were trash. I'm saying that because the OP asked specifically if this were a basket pipe. I also have 4 Dot Sasieni and it smokes great.