Stanwell or Savinelli?

[papipeguy]

I have 3 Stanwells and about 12 Savinelli's. Both a very good brands so you won't go wrong with either. There are many fine choices in the $150 range. I dedicate my Stanwell Golden Danish to Gentleman Caller because that blend has deer tongue and ghosts the bowl. You may want to check out the Stanwell Captain or Admiral too as they are very nice traditional shapes. Good luck with your quest.

 

[grizzly86]

Flip a coin; I have one of each and they are both great smokers.

 

[bentmike]

Up until yesterday I had one of each brand in my collection. I like them both but something just draws me stronger to the Stanwells. I just got this Featherweight 202 and was very impressed with fit and finish. The drilling is spot on and decent straight grain all around bowl and shank. The only flaw I can spot is a tiny fill and you really need direct sunlight to see it. The price was right in the range you pointed out and I am happy with the pipe for what I spent.

I agree with the other commenters they are both great pipes. It really comes down to your preferred style cues -Italian or Danish.

 

[crpntr1]

http://pipesandcigars.com/stanwellpipes1.html

Some fine looking featherweight blasts here.

My 191 is a vario, its a very cool take on a bent bulldog, I'll try to post a pic when I'm at a computer. I smoke it driving, while playing golf, anything. Nice and light and well balanced even though it doesn't look it. Light enough when playing golf I'll keep it clenched for driving and approaching the green, just not putting.

 

[cigrmaster]

I have no experience with Stanwell's so I cannot comment. I do own 4 Savinelli's and everyone is a great smoker. I would recommend the Sav Linea Piu line and the Autograph line. The Auto's you can find on the estate market for your price range and most of those were 400 plus retails and up. I think. if you do go estate route, places like smokingpipes and others clean, sanitize and make the pipes pristine.
If you want a tremendous smoker, look at this. It is a 70's Caminetto. I own one and I can say it smokes as well as any 800.00 pipe I have ever owned. http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/estate/italy/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=91894
Here is a Mastro De Paja that will be a great smoker. http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/estate/italy/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=96910

 

[thesmokindragon]

I have several of both...but I do tend to reach more for my Stanwell 63M De Luxe

, just a fantastic flake pipe IMHO/and breaking down right after

a smoke is a bonus with the army mount on the 63M
BTW; you also might be able to snag a hand-made from; Hackert, Boswell or Balkovec

at the top of that budget...
One of my favs/a Boswell rusticated Shotshell

 

[irishflake]

Buy an estate Stanwell! Made in Denmark, none of this 'Danish design' (made in Italy) nonsense. You can find unsmoked Danish Stanwells on eBay.

Savinelli isn't going anywhere, they aren't going to be moving their production to Mauritania any time soon. Your Danish Stanwell will gain value I reckon! Or so says Lee van Cleef.

 

[crpntr1]

Hmm I've got a new and an estate stanwell, both make in Denmark. I didn't know they were made anywhere else.

 

[deleon]

I have both Stanwells and Savinellis, you can't go wrong with either one. Both have never let me down. The only difference I can think right now is the Stanwell has a cooler smoke but other than that both brands are great.

 

[misterlowercase]

"Hmm I've got a new and an estate stanwell, both make in Denmark.

I didn't know they were made anywhere else."
Yep, the production shifted over at 01/01/10.
The fresh pipes are stamped "Danish Design".

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http://vimeo.com/36133082

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Stanwell are now produced in the Tuscany region of Italy at Livorno, made by Barontini except for special limited editions which are still made in Borup Denmark.
In Denmark Stanwell still has its: business management, development, warehouse, final quality control, engraving, packaging and dispatch. The ownership is as previous years in the hands of Scandinavian Tobacco Group. (only manufacturing and finishing of the pipes is done in Italy under their careful planning and guidance.)
The continued drop in sales of pipes in Denmark and on Stanwell’s many export markets made it difficult to maintain a cost-efficient production at the Stanwell factory. The number of pipes sold annually had thus since 1995 dropped from 126,000 to 65,000 in 2008.
I have five "Danish Design" pipes and they're fine smokers. However, the psychological dimensions are a little difficult for me to get over if I think about it too much, the whole romantic notion and all that, but really, the new pipes are just as good I'd say, at least in most cases.
I did a while back have a quality issue with a Danish Design pipe, which was promptly replaced by the seller...and then I thought I'd actually write to Stanwell expressing my concerns...I did not expect any reply from them and it goes to show they're serious & they're good folks. Frank Holst Christoffersen wrote me back wherein he thanked me for my patronage, explained a few things, told me a few details and then invited me to come visit Stanwell proper if I ever find myself in Denmark!

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Here's a cool photo documentary from Estervals Pipe House about their final visit to the Stanwell factory in Borup as it was...

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[bentmike]

Great video, Thanks for posting it mrlowercase. I love the root digging scene in the beginning. I believe that's the first time I've ever seen an actual briar being dug up.
It makes me a little sad that the Stanwells are not being made in Borup but at the end of the day I won't loose any sleep over it. At least you can still buy one.

 

[topd]

I have Stanwell's and Savinelli's, and would be hard pressed to chose between the two. As an outdoors-man I

might lean toward the unfinished Sav's only because I'm rough on wood in the woods. The Savinelli's stand up

great and I just have a thing for watching raw brier turn.... kinda like meerschaums.

 

[crpntr1]

I double checked and both mine are stamped made in Denmark

 

[gnatjulio]

I cant say anything against Stanwell as I don't own one(yet). But I can make a strong recommendation. Savinelli 510ex, a Hercules Bulldog. It is my favorite smoker (in my six months of experience).

 

[slownumbers39]

Glad to hear that both Savinelli and Stanwell are quality pipes. Wife bought me a Savinelli Tundra last Christmas, which got me started smoking a pipe. I was in the US this past weekend and picked up a beautiful Stanwell Poker that I will start smoking soon. Just waiting to order some Dunhill to put in it.