The Joy Of Discontinued Pipes

[mso489]

I don't do much by way of collecting pipes. Many are bought new, and I'm never shopping pedigree. But over the years, I've ended up with a number of pipes you can no longer easily get, though most of these are fine smokers. So their reduced availability gives them a certain history and even desirability they didn't have before. In the category, for examples, I have the Danish factory pipe, a Bari, that looks great after forty years and smokes better; several of the recently discontinued BC pipes that are so well produced and have such good design in the best French style; and three Benton pipes stamped as Iwan Ries pipes made of oil cured Algerian briar. I also have an old screw-in stem stinger Kaywoodie Drinkless Ruff-Tone and a Yello-Bole Checker (if it is still made, it is hard to find). Funny the way history sneaks up on pipes. Have any of your pipes become more rare behind your back, as it were?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Only two of these are current production.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Then again, with Bruce's passing, these are a thing of the past as well.

 

[americaman]

Would you have been mad if I bought that rainbow volcano before you, @chasingembers?

 

[mso489]

I think Danish made Stanwells fill the bill.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Would you have been mad if I bought that rainbow volcano before you, @chasingembers?

Not really, I got to see him make one of them. More valuable than actually owning one.

 

[badbriar]

Then again, with Bruce's passing, these are a thing of the past as well.

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Love the 4th in, top left! Amazing looking style! Well done.

 

[Misanthrope]

Discontinued or intermittently available stuff triggers my PAD. If I think something’s going to be around a while, I rarely feel any urgency to acquire it, but if it’s out of production or something that isn’t a consistent SKU, my wallet starts whimpering and flopping away from me in terror.

I love nosewarmers and there’s a specific set of shapes, proportions, and characteristics that really tickle my pickle. Unfortunately, a lot of pipes that fit that mold are out of my price range, are in finishes or colors that I don’t like, or have stem colors I find off-putting, so whenever I see one that ticks all of my boxes, it’s pretty much almost always a “if you snooze, you lose” situation.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Love the 4th in, top left! Amazing looking style! Well done.

Ah, the Ivarsson-style blowfish, one of the "surprise" commissions I did with Bruce in 2014. That one is asymmetrical with a cumberland stem and ivory shank accent. My Angler's Dream pipe.

 

[anotherbob]

I love owning a discontinued pipe. Even though I could get just as nice of a pipe from another company in the same style. There is something beautiful about seeing the ephemeral nature of things. It is doubly discontinued. First the style of pipe seemed to be one they stopped making and now the factory is closed. It isn't a dramatic difference but knowing that I can't just stop over to the internet and replace it means more then if I could sell it for a decent amount, which I can't cause it is far from mint condition.

 

[agnosticpipe]

Only two of these are current production.

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Duane, I think that the Black Frigate is having a strange effect on you! I remember when you only had a few of those Savinelli's. Apparently you are now totally out of control! ?

 

[mso489]

If you keep pipe smoking, continuously or intermittently, eventually you find significant portions of your stable of pipes is no longer available in the brand, or in that series, except as an estate pipe, and often not readily there. Various of my pipes have slipped into that category. I think my Savinelli Prince of Wales has been discontinued, and was not long available in the first place. I'm sure you can get them on the 'bay, but probably in diminishing numbers. It's just the pipe market. Many styles and shapes are tried, but most don't last forever, or change in significant ways.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Duane, I think that the Black Frigate is having a strange effect on you! I remember when you only had a few of those Savinelli's. Apparently you are now totally out of control! ?

A thirty-one day set was the original goal then I started discovering I could usually get them on eBay for less than $30. Then I found out about the 9004, 9005, and 914 variants. My new goal is to reach my current age in number then buy one each year for my birthday.?

 

[mso489]

chasing', you could be the only pipe smoker/collector with that focus, which puts you in a position to fine-tune your collection. Also, it puts focus on the desirability of that brand and shape, which further enhances the group. I'd never try to make money buying and/or selling pipes, but you might.

 

[Chasing Embers]

chasing', you could be the only pipe smoker/collector with that focus, which puts you in a position to fine-tune your collection. Also, it puts focus on the desirability of that brand and shape, which further enhances the group. I'd never try to make money buying and/or selling pipes, but you might.

Perhaps I could be Steve's (pipestud) apprentice.?

 

[daveinlax]

One of my collections has been discontinued since the late 1990’s. It’s a lot of fun to hunt pipes to add to it. ?

 

[rushx9]

Only two of these are current production.

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? 3rd up from bottom, center... is that stem extension stock or aftermarket?!

 

[mikethompson]

I rarely buy a brand new pipe, most of my collection are pipes that are 'old', some of which by makers that are no longer in business. It is like holding a little piece of history that won't be repeated.

 

[cigrmaster]

So far it seems that discontinued pipes or their makers are more available than discontinued blends. I see a lot of old Britwood that was discontinued available at numerous sites like Ebay or PipeStud or Briar Blues or Pulvers briar. Discontinued makers like Weaver, Davis, Ruthenberg, Ivarsson, Nordh and others of that ilk are still floating around fairly often.
Other than McClellend discontinued blends things like Rotary Navy Cut, Original Thee Nuns, Brigham Klondike Gold and other blends see more difficult to get. I honestly don't know which is harder to come buy but in my time of a little over 20 years there seems discontinuations on both sides.

 

[Parsimonious Piper]

The brand I collect died around 1970, so yeah, I have a thing for discontinued pipes. Makes the hunt fun!