The Value of a Pipe 12/15/21☕️

[Simmerdown☕️]

As I sit smoking this delicious bit of Esoterica Dorchester that I acquired from a friend a few years ago, I began to ponder esoterically…which is often a dangerous thing.

See I’m smoking this in an old favorite Peterson Sterling Silver ? shape billiard that isn’t likely worth much more than 50$ in the real world. However, in my world this pipe smoked nearly everything it holds with effortless brilliance. I’ve owned 500$ Dunhill & high end Italian Artisan pieces, but this pipe has outlasted most of them and provided ,on average, a far superior experience.

So my question for you is what is more valuable…

a) a pipe you spent $500 or more for that you cradle and hardly smoke?

OR

b) a beater pipe that makes you reach for over & over again?

Thanks for your kind attention & a very Merry Christmas ? & Happy Holidays to you all. ️??

Oh, and Happy Birthday ??? to our own beloved @cosmicfolklore .

 

[sandollars]

To me, a great pipe isn't about money. It's about pipe cleaners:

1. Will my pipe pass a pipe cleaner when it's assembled?
2. Do I need to use a pipe cleaner to sop up combustion moisture when smoking it?

If the answer is yes to number 1 and no to number 2 then it's a keeper.

If it fails number 1 or number 2, then it's number 2 and I get rid of it.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

As I sit smoking this delicious bit of Esoterica Dorchester that I acquired from a fiend a few years ago, I began to ponder esoterically…which is often a dangerous thing.

See I’m smoking this in an old favorite Peterson Sterling Silver ? shape billiard that isn’t likely worth much more than 50$ in the real world. However, in my world this pipe smoked nearly everything it holds with effortless brilliance. I’ve owned 500$ Dunhill & high end Italian Artisan pieces, but this pipe has outlasted most of them and provided ,on average, a far superior experience.

So my question for you is what is more valuable…

a) a pipe you spent $500 or more for that you cradle and hardly smoke?

OR

b) a beater pipe that makes you reach for over & over again?

Thanks for your kind attention & a very Merry Christmas ? & Happy Holidays to you all. ️??

Oh, and Happy Birthday ??? to our own beloved @cosmicfolklore .
View attachment 114997

That is a sharp looking Pete!
And, thank you.

I think that for one to stumble upon a $500 Dunhill or a sweet looking Pete that smokes like a champ, I’d probably be making two different searches. So, apples and oranges. But, I’d most likely have no clue on the value of a “vintage” Pete. You want $100 or $200…. I might do some research, but maybe not. Now, a Pete aficianado, probably wouldn’t. A pipe restorer, a “flipper” nope.
But, I shop with different intentions in mind at the time. There are probably more like me. But, by asking for more, probably narrows the net being cast.

 

[Bengel]

B) hands down!

 

[STP]

Tough question as I’ve experience the same… I have several high-end pipes that I coddle, and many cheaper pipes… like a Rossi that I abuse, but it’s one of the best smoking pipes that I own.

 

[jpmcwjr]

A $500 pipe is more valuable than a beater pipe that'd fetch $30.

As to smoking value, the great smoking beater beats the other one. As to value to me at a point of choosing which to smoke, again the beater.

 

[timt]

B for sure but I'm a lustful man, always looking at another new pipe while I have a loving, plain jane, virtually monetarily worthless pipe that performs wonderfully, sitting around waiting for some love and attention. I'm disgusting and admit it but doubt there's much hope I'll change.

 

[Lianza]

I have had a similar experience.

I’m still very new to pipe smoking (3 years) but I have some cheaper pipes (50$ range) that are in my weekly rotation.

I have a Brigham 1 dot, straight apple, that just might be my favourite pipe right now. It’s a fantastic smoker.

I also have a KS Savinelli in my rotation. It’s my most expensive pipe (around 150$) but I swear the Brigham smokes just as well if not better.

I much prefer a good smoker than something expensive.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

If a cheap pipe smokes well, it is a good pipe.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I don't cradle my $500 pipes, I smoke them. I smoke every pipe I own. I have some pipe at a lower price point I smoke and value. However, I value the Artisan pipes I own more.

 

[WVOldFart]

It all depends on what you are after. If you are a pipe collector then the high end pipe is more important, but if you are a pipe smoker then the run a muck dependable smoker is more valuable.

 

[Streeper541]

The phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" comes to mind. For some, the pipe is a work of art to be collected. For others, the pipe is an object of utility meant for one glorious purpose.

Myself, I don't think a pipe is worth anything if it's not used. Whether it be a $500 artisan or a $5 basket pipe is irrelevant to me. YMMV.

 

[Elric]

My best smoking pipe is an old Stanwell brass band Dublin. Not a looker by any means and I doubt I'd get anything for it in trade but that's ok. Smokes like a champ. I have some pricier pipes that I also smoke but this one tends to bear the most smoking as it's usually at hand instead of down in my office.

 

[kcghost]

A $500 pipe is a lot more valuable than a beater pipe. If you don't believe me then see how you do when you resell them.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

". . . I don't think a pipe is worth anything if it's not used."

This reminds me of something I heard years ago: "A novel is just a title until it's read."

 

[reloader]

I'd have to say B without any hesitation. I haven't paid more than $50 for a pipe so far. I may i the future though. One of the best smokers I have is a no name "Real Briar Club" pipe that has a lot of fills. I doubt I'll ever spend more than $150 on a pipe, and my wife would say I won't be allowed to even spend that! I see a pipe as a tool to be used. If it doesn't perform its function the way it should its just a paperweight.

 

[fireground_piper]

There’s no reason A can’t also fulfill B. You spent the money on it, use it everyday if you want.

 

[sablebrush52]

That's an easy one. Regardless of price, a pipe that I find myself reaching for repeatedly is the more valuable pipe.

 

[beefeater33]

I've got a few of them Dunhills.............. but my $20 Briar Lee's smoke circles around them. You see, a Briar Lee is like no other pipe............ magic, in a way...........