Thoughts on Vauen Pipes?

[Hillcrest]

This is my Vauen Olaf bent egg #4873 (20mmx46mm chamber) which I bought from Smokingpipes.Eu as an unsmoked estate pipe at less than 1/2 price on sale. After a few smokes it developed a petroleum taste and smell. I sanded out the bowl coating which was oil based and made my own pipe mud to replace it. It is now a favorite daily pipe. It is as enjoyable and comfortable as my Savinelli 2614KS which is almost 40 yrs old. Always tastes sweet now.

I would recommend a Vauen especially the higher end ones many of which are made by italian carvers for Vauen. Can't go wrong for a good working pipe.

That's a briar ring and acrylic matte finish stem which has some texture to it:

 

[Swiss Army Knife]

This is my Vauen Olaf bent egg #4873 (20mmx46mm chamber) which I bought from Smokingpipes.Eu as an unsmoked estate pipe at less than 1/2 price on sale. After a few smokes it developed a petroleum taste and smell. I sanded out the bowl coating which was oil based and made my own pipe mud to replace it. It is now a favorite daily pipe. It is as enjoyable and comfortable as my Savinelli 2614KS which is almost 40 yrs old. Always tastes sweet now.

I would recommend a Vauen especially the higher end ones many of which are made by italian carvers for Vauen. Can't go wrong for a good working pipe.

That's a briar ring and acrylic matte finish stem which has some texture to it:

View attachment 170312

Those Olafs punch well above their pricetag, that sandblast is beautiful.

I picked up this model of Pearl during TP's IPSD sale.


It's become one of my favorites and got me interested in bent pipes where as before I was pretty strictly straights only. Haven't had any issues with the bowl coatings Vauen uses. Compared to the Peterson Tarpits they're a dream.

 

[orlandofurioso]

This is my Vauen Olaf bent egg #4873 (20mmx46mm chamber) which I bought from Smokingpipes.Eu as an unsmoked estate pipe at less than 1/2 price on sale. After a few smokes it developed a petroleum taste and smell. I sanded out the bowl coating which was oil based and made my own pipe mud to replace it. It is now a favorite daily pipe. It is as enjoyable and comfortable as my Savinelli 2614KS which is almost 40 yrs old. Always tastes sweet now.

I would recommend a Vauen especially the higher end ones many of which are made by italian carvers for Vauen. Can't go wrong for a good working pipe.

That's a briar ring and acrylic matte finish stem which has some texture to it:

View attachment 170312

" I would recommend a Vauen especially the higher end ones many of which are made by italian carvers for Vauen ".
That is why I purchased the Solitaire.
Lovely pipe this one !

 

[Peter Turbo]

I got a Vauen Duett 1571 last year on IPSD, built and drilled incredibly well, hell of a smoker. Can recommend.

​

 

[pappymac]

I had no idea that Maestro de Paja pipes were made by Vauen.

 

[Hillcrest]

Those Olafs punch well above their pricetag, that sandblast is beautiful.

I picked up this model of Pearl during TP's IPSD sale.
View attachment 170378

It's become one of my favorites and got me interested in bent pipes where as before I was pretty strictly straights only. Haven't had any issues with the bowl coatings Vauen uses. Compared to the Peterson Tarpits they're a dream.

I like the shape of yours ...well executed !

The Olaf was my first 'black' pipe ... I preferred natural briar previously but the rustication advantage and price overcomes my instinct. I'm not good at pictures but maybe you can blow this one up ... check out the ring blast on the bottom of the pipe. --- A spiral circle upwards from center of bottom !!!

 

[Hillcrest]

" I would recommend a Vauen especially the higher end ones many of which are made by italian carvers for Vauen ".
That is why I purchased the Solitaire.
Lovely pipe this one !

Agreed. Enjoy it !

 

[orlandofurioso]

I had no idea that Maestro de Paja pipes were made by Vauen.

Really ? Is it not vice versa ?
MdP making the higher end Vauen ones ?

 

[Swiss Army Knife]

I like the shape of yours ...well executed !

The Olaf was my first 'black' pipe ... I preferred natural briar previously but the rustication advantage and price overcomes my instinct. I'm not good at pictures but maybe you can blow this one up ... check out the ring blast on the bottom of the pipe. --- A spiral circle upwards from center of bottom !!!

View attachment 170389

Wow that's seriously some beautiful grain. The kind I'd expect on high end artisan pipes.

 

[Hillcrest]

Wow that's seriously some beautiful grain. The kind I'd expect on high end artisan pipes.

I agree, thats what I thought for a "stock" pipe ... that bullseye on the bottom about 1/8th inch off center then radiates up the pipe to the rim in concentric circles all the way up. I don't think I could find another quite like it which makes it unusual or different from all others (to my mind). It also radiates along shank but not as concentric. In the end ... well worth the small price. (It does have a few pits which is why first buyer rejected it but they are at thickest part of pipe and don't go all the way through so no danger of burn out from them, I don't think.)

 

[Hillcrest]

Really ? Is it not vice versa ?
MdP making the higher end Vauen ones ?

Barontini made pipes for Vauen and Stanwell. Then Vauen started carrying Cesare Barontini 'designed' pipes. I would imagine others have made pipes for Vauen as well, its only logical. So I would guess MdP made for Vauen not the other way around.

 

[orlandofurioso]

That is what I meant to say
MdP making pipes for Vauen.

 

[pappymac]

That is what I meant to say
MdP making pipes for Vauen.

That makes more sense.

 

[goldenmole]

I have 3 or 4.. all good pipes and the company has a long history of pipe production. German myself, but in all fairness I will say that for me they often make pipes with unfortunate design choices. Sometimes the colours are strange, sometimes over-engineered, sometimes weird shapes...

 

[goldenmole]

This is my favourite Vauen.. a pipe of the year for 2021

 

[buckaroo]

I wanted that POY dammit! ^^ Had to settle for a fully sandblasted one. The sandblasting is a bit odd. Good to see a picture of one out in the wild. A bit rare. Well, here in the US that is.

 

[OSOBUCO]

Just scored this beauty on ebay for $32. $41 after shipping from Germany. It is VERY well made!

 

[anotherbob]

I get the feeling that in their minds they're a Germany company for the German markets. They don't mind selling to the rest of us at all but I get the impression their main focus is their home territory. I think that's part of why they fly under the radar. And while most of us have heard of our favorite pipes by word of mouth, the most well known brands at one point advertised heavily.

 

[dingdong]

I think Vauen one of the few independent brands out there apart from Italian artisan, whilst most are consolidated under Cadogan (English brands) and Cutty Fort (French St Claudes)..
Got one Vauen, designed by Barontini. tiny pipe, and filter ready. Not sure of the vintage, probably 80s-90s.

 

[Sigmund]

They do make some nice pipes but I dont own one yet. They are easy to get in the EU (from Germany). I may have to pick one up as I like 9mm pipes and its their specialty. They have some somewhat odd and what I think are regional designs. Some a bit far out but they also have some really nice classic designs as well.

Does anyone know about the quality of their briar? They are machine pipes but that isnt always a bad thing when its done right. Its hard to beat their prices. My only complaint is that they could step up their game a bit on the metal stem treatments.