Tom Eltang pencil shank

[unadoptedlamp]

I got this Tom Eltang pencil shank Liverpool in the mail today.

It's a small pipe for those half hour smokes, and it feels very light in the hand and mouth. Nice little smoker so far.

It seems like you could break the shank, literally like a pencil, but I like the clean lines and I'm really impressed with how the bowl is shaped. It all feels delicate as an egg, and for me at least, it's an interesting pipe for the collection. The skill involved to make everything so perfectly straight and delicate is really something else.

Anyone else smoke one of these? Is it broken yet?

 

[shanez]

I don't have one but do really like the look of them. If the shank was a bit shorter I might breakdown and buy one.

 

[lightmybriar]

I’ve always wanted one, but worried it would be too small. Absolutely beautiful pipes, though.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I had one for a few months. I thoroughly enjoyed it but ended up selling to fund another pipe.
I think it was about 3/4 inch too long imo to achieve perfect balance in the clench.

 

[alaskanpiper]

I've been tempted by them. Just too pricey and too small.

 

[unadoptedlamp]

I think the length of the shank is what makes the pipe for me. It's roughly as far from my nose as many other standard size pipes I have. It feels a lot like some lovats I have, but much lighter. There's something about the engineering of a pencil shank, perfectly proportioned and with such delicate feel, that appeals to me. I'm amazed at how it's done. I likely won't collect more, but I'm glad I got the one.

I think it's well known that you do have to pay a premium for an Eltang pipe. It's not worth it to some people, but since I only keep about 10 pipes on hand, I don't mind paying a little extra for what I have. I tend to go for pipes that are traditional in shape, but somehow unique. For me, it's been hard to find those qualities in the budget range of say $150 or less. Not impossible, but I think it's somewhat rare.

Sometimes it's just a name, like Dunhill (I do have one bamboo shanked ring grain that I enjoy - so I'm not knocking them too hard) and sometimes it's both. I think with an Eltang pipe, you get excellent workmanship and some unique styling. That's what I like to pay for. And he's just a nice guy, which helps.

$325 probably isn't going to break the bank for most people. It seems that people here regularly spend that much and more in a single tobacco order. I think it's a reasonable price for what you get, which is a pipe for a lifetime if you take care of it. Rather than 3 budget pipes that don't really speak to me, I'd rather have one interesting pipe. However, that's just my particular bent for this hobby. I really like looking at my pipe when I smoke it and don't mind paying for that.

The bowl size is small. My ideal smoke is a half hour. If I want to extend that, I can easily repack a bowl and carry on. I've had some large size pipes, but I didn't keep them because an hour or more with a pipe is a long time for me and I was dumping half the bowl regularly. It was just a big waste for my preferences. For a stylish half hour smoke, or maybe a little more if you're sipping very delicately, this one fits the mark.

 

[lightmybriar]

I am in agreement with your entire write-up, unadoptedlamp. An Eltang pipe is totally worth the price to me. I do hope one day to have an Eltang...I ashamedly love the gold leaf pencil shanks haha. I was sooo close to getting one of those, but then a birthyear Tanshell popped up and it was cheaper, so I went with that. One day, though...

 

[whitebar]

I have one of these and have found it sings with GH Dark Bird's Eye. The bit on these is really comfortable for me and they weigh almost nothing. Fun little pipe for a short smoke.