Total newbie to smoking pies, but been smoking for years. I've seen briars on eBay for around 30 pound but I like the look( and price )! Of meershaums. Are they any good?
Total newbie to pipes
- Thread starter archerjeff
- Start date
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It just one more material that pipes are made of and individual preference. They'll serve you no better or worse than any other pipe.
Many are, some aren't. Just like so many products.
I havr a couple of meers and enjoy smoking them, but I smoke briars and cobs most of the time. due to the fact you drop a meer most of the time you break it. So, if I'm working on something or doing anything but relaxing mine stay on the shelf.
If you're looking for one check out Meerschaum Market they have a nice selection of block Meerschaum.
If you're looking for one check out Meerschaum Market they have a nice selection of block Meerschaum.
There are some really crappy Meerschaum pipes out there.
I'd suggest doing your homework and buying a good one.
Altinok are great, but you pay for the quality. They are generally $250+.
MBSD are in the same ballpark.
There are a lot of other sellers but as the price goes down, the chance of a poor quality pipe goes up.
IMP is a good brand, but more expensive than the previous two, but about the same quality.
As mentioned, take a look at the Meerschaum Marketplace website.
Generally anything under $150 is either of questionable quality, or very small...make sure to check the dimensions. There are a lot of makers carving tiny pipes to use up tiny blocks of Meerschaum.
I'd suggest doing your homework and buying a good one.
Altinok are great, but you pay for the quality. They are generally $250+.
MBSD are in the same ballpark.
There are a lot of other sellers but as the price goes down, the chance of a poor quality pipe goes up.
IMP is a good brand, but more expensive than the previous two, but about the same quality.
As mentioned, take a look at the Meerschaum Marketplace website.
Generally anything under $150 is either of questionable quality, or very small...make sure to check the dimensions. There are a lot of makers carving tiny pipes to use up tiny blocks of Meerschaum.
The only meerschaum I have are Missouri Meerschaum haha. Corn cobs are very beginner friendly.
Welcome @archerjeff
Good question.
When I got back to pipes a few years back, and discovered what was available, I was like a kid in a candy store. I ended up with briars, mortas, olive woods, meerschaum (Turkish, Austrian and African), clays, cobs, cherry woods
I like my meers - the African ones as much as the others. I personally feel that the denser African meer is more robust and less of a breakage risk as I am quite accident-prone.
But once broken-in there is little to distinguish the smoking quality of African vs Turkish
Meerschaum vs briar ?
There are those who eschew their briars once they discover meers.
I like my meers, but love my briars
And cobs ?
Cobs are cobs. They have a huge and enthusiastic following. For good reasons
But they ARE NOT meers
There are different qualities/grades of meerschaum.
Then there is the workmanship - artisan or apprentice ?
Drilling is important.
As are connectors - meerschaum is more fragile than briar
Classical shapes or figural ? If the latter, how elaborate ?
Adornments eg silver bands or spigots?
And finally your price range ?
There are LOTS of threads on meerschaum pipes with advice and recommendations on the Forums.
Take some time to read through them, before spending your hard-earned
The last meer I bought was an estate cased Austrian unsmoked plain bent billiard which I got very cheaply on EBay
Nothing wrong with it, but it was too large for me.
I offloaded it to a mate who was extremely happy with the pipe and price
Have a great time hunting for that pipe, whichever you end up with
And enjoy
To be honest, 30 pounds for what briar pipe on ebay?
A low grade dr grabow type pipe? Or are we discussing someone selling off their dead uncles stuff and the pipe is actually a 1970 Dunhill that would normally fetch 300 pounds on the vintage pipe market?
To get a meerschaum pipe of good quality, one has to expect to pay 4-5 times that 30 pounds.
A low grade dr grabow type pipe? Or are we discussing someone selling off their dead uncles stuff and the pipe is actually a 1970 Dunhill that would normally fetch 300 pounds on the vintage pipe market?
To get a meerschaum pipe of good quality, one has to expect to pay 4-5 times that 30 pounds.
I think a good place to start with briar pipes is Rossi or Morgan Bones. Rossi pipes are basically made by Savinelli, and are essentially Savinelli seconds that smoke just as good as Savinelli pipes do - for nearly half the price $50-70. You can pick up a bones for $45-50. Those are a good quality pipes for that range.
The best place to start would be to at least go to your profile and at least add what country you are in. This is an international forum. Its pretty obvious where you are from due to mentioning your currency but you are going to ask more questions. A lot of those questions are going to be location sensitive. A lot of tobaccos and items are available some places and not others. It will save everyone time.
On the subject of pipes, you could always grab an estate pipe from a vendor that has a decent reputation. Eventually you can learn to clean and service your own.
On the subject of pipes, you could always grab an estate pipe from a vendor that has a decent reputation. Eventually you can learn to clean and service your own.
Get yourself a Corncob and a Morgan Bones pipe, can't beat that for a newbie to get some practice in.
Meers are a little more finnicky and delicate, unless you want to drop some $$$ on a block meerschaum you're not getting any value there or significant step up in experince. .
The advice I've been giving my friends who want to get into pipe smoking is to start out with a Missouri Meerschaum (corncob) until you get the hang of smoking a pipe. Then if you decide to stick with it, you can spend money on a good meerschaum, quality briar, etc. Just my two cents.
1) Research every rule and method on the internet about how loading and smoking a pipe must be done, then try them all.
2) once you’ve done that, realize there are no rules. Put tobacco in pipe, light it and smoke it. Adjust to what works for you and enjoy!
2) once you’ve done that, realize there are no rules. Put tobacco in pipe, light it and smoke it. Adjust to what works for you and enjoy!
Clays are very nice. Cheap, easy to clean, almost always good smokers. Just be careful not to drop them! 
Smoked pies are very tasty.
In the UK? Pick up a Sarome for 30-odd quid; I have a couple and they are great smokers, as good as any. Although they're 9mm filter pipes, I use them without and this possibly enhances flavours, just keep them clean in that area and they're sweet. I suspect that they're importer-badged Rossi made, decent quality pipes.
In the UK? Pick up a Sarome for 30-odd quid; I have a couple and they are great smokers, as good as any. Although they're 9mm filter pipes, I use them without and this possibly enhances flavours, just keep them clean in that area and they're sweet. I suspect that they're importer-badged Rossi made, decent quality pipes.