Under-Appreciated Pipe Brands Redux

[mso489]

A new post on a repeated theme, what are your under appreciated pipe brands, not artisans please. Please, no major brands that you just feel are not admired enough; those are doing just fine with volume sales. These may be current brands or discontinued brands available as estates. A few of my picks are:

Bari is a wonderful long discontinued Danish factory pipe, very high quality, still appearing as an estate from time to time; I received mine new as a Christmas gift from my late wife's aunt back in the late 1970's.

Genod is a good French brand sold by SP and making house pipes for Iwan Ries, with good French quality and snappy tasteful French design.

Johs, Mogen Johansen, is an artisan who turns out pipes at a factory pipe rate and price. Although there was a complaint on Forums about the finish on one of his pipes, I have six (I think it is) and they have all worn well and smoke great. Apologies, Mogen is an artisan, but he markets like a small brand, so here he is.

Kaywoodie is a grand old name that is slow on resupplying inventory but keeps chugging along, with apparently one man doing the main manufacturing for Kaywoodie and accompanying Yello Bole and Medico brands. Some of these pipes are remarkable, with thin chamber walls that insulate as well as much thicker ones on other brands.

 

[mycroftholmes]

Duncan was an English pipe maker that used to make classic shapes with good briar, comfortable stems, at reasonable prices

 

[LotusEater]

I agree re Bari - I have a couple and really like them.

I would add some Jeantet and some Georg Jensen to the list. In my opinion quality fluctuates in the later two brands but I think their “good” pipes are really good value for dollar.

 

[sablebrush52]

Brebbia

 

[mso489]

Of the Yello-Bole sub-brand of Kaywoodie, I like the Checker series best. You have to like the folk carving, but I find it quite pleasing. sable, I always look at Brebbia on your recommendation; I have their pipe tool.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

If they aren't being appreciated, then they aren't over priced and they're probably available. Win win!!

 

[Pipeoff]

A new post on a repeated theme, what are your under appreciated pipe brands, not artisans please. Please, no major brands that you just feel are not admired enough; those are doing just fine with volume sales. These may be current brands or discontinued brands available as estates. A few of my picks are:

Bari is a wonderful long discontinued Danish factory pipe, very high quality, still appearing as an estate from time to time; I received mine new as a Christmas gift from my late wife's aunt back in the late 1970's.

Genod is a good French brand sold by SP and making house pipes for Iwan Ries, with good French quality and snappy tasteful French design.

Johs, Mogen Johansen, is an artisan who turns out pipes at a factory pipe rate and price. Although there was a complaint on Forums about the finish on one of his pipes, I have six (I think it is) and they have all worn well and smoke great. Apologies, Mogen is an artisan, but he markets like a small brand, so here he is.

Kaywoodie is a grand old name that is slow on resupplying inventory but keeps chugging along, with apparently one man doing the main manufacturing for Kaywoodie and accompanying Yello Bole and Medico brands. Some of these pipes are remarkable, with thin chamber walls that insulate as well as much thicker ones on other brands.

Have several Gold Band Royal Grain Weber, they made many shop brand pipes made when quality briar was common.

 

[FALaholic]

I really like the Rossi brand pipes. Good finish and decent smokers for reasonable cost.

 

[Reggie]

I have a couple of Edward’s basket Rhodesians that smoke sweet and steady every time. They have made the cut through several culls and sell offs .

 

[captpat]

I vote Stanwell, all of mine are superb smokers, between Stanwell and Savinelli it’s no contest Stanwell every time.

 

[FALaholic]

I vote Stanwell, all of mine are superb smokers, between Stanwell and Savinelli it’s no contest Stanwell every time.

I like Stanwell but they’re always priced out of reach at least on the estate market. They must hold their value?

 

[OzPiper]

French brands in general.

Georg Jensen. I have only one, but from the cake build-up, when I cleaned it out a few months ago, it'd qualify as my most smoked pipe.

 

[Alejo R.]

Butz Choquim and Big Ben

 

[scloyd]

Butz Choquim and Big Ben

Yep, Big Ben. One of my first pipes was a Big Ben Vintage 499. It's a good smoker, I smoke often.

 

[Alejo R.]

Bruken, from Valencia.

 

[mso489]

Reggie, I have several Edwards made Benton pipes, sold as Iwan Ries house pipes stamped with their name, and they are Algerian oil cured briar, well made and durable, good looking after thirty or forty years. In general, house pipes are usually good ones. They are moderately priced to capture the new pipe smoker, but they are also selected to be satisfying purchases so the customer will enjoy smoking and come back for more tobacco and maybe another pipe or ten. Today, Iwan Ries is sourcing its pipes from Genod, a good French brand, which was in fact their original source of house pipes back in pre-history. On Stanwell pricing, for a time, PC was selling them regularly, the brushed rusticated models, for $50 or less. That's when I bought mine. Since then, the prices have drifted upward, as people have gained confidence in the Italian production of the brand. I've found them good, open draw, tight fit and finish, handsome renditions of the classic shapes.

 

[Ag®o]

Brebbia

I fully agree, I have met Luciano Buzzi on several occasions, I bought my Brebbia's from his hands, you feel his passion when he talks about him and his father or guides you in their museum. He is also a gentleman of yesteryear. Out of the way, they are excellent pipes that smoke very well.

 

[jewman22]

Brebbia was my reply the previous time this was asked, and my opinion on that remains unchanged, they make a very nice product, pricing seems to be getting a bit away from them lately though.

I will add Neerup this time around though, they dont really seem to garner much affection. But they are nothing short of excellent, and still reasonably priced.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Weber

 

[DanWil84]

Big Ben

One of the only brands next to Molina which are readily available at tobacco shops in the Netherlands.

I have a Svendborg which you don't hear a lot of chatter around, for me a very good smoker. Maybe because quite fast after founding the founders Illsted and Tao left.