Viking Classic acquisition. Little info online.

[jaytex1969]

Picked this up at the B&M today.
Online info indicates this is a lower tier product from Bjarne Nielsen, who is apparently well regarded by pipe people.
B&M guy said Bjarne Nielsen is gone and the name is sinking slowly (or something to that effect), so they were blowing these out on discount.
I've used it twice and found it enjoyable, but I'm an FNG, so what do I know? :P
Just wanted to share and learn more about it, if there is any more to know.
Thanks.
Jay :nana:

 

[papipeguy]

A bit of info for you.
https://pipedia.org/wiki/Bjarne

 

[ophiuchus]

Bjarne Vikings are Bjarne's economy line of pipes. I'm sorry, I don't know a lot about their production. Their machine-made shapes range the gradient between traditional and (somewhat) Danish. Because some of their lines have acrylic stems and others are vulcanite, I suspect that they've been sourced from makers in both Denmark and Italy (kind of like Stanwell).
They were being sold very inexpensively at some of the online retailers some five or six years ago (particularly at P&C back when they were still based in Albany, NY). I picked up a number of them to serve as "walking beaters;" they're (mostly) pretty darn good smokers for the money.
Yours looks pretty nice, by the way ... ::

 

[mso489]

I remember the economy line of Vikings back when they were widely available at online retailers. Usually, when a name pipe maker does an economy line, it's a good pipe. The main brands have their reputations to protect, and they want to make customers out of their economy pipe buyers and have them come back for the higher-priced pipes. Also, they want to sustain their status in the pipe-making and smoking world.

 

[jaytex1969]

This is the pipe I've been using for my Red & Black flake. Despite my challenges to embrace the flake, I really like the pipe.
I did shove some Viprati in there once and it was well behaved to the end.
Jay :nana:

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I have one. Was one of my first briars, and although it gets a tad hot sometimes where the back of the bowl meets the shank, it's usually a pretty decent smoker.