What Kind Of Pipe Purchaser Are You?

[WVOldFart]

I am more into a functional pipe virus a "pretty" pipe. I have all kinds of pipes - expensive, inexpensive, different shapes and sizes and if they aren't a good smoker then they don't see much action. I like a straight billiard with a silver inlay on the shank. I want it to be around 6" with a good size bowl chamber and it has to pass a pipe cleaner with ease. If I had some restraint, I would have about 6 pipes instead of well over a hundred.

 

[Sig]

Excellent into thanks again! I saved your posts about knives and steel for future reference. I am Greek and I am loyal to American made knives. You are American and you like Chinese quality knives. This is what I call progress.

There are two types of Chinese knife makers. There are the American owned knife companies who have low end Chinese companies make their knives. Then sell the junk knives in gas stations and on late night tv. You know them because they usually have stuff like "USA American Navy", or "Ninja Snake Dragon" painted on the blade. There is usually either skulls, or a dragon on the outside scales.
The other type of Chinese knife makers are Chinese owned companies who use their lower economy and lower paid workers to design, make, and sell very good quality knives under their own name...for profit. Its in their best interest to offer the best quality knives at the best prices. Many of these companies are doubling profits every quarter for the last few years.
Well known American companies like Chaves and Knafs also have these companies build knives for them to stay competitive in the knife community.
In my opinion the only American made knife companies that are actually competitive and make quality folders are Spiderco and Kershaw.
They both have lines made in Japan, China, and Taiwan, but their American made stuff is top quality and innovative. Benchmade used to be up there, but the last few years their quality is going down, while their prices are going up.
In many recent tests, Benchmade knives have proved to not be heat treated to what they claim, and they are using alot of plastic versus FRN like the Chinese companies and a few American companies. FRN (fiberglass reinforced Nylon) scales are FAR better than the injection molded plastic BM uses in some of their $300+ knives.
Ok, I'll stop nerding out, sorry.

 

[bersekero]

There are two types of Chinese knife makers. There are the American owned knife companies who have low end Chinese companies make their knives. Then sell the junk knives in gas stations and on late night tv. You know them because they usually have stuff like "USA American Navy", or "Ninja Snake Dragon" painted on the blade. There is usually either skulls, or a dragon on the outside scales.
The other type of Chinese knife makers are Chinese owned companies who use their lower economy and lower paid workers to design, make, and sell very good quality knives under their own name...for profit. Its in their best interest to offer the best quality knives at the best prices. Many of these companies are doubling profits every quarter for the last few years.
Well known American companies like Chaves and Knafs also have these companies build knives for them to stay competitive in the knife community.
In my opinion the only American made knife companies that are actually competitive and make quality folders are Spiderco and Kershaw.
They both have lines made in Japan, China, and Taiwan, but their American made stuff is top quality and innovative. Benchmade used to be up there, but the last few years their quality is going down, while their prices are going up.
In many recent tests, Benchmade knives have proved to not be heat treated to what they claim, and they are using alot of plastic versus FRN like the Chinese companies and a few American companies. FRN (fiberglass reinforced Nylon) scales are FAR better than the injection molded plastic BM uses in some of their $300+ knives.
Ok, I'll stop nerding out, sorry.

Please, this is invaluable info and knowledge.
I have owned more Spydercos than I can remember. They were at the time my most edc-ed folders with paramilitary 2 being the strongest favorite.
Now maybe there is a paramilitary 5 who knows.

 

[didimauw]

I dont smoke estate pipes. It's not about the cleanliness, but the idea of creating all the dings and scratches and stories myself.

I have never bought a pipe in person. Only ever online. So Im an impulse shopper. It took me about 12 years to figure out what pipes work best for me.

 

[bersekero]

So after the knife conversation break, back to the topic.
I am highly addicted to nicotine. A pipe+tobacco combo must be very tempting and nice to keep me away from the coffin nails. So l am willing to pay a reasonable amount for a good combination and so far it works. It's also already cheaper than cigarettes in the long run.

 

[Sig]

Please, this is invaluable info and knowledge.
I have owned more Spydercos than I can remember. They were at the time my most edc-ed folders with paramilitary 2 being the strongest favorite.
Now maybe there is a paramilitary 5 who knows.

My wife recently stole my Spiderco Mantix 2 I recently bought.
It uses Spidercos Spy 27 steel that I wanted to test. But it now lives in her car.

 

[HeadMisfit]

I remember the wooden barrels full of Enfields, M1 Garands and Carbines, SKS, Mausers.....at Woolworths for $50-$80.

whats worse is that ANY genuine m1 carbine is worth 2,000 MINIMUM these days. Even if completely worn out.

Those garands in usable condition are worth an easy 2,500-3,500$

Those enfields, are now wroth 1,100 if they are in COMPLETE military furniture and stock.

Those cardboard gaylord shipping boxes of surplus mauser rifles that came from the central and south american countries before 1995, are now worth about 1,200$ if left in completely military furniture and stock.
Thsose gaylords cost import retailers about 1,000$. the rifles were sold at good profit for 25$ each

 

[HeadMisfit]

 

[Sig]

whats worse is that ANY genuine m1 carbine is worth 2,000 MINIMUM these days. Even if completely worn out.

Those garands in usable condition are worth an easy 2,500-3,500$

Those enfields, are now wroth 1,100 if they are in COMPLETE military furniture and stock.

Those cardboard gaylord shipping boxes of surplus mauser rifles that came from the central and south american countries before 1995, are now worth about 1,200$ if left in completely military furniture and stock.
Thsose gaylords cost import retailers about 1,000$. the rifles were sold at good profit for 25$ each

Yep, im glad I kept a few of them.
The problem is that so many people sporterized many of the Garands snd Mausers for hunting. Guys come in our shop all the time wanting TOP DOLLAR for a Garand with 4 inches chopped off the barrel, and 2 inches chopped off the butt. If they are in shooter condition, I'll offer them $400. They usually huff off in a tizzy. Condition is everything. A 6 inch chopped Garand gets about $700 in our shop to a die hard guy who cares more about the "ping" than anything else.

 

[HeadMisfit]

Yep, im glad I kept a few of them.
The problem is that so many people sporterized many of the Garands snd Mausers for hunting. Guys come in our shop all the time wanting TOP DOLLAR for a Garand with 4 inches chopped off the barrel, and 2 inches chopped off the butt. If they are in shooter condition, I'll offer them $400. They usually huff off in a tizzy. Condition is everything. A 6 inch chopped Garand gets about $700 in our shop to a die hard guy who cares more about the "ping" than anything else.

and what are you then charging the next person who gets that cut down garand?

And what are your thoughts about the idea the CMP has about doing a small run of modern cast m1 garand recievers to use up any existing mil spec part they have?

 

[Sig]

and what are you then charging the next person who gets that cut down garand?

And what are your thoughts about the idea the CMP has about doing a small run of modern cast m1 garand recievers to use up any existing mil spec part they have?

Read my post sloooooowly.
Sorry, we get around $700 for the Sporterized Garands, depending on condition. They dont last an hour.
The thing about most Garand buyers, they won't want brand new receivers, which really are 95% of the joy of owning one. But, many also dont want to spend the money being asked for OEM parts.
The younger generation isn't interested in old military firearms these days. So that's another issue.
About 95% of the under 30 crowd that comes in our shop are looking for a glock, any 2011 platform, AR platforms, or bolt action rifles for hunting. We are very rural. One thing im super happy about is that the "kids" are really into revolvers. We cannot keep GP100s, 686s, or Pythons in stock. And its about 60% under 30 year olds buying them. Oh, and "tactical" lever action rifles are all the rage. Especially in 44 and 357 magnum.

 

[Sig]

All this is completely foreign to me, as you’ve probably realized. I’ve fallen far behind. Thank you for the condensed knowledge and the intensive crash course. Knives are a hobby that, for me, has now died — just like several other hobbies from the past.

I figured id post a few of the budgets ive bought in recent years. The most expensive was the red Civivi with the San Mei Damascus blade ($85). The least expensive are 2 that were $30.....the Miguron Norsa (4th down, left column) and the CJRB Acacia (second from bottom, left column.

 

[HeadMisfit]

Read my post sloooooowly.
Sorry, we get around $700 for the Sporterized Garands, depending on condition. They dont last an hour.
The thing about most Garand buyers, they won't want brand new receivers, which really are 95% of the joy of owning one. But, many also dont want to spend the money being asked for OEM parts.
The younger generation isn't interested in old military firearms these days. So that's another issue.
About 95% of the under 30 crowd that comes in our shop are looking for a glock, any 2011 platform, AR platforms, or bolt action rifles for hunting. We are very rural. One thing im super happy about is that the "kids" are really into revolvers. We cannot keep GP100s, 686s, or Pythons in stock. And its about 60% under 30 year olds buying them. Oh, and "tactical" lever action rifles are all the rage. Especially in 44 and 357 magnum.

I had a local gunsmith, actual gunsmith who tried to swap an uncle a heritage rough rider for a mint condition winchester stainless steel guide gun.

SO when a gun seller says they buy from a customer at 700$, im used to them wanting at least double that.

id kill for a mint as issued M1917 enfield

 

[Sig]

I had a local gunsmith, actual gunsmith who tried to swap an uncle a heritage rough rider for a mint condition winchester stainless steel guide gun.

SO when a gun seller says they buy from a customer at 700$, im used to them wanting at least double that.

id kill for a mint as issued M1917 enfield

We sell a ton of Rough Rider SSA 22lr for between $130 and $250. As low as $119 during sales.
The rifles and Ranch Hands can get up to $600-$700, but we dont stock those because they dont sell.
The reason I offer around $400 for a sporterized Garand is because there is only a very select group of shooters who will buy them. Collectors won't touch them. Its either newer collectors or hunters who will buy a severely altered old military firearm.
Unless you can prove the gun was altered "in the trench" by the serviceman during combat, which is very difficult to prove. Then they again become very desirable.

 

[Eireprof]

Peterson. New or Estate.

 

[Jo L.S.]

I, too, appreciate both new and used pipes, but I have to fall in love with a pipe—its shape, its texture. I appreciate smooth pipes as much as sandblasted or rusticated ones.

 

[HeadMisfit]

We sell a ton of Rough Rider SSA 22lr for between $130 and $250. As low as $119 during sales.
The rifles and Ranch Hands can get up to $600-$700, but we dont stock those because they dont sell.
The reason I offer around $400 for a sporterized Garand is because there is only a very select group of shooters who will buy them. Collectors won't touch them. Its either newer collectors or hunters who will buy a severely altered old military firearm.
Unless you can prove the gun was altered "in the trench" by the serviceman during combat, which is very difficult to prove. Then they again become very desirable.

its not fun to say, but so many have been taken piss poor care of new barrels are needed. Still If i had a decent place to do the transfer id take one

 

[Douglas]

Briar, filtered, new or estate, 1-1.3ish ounces, straight or very slightly bent, 6.5-7.5 inches, usually Savinelli but not exclusively. Bing’s Favorite fits just right. I don’t always stay in those parameters but usually do.

 

[shanez]

I'm a very random and sometimes very impulsive kinda buyer.

 

[tatter]

I am a big fan of the Danish made Stanwells, also have a few handmad, nothing crazy expensive. my preference has changed over the years, used to only smoke bent pipes, now I love a Lovat! Funny how things change