What to Look For in a Meerschaum.

[HopHand]

I'd like to add another Meerschaum or two to my collection. When buying a new Meerschaum pipe should I stick to the two brands sold on smoking pipes? While they do have a coupe that strike my fancy . I've been watching a coupe on Etsy for 8 months that I really love the looks of and Would love to pick them up. I'm just not sure what to look for or what questions to ask in order to not waste my money on a subpar pipe. Any suggestions or thoughts from the long time collectors would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'd stick with IMP, Altinay, SRV, and Baki.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I'd stick with IMP, Altinay, SRV, and Baki.

Exactly this then you don't need a detailed list of what to look for, it will be covered with these makers.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I’m pretty much down to purchasing 1 Meer per year. And IMP is usually the way I go. Never had an issue with them. ?️

 

[cigrmaster]

What kind of briar pipes do you smoke? I bought an IMP Meer with Silver and I think it is pretty, here is a pic.

I have been very disappointed in how it smokes. The stem sucks, the pipe burns hot and I have smoked it maybe 3 times since I bought it. I will never buy another meer again. I should have known better as my SMS meer is useless except for smoking weed in it.

 

[paulfg]

Go for one with a push/pull tenon.
The cheaper ones have a screw type and can be very restrictive on the draw.
Having said that I have some old ones circa 1900 that are screw and they are fine

 

[HopHand]

Dang. That's too bad but kinda what I figured I would hear. It very seldom pays to buy generics no matter the product didn't expect this would be any different. Thanks for the reminder.
Now if only I could find one from the big guys that spoke so directly to my inner pervy 14yo?

 

[HopHand]

I'd stick with IMP, Altinay, SRV, and Baki.

I'm a little surprised not to see the AKB brand on this list. It's the majority of the Meerschaum Smoking pipes carries and I've been pretty happy with my first but I guess it's naive to assume just cause it's carried by a quality distributor that it would it's self be quality. And I obviously from the question wouldn't know my ass from a hand basket when it comes to Meerschaum. So Thanks for the help.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'm a little surprised not to see the AKB brand on this list.

They tend to have the screw in mortise and tenon inserts that significantly restrict the draw.



I have a couple of AKBs and love them but many find those inserts disagreeable.

 

[HopHand]

What kind of briar pipes do you smoke? I bought an IMP Meer with Silver and I think it is pretty, here is a pic.

I have been very disappointed in how it smokes. The stem sucks, the pipe burns hot and I have smoked it maybe 3 times since I bought it. I will never buy another meer again. I should have known better as my SMS meer is useless except for smoking weed in it.

Yikes. Thats a handsome pipe it's too bad it's finniky. As of now I don't own a single briar. Only Cobs and a pair of Meerschaums. The up keep on briars came across as intimidating in the begining so I went the other direction. That said my experience with the Meerschaum has been over all wonderful. The gifted cheap antique I have isnt the Absolute best or most pleasant to smoke from but my AKB Tekin has been a pure blessing. Especially for a new guy as it doesn't matter how I pack that thing as long as the tobacco isn't cling to the walls sticky and I don't try to put 4x my normal amount of baccy in it she will just smoke. Every single damn time without fail. Couldn't be happier.

 

[HopHand]

They tend to have the screw in mortise and tenon inserts that significantly restrict the draw.

View attachment 104151

I have a couple of AKBs and love them but many find those inserts disagreeable.

View attachment 104152View attachment 104153

I wasn't aware of that. I guess maybe it's cause their simpler pipes tend to have the push pulls and I very much am drawn to the simpler traditional designs. My current is push pull as I knew from my original research to avoid the others if possible.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Dang. That's too bad but kinda what I figured I would hear. It very seldom pays to buy generics no matter the product didn't expect this would be any different. Thanks for the reminder.
Now if only I could find one from the big guys that spoke so directly to my inner pervy 14yo?

Like my Yanik?


Or my Kenan?

 

[HopHand]

So. While I wouldn't expect anybody to give away their favorite fishing hole. Can anybody suggest a site or two I should keep an eye on when hunting for new Meerschaums?

 

[HopHand]

Like my Yanik?
View attachment 104154

Or my Kenan?
View attachment 104155

Skulls were never my thing though that is obviously damn beautiful but ya that Yanik is exactly what the dirty old man in me was looking at. Been eyeballing a nymph and a mermaid. That's a stunning pipe. I'm very jelly ?

 

[Chasing Embers]

drawn to the simpler traditional designs

My IMPS.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Skulls were never my thing though that is obviously damn beautiful

And huge!

 

[Chasing Embers]

So. While I wouldn't expect anybody to give away their favorite fishing hole. Can anybody suggest a site or two I should keep an eye on when hunting for new Meerschaums?

SPC, Altinay, and Meerschaum Market.

 

[HopHand]

My IMPS.
View attachment 104157View attachment 104158View attachment 104159View attachment 104160View attachment 104162View attachment 104163View attachment 104164

You Sir have a truly envious collection and taste. That bottom pipe just strums the heart strings. I kinda lean away from the overly ornate with rare exceptions but rather an fond of the smooth traditional pipes with the natural broken tops like that. My first is similar.
And whoa. I've seen the pictures of your giant skull the thing is impressive every time. One of those two I was looking at before knowing better was a big Nymph art piece along that lines. That size is a little intimidating but I think that just makes them all that more impressive.

 

[Chasing Embers]

That size is a little intimidating but I think that just makes them all that more impressive.

Being meerschaum, they're much lighter than they appear.?

 

[HopHand]

Being meerschaum, they're much lighter than they appear.?

Huh I'd never considered that?‍
But now that you mentioned it that might just put a couple of mid sized pipes back on my radar. Pipes that I discounted cause they were to large enough they looked to cumbersome for the out and about but too small and un detailed to be interesting as large art pieces I'd wanna leave at the Ez chair.


And on a previous post you mentioned SPC as a place to look for pipes. I found or knew of the other two but I'm not familiar with that first and Google isn't having any luck.