Whats the Difference

[bamacfa]

I ask this question not to upset any pipe makers but what is the difference in a 150.00 pipe and some of the pipes I have seen that go anywhere from 500 to 1500 dollars? Is there a noticable difference in the way they smoke?

 

[hawk60ce]

I cant say as my most expensive briar was $100

 

[captainprophesy]

Well since I have NEVER smoked a $500-$1500 pipe... I really cant say LOL
But I am interested to know as well

 

[puffy]

There's different opinions on this.In my opinion some pipes smoke better than others.My pipes run in price from about 100 dollars to about 300.They all smoke about the same.

 

[cigrmaster]

Yes there is a difference. Quality of the briar, quality of stem materials, proper drilling, all of these things can lead to a better smoking experience. The better the drilling, the cooler and drier it can smoke. The better the briar, the sweeter and cooler your tobacco will taste. Now are you guaranteed to get a better pipe if you spend 500 plus, no, there are no guarantees, but the odds are better that you will. You do not even have to spend 500.00 to get a fantastic artisan pipe, there are plenty that go for under 400.00, and in the estate market the deals are amazing. Now of course you can get a really nice pipe for 150.00 brand new but you won't get a hand cut stem, the briar is not hand picked, it can be a great smoker for sure. I recently grabbed a 500.00 pipe that was smoked a couple of times for 139.00 delivered, it is a great smoker and it is real pretty, with really nice straight grain.
When you go for more expensive pipes, looks has a lot to do with the price, the better the grain, the higher the price. There is an old saying that you cannot smoke grain. One of my best smokers is a Mastro De Paja that was a 150.00 or so and I love it. Now it does not have a hand cut stem, which makes it not as comfortable as my artisan pipes, but I would never give it up. I have a really old Upshall that I paid about 80 bucks for that does have a real comfortable vulcanite stem that is a great smoker, but it does not smoke as great as my Rad Davis pipes. There is a difference with a pipe that is made by one guy who knows what he is doing. Until you experience one of those it is hard to understand the differences.

 

[gwtwdbss]

I have never smoked anything more than a $350 pipe so I am really not sure. One thing I do notice however is that different manufacturers tend to age briar longer than others and some use a curing method(oil curing, etc...) that tend to produce a distinctive flavor that is particular only to that manufacturer. This will increase the price somewhat. If you add a lot of silver/gold to a pipe, they can sky rocket pretty fast. This Dunhill for example probably doesn't smoke $1500 better than a normal Dunhill, but the ornamentation makes it very distinct and probably more sought after by high end collectors or pipers with a whole lot of money!
Dunhill British Bulldog Shell Briar with Silver Cap

 

[bamacfa]

cigarmaster that makes sense thanks for all yalls responses.

 

[cigrmaster]

gwtwdbss, that Dunhill is freaking awesome, never seen one like that before. You are definitely paying for the bling on that puppy.

 

[cigrmaster]

bamacfa, glad I could help. I personally think there is no need to spend 500.00 on a pipe unless you are a collector or you are looking for a certain look. There are so many great pipes that can be had for way less. I have smoked pipes that today would sell for 1200-1500 and honestly none of them smoked better than my Rad Davis pipes, and none of those were over 400.00.

 

[cigrmaster]

For example, I used to own this pipe that was made by Former who is a high end danish carver. Today this pipe would go for 1200-1500 and while it was great pipe I like my Rad's better. Rad's stem work is better, the button he uses is more comfortable, the balance and weights on his pipes are better for me. Now of course things like this are very subjective, and this is just one guy's opinion.

 

[cigrmaster]

Roth just made an excellent point about the most expensive not being the best smoker in a person's collection. My most expensive is not my best smoker, in fact I am shipping it out to have it sold for me so I can buy pipes I know I will like better.

 

[mangers]

I have two Dunhills that I wish I had never spent the high price for, I have no name basket pipes that smoke as well or better than they do!!! Never again will I spend more than $150.00 for a briar pipe!!!

 

[cigrmaster]

Mangers, never say never. Don't let your disappointment with Dunhill sour you on higher grade pipes. I have two and luckily I did not pay much, but they are not a good representation of higher quality pipes. They are a factory pipe, they are not an artisan pipe, which are in my opinion superior to any Dunhill.

 

[bamacfa]

Thanks for the responses! My favorite pipe is a churchwarden corn cob I bought for 25.00 I also bought a Mr. Brog that smokes really well for about the same price. I did splurg though and paid 150.00 for a sorient meerschaum which I havent recieved yet but I am looking forward to it. With all that said I believe people need to be paid for their craft when they do it really well. But the 500 to 1500 and up pipes blow my mind I would be scared to light it :rofl:

 

[mangers]

Mangers, never say never.

No, I mean it. My pipes are to smoke tobacco in, not to sit in a rack looking pretty. IMHO even spending $150.00 for something to smoke tobacco in is quite silly. No offense intended to those who buy expensive pipes! I just think like my grandfather did, he owned one pipe at a time and when he burnt it out he went to the drugstore and bought another. No, I will stick with my Stanwells and Savinellis, great smokers at a decent price!!!

 

[igloo]

Please contribute to the Ugly Pipes Sunshine Ray of Hope for non profit Foundation . For just a few dollars a day you can bring sunshine to a ugly pipe .

 

[bigvan]

Mangers, I doubt your grandfather bought Stanwells and Savinellis at the drug store.
My point is that you've already made a distinction between a drug store pipe and Stanwells/Savinellis. Not a hard distinction to make, given the HUGE difference in materials and workmanship.
A hand-made artisan pipe does more than "look pretty". It should possess an even HIGHER standard of materials and workmanship than the Stanwells/Savinellis.
If you're content with factory pipes, that's great. But to dismiss ALL more expensive pipes as "silly" smacks of sour grapes.

 

[mangers]

Never said he bought Stanwells at a drug store, but I liked his way of thinking. Afterall a pipe is just a piece of wood to smoke tobacco from, I dont need a $500.00 pipe for that. If thats what you like that is fine, like what you smoke, smoke what you like. These are just my thoughts on the subject.

 

[nsfisher]

Hmmmm, this is a discussion that untill a couple weeks ago, I would have avoided. I have many $20.00-$100.00 pipes, and quite a few more expensive ones. I was a firm believer that a Low end pipe, or low to mid-range would smoke as well as a high end one. For example, I have a Comoy Riband that I always thought would smoke as well or better than a Dunhill. Also a Sven Lars that I would have compared to a Dunhill as well. It so happened, that I stumbled on a 1953 Patent Dunhill Tanshell a few weeks ago. After much time cleaning it up, I smoked it. I now find, that there is no comparison between it, and my well loved collection. I smoke this Dunhill only once per day, in the evening just before I go to bed. I am now debating buying 3 or 4 more older Dunhills off E-bay.
Understand mate, that I am not, in any way, shape, or form, turning up my nose at my other pipes, I am just sharing my experience and can now say that I understand a bit more what "bigvan" has been referring to in many posts.