Your Approach When Finding Your White Whale?

[AroEnglish]

We all have that one pipe that we dream of having the opportunity to acquire, let alone actually acquiring it. What do you think about when your find yourself in this situation?

I’m guessing most of us will consider the condition but how picky will you be over grain, shaping, stem bend, etc.?

And what about price? Do you consider its original list price in what you are going to pay for it or is it sky’s the limit? How do you determine the number that you’re willing to pay for it?

 

[bluegrassbrian]

For me, the very definition of "white whale" would include its size, shape, condition, AND grain.
Size, shape, and condition are all fairly strict. For me though, I'm open to grain as long as it's interesting to me.

I suppose the grain is truly the cherry on top. It makes or breaks a potential buy for me.

An easy example - there's tons of group 1, 2, and 3 Dunhills in my favorite shapes and finishes out there. Maybe 10% of those (in smooth and sandblasted finishes) have grain that fall within my acceptable window.
Among those, perhaps 25% have grain that tickles me so acutely that I will make an attempt to purchase.

Once or twice (maybe) a year I'll find a pipe that I covet so hotly that I'll pay more than I think it's truly worth. Even then; I may not act in time or place a winning bid.

 

[AroEnglish]

For me, the very definition of "white whale" would include its size, shape, condition, AND grain.
Size, shape, and condition are all fairly strict. For me though, I'm open to grain as long as it's interesting to me.

I suppose the grain is truly the cherry on top. It makes or breaks a potential buy for me.

An easy example - there's tons of group 1, 2, and 3 Dunhills in my favorite shapes and finishes out there. Maybe 10% of those (in smooth and sandblasted finishes) have grain that fall within my acceptable window.
Among those, perhaps 25% have grain that tickles me so acutely that I will make an attempt to purchase.

Once or twice (maybe) a year I'll find a pipe that I covet so hotly that I'll pay more than I think it's truly worth. Even then; I may not act in time or place a winning bid.

This is very helpful and sobering to read. There's one that I’m looking at right now that I’ve actually never seen for sale (it's a rare shape from a pretty low end line) but the grain has no appeal to me. Before reading your post I was gearing up to spend more than I wanted to on it but now I want to hold off. It’s always so hard to remember that I have a lifetime to acquire pipes and I don't need to land everything as soon as I possibly can.

 

[OzPiper]

It depends on how rare that "white whale" is
If it is one of a kind (or close to) then its all harpoons on deck

I recently passed on a birth year pipe - not plentiful, for some reason.
Price was right, good condition but it was the wrong shape.
I'll wait for the right one

 

[AroEnglish]

It depends on how rare that "white whale" is
If it is one of a kind (or close to) then its all harpoons on deck

I recently passed on a birth year pipe - not plentiful, for some reason.
Price was right, good condition but it was the wrong shape.
I'll wait for the right one

I think that’s the right approach.

Guess I need to take stock of how many harpoons I have

 

[OzPiper]

I think that’s the right approach.

Guess I need to take stock of how many harpoons I have

Yes, as often happens, someone might just happen to have a BIGGER one

 

[Chasing Embers]

Can't say I've really ever had a white whale. If there was a pipe I wanted I just bought it or commissioned one

 

[warren]

Perhaps a Dunhill smoked by Stalin or a cob owned by Sam Clemens, simply as antiques with a story. Not really looking for either though. Anything I see that meets my criteria, on display, I'd most likely buy for the asking price. I'm a smoker not, a collector. So, no "white whale."

 

[mortonbriar]

No white whale here, although I do like the irony of commissioning a whale shaped meer and never smoking it...

 

[Chasing Embers]

No white whale here, although I do like the irony of commissioning a whale shaped meer and never smoking it...

I hit up Ali for a realistic octopus, he could probably do it.

 

[judcole]

Like a couple of the others in this thread, I have no "white whales". I'm not a collector. I buy pipes I like, and smoke 'em.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I have a number of pipes I’m looking for, but I’m not sure I would consider them white whales. Collecting books (among other interests) for many years has taught me some things than can be applied to pipes:

No amount of staring at a flaw will improve the condition of the flaw; it’s better to pass on or return the flawed item in question and be patient and wait for one to come along that checks all the boxes—otherwise, you’re constantly looking to upgrade.

That said, how scarce or rare is what you’ve come across? It may have some flaws, but will you ever see it again? I have been able to forgive myself for spending too much on something (it’s just money, and in theory, there should be more of that coming). But, I’ve almost always regretted the ones that got away. Sometimes, paying a little more for something that is unique is better in the long run. If the item was mass produced and plentiful, patience might not be a bad thing. You have to consider the rarity and context of the item in question. A book might’ve had a rare wraparound paper band that went over the dust jacket when it was first issued. Maybe the band was often discarded and something so ephemeral is rarely extant. A toy from the ’50s or ’60s in its original packaging might be extremely rare because it was not common practice to save that kind of thing back then—something like this warrants a premium price as compared to the mass produced counterparts that were opened up and used and abused as toys were meant.

Only you can decide what is right for you. Do you know if this rare shaped pipe from a low end line was ever produced with nice grain? Have you seen stunning examples? Maybe the only ones issued were boring like the one you’re considering buying. What you seek may not exist.

 

[pappymac]

White Whale?
Aye, matey, I've heard tell of these creatures but I think they be more story or myth than something real - like mermaids and Davy Jones. Something ye might catch a glimpse of out of the corner of eye while ye be on watch in the crow's nest as the ship rides the waves.

Seriously, IF I had a "white whale" it would be a pipe I could verify as being made in 1953. The closest I have found so far is a Kirsten "transistion era" pipe made before 1956.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

If prone to Ahab-ian tendencies, and grain is a consideration. You may want to ask yourself what are the realistic odds that your White Whale was ever actually produced with outstanding grain. If you're looking for a factory shape that was made for years in multiple finishes and grades, the chances are almost 100%. If you're looking for a specific year but shape is not as much of a concern, chances are almost 100%. But if you're looking for a specific shape, that was only made in a single line, in a run of limited numbers, for less than a year... Well, then your chances of finding one with awesome grain have dropped dramatically... There are a very finite number of those pipes available. On top of that, if said factory was known for grading pipes of spectacular grain as higher grade pipes like say, Supreme... Then your chances of finding the specific whale you seek are nearly nonexistent.

My advice is, if you're seeking the later and she blows. You may want to away your whale boats and take the proverbial Nantucket (eBay) Sleigh Ride, it might be a wild one.

 

[fireground_piper]

I have 1 that I keep an eye out for but it was to represent the reason why I want a pipe from that particular maker. I have been in the position to buy a few that were nice but they weren’t THE exact holistic representation that I would want to look at every day. I agree with @TheIronMonkey that it needs to be flawless to me and what I want. I don’t want to be looking for an upgrade because it was close but not perfect.

I did stumble across a birth year recently here. I was looking to for one for maybe 2 years before deciding I probably wouldn’t find one that meets my criteria and I lost interest. Then it showed up here…..Birth year, limited collection run, shape I liked and unsmoked. Bought it.

For price, if I can take the money and burn it in the back yard without losing sleep then I can afford the pipe. If not, then I can’t.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Birth year pipes are often grouped with that "white whale" aesthetic, especially for those who are picky about size/shape.

For me it's laughably impossible within the realm of Dunhill. 1983 (I think we can all agree) was NOT their pinnacle for production and quality. Further, it seems nearly every 1983 I DO see is way too big or just on the opposite end of the spectrum for me aesthetically.

 

[fireground_piper]

Birth year pipes are often grouped with that "white whale" aesthetic, especially for those who are picky about size/shape.

For me it's laughably impossible within the realm of Dunhill. 1983 (I think we can all agree) was NOT their pinnacle for production and quality. Further, it seems nearly every 1983 I DO see is way too big or just on the opposite end of the spectrum for me aesthetically.

That’s what I thought too and why I initially gave up my initial 1983 search.

 

[Egg Shen]

There was a Tsuge pipe I should’ve bought. Haven’t seen one quite like it since. I’m keeping a casual eye out for it. My purchase shall be swift should I see a similar one. I’m not going crazy looking for it or pining for it in the meantime.

 

[dcon]

In my much younger days I managed a tobacco shop (actually two). I sold many pipes that I could not afford while starting a family. I knew that someday I wanted to acquire a Dunhill billiard and a GBD Canadian. About 30 years down the road, with, the kids mostly grown and on the next (more agreeable wife) I set my sites on a birth year Dunhill. I found a nice Tanshell on the Danish Pipe Shop website. One “whale”, apparently, was not enough, since I have subsequently added a Bruyere and a Shell Briar ( all 1961s).

The one pipe that eluded me, until about 2 years ago, was a good vintage GBD Canadian. Alas, an eBay auction displayed an unsmoked GBD Collector Virgin 253 Canadian. I placed a strong but, not overly crazy initial bid because I hoped to scare off other buyers. I monitored the auction until the last to assure that no one would snipe my prize. My strategy worked and I captured my last great whale.

I decided to save the initial smoke until I retired. That was supposed to be last year but, I have delayed both retirement and that smoke for another couple of years.

The hunt was definitely worth it. It is nice having things to anticipate in your older years.

 

[AroEnglish]

I have a number of pipes I’m looking for, but I’m not sure I would consider them white whales. Collecting books (among other interests) for many years has taught me some things than can be applied to pipes:

No amount of staring at a flaw will improve the condition of the flaw; it’s better to pass on or return the flawed item in question and be patient and wait for one to come along that checks all the boxes—otherwise, you’re constantly looking to upgrade.

That said, how scarce or rare is what you’ve come across? It may have some flaws, but will you ever see it again? I have been able to forgive myself for spending too much on something (it’s just money, and in theory, there should be more of that coming). But, I’ve almost always regretted the ones that got away. Sometimes, paying a little more for something that is unique is better in the long run. If the item was mass produced and plentiful, patience might not be a bad thing. You have to consider the rarity and context of the item in question. A book might’ve had a rare wraparound paper band that went over the dust jacket when it was first issued. Maybe the band was often discarded and something so ephemeral is rarely extant. A toy from the ’50s or ’60s in its original packaging might be extremely rare because it was not common practice to save that kind of thing back then—something like this warrants a premium price as compared to the mass produced counterparts that were opened up and used and abused as toys were meant.

Only you can decide what is right for you. Do you know if this rare shaped pipe from a low end line was ever produced with nice grain? Have you seen stunning examples? Maybe the only ones issued were boring like the one you’re considering buying. What you seek may not exist.

Thanks for the thorough response! I am just looking at factory pipes so there are “always” more out there. I think what you said about flaws and grain are so true but it’s hard to remember when you get a first glimpse. I think I do have the opportunity for better versions and will wait it out but I feel like I don’t want to