If I thought the world of simplistic rogue rum had been a challenge, the world of pipes and pipe smoking is exponentially more confusing. Both have their share of charlatans (thank you JaRiMi), but I must say that pipery (no relation to potpourri) is MUCH more populated with true artistry with nearly unending variations, degrees of comfort and the like. There is real artistry and the many countries who have produced pipes for hundreds of years each have a defintie style.
For example, one blog post I read discussed the Italian style as compared to the English style - think Rolls Royce vs Ferrari in the 60's.
So now the Compleat Idiot buys a pipe...
As always, I remain committed to value and the notion that quality doesn't always have to be expensive. That notion was soon to be dashed, but not at first as I was smart enough to buy a MM corncob (and not some horrid drugstore or mass produced crappola), and was accordingly rewarded by these wonderfully smoking but very simple pipes. It seems most pipe smokers have a few of these, and some ONLY buy these due to their very low price (mine were under $5).
But artistry? Not really. The MM's are sort of the classic VW Beatle of pipes. To do better I found, you can't spend a little more (which is actually a BIG step downward in performance), but apparently one has to be willing to spend perhaps ten times as much (say $50). Even then what I found were utilitarian and workmanlike factory briar pipes that may smoke well, but there are no Ferrari's here! Maybe a Ford Fiesta, lol. And although one can get away with smoking a corncob - the anti-snob pipe - not so with a common factory pipe.
I quickly learned that to gain any semblance of style a number closer to $200 or even $300 is in order, and these are still not artisan handmades which can run upwards of $1000. To me this is like a $300 bottle of rum - Sue Sea wouldn't kill me, but she'd certainly raise her eyebrow and purse her lip with a little wag of her head in that way that only disapproving wives can do.
Devastating. I couldn't risk that.
So what to do? What to do?
I learned that estate (used) pipes can save you some pesos. I discovered some good web resources that clean, polish and examine these pipes closely, then list them for sale with some good pics, and honest descriptions (eg. "minor teeth marks and scratches on the bowl"). The Pipes and Cigars (link below) does a great and honest job of this. In fact just browsing their estate selection is an education in "pipery" (patent pending). Some of these were never actually smoked, or smoked very little. But the really good ones are still well over $150 and even much more.
Although I found a lovely English rustic estate pipe there for $50, but it had no real heritage, and remained simply interesting - like an Acura Integra 2-door, with a wind deflector and a little pinstriping. And how I do love Ferrari's...
A solution by accident...
It turns out that Pipes and Cigars is quite the resource, with all manner of packages, samplers and what amounts to Close Out sales of fine discountinued models. The pipe I found and fell in love with was one of these - made by a highly respected Danish producer, Stanwell of Denmark. This is an old company that teams up with famous artisans to create what might otherwise be in the $500+ handmade artisan range, then reproduces this piece of art in a highly skilled factory environment.
Another famous name is Bjarne Nielsen, anolher respected Dane known for very expensive pipes, but who died some years back. In commemoration Stanwell negotiated with his wife to reproduce Bjarne's own personal favorite pipe, ie the favored pipe of a highly respected pipemaker, executed by yet another respected Danish pipemaker. Aren't you intrigued? I sure was. Here it is...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O453ryx8ou4
The video really shows this pipe beautifully and is a must see.
This Stanwell Bjarne B1 was originally sold for $200, and the remaining stock still sells for about $115 or so. But at P&C? Just $52! I was shocked, and quickly ordered this very limited closeout. As for color I chose the classic full brown smooth (bottom pic), which to me best emphasizes the grain, and allows light to reflect and highlight the subtle Danish influences and expressions of the old classic English billiard. Was this my Ferrari? Nope. But it was a Porche..
Now since P&C offers free shipping for $79 or more, I rounded out my order with some supplies, a good McClelland matured Virginia #27 (mild), and the new Missouri Meerschaum Patriot blend tobacco (which has some Latakia) and some classic Carter Hall (burley forward).
Now things should get interesting...
My thanks to da'Rum for his kind and knowledgable suggestions and for leading me into yet another addictive endeavor - and - to Dai, my companion in this exploration...
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Links to Stanwell, Bjarne and Danish pipery:
http://pipedia.org/wiki/Stanwell
http://pipedia.org/wiki/Bjarne
http://www.scandpipes.com/info.asp?text=3
http://pipesandcigars.com/
