When you buy one of Jess's pipes, the question whether it will be a good smoking pipe or not is moot.
His pipes are stellar smoking instruments. The attention to detail, "engineering", aesthetics are remarkable.
I have 4 of his pipes. All are great smokers, beautiful, and special in my collection.
They also hold their re-sale value extremely well....
Another reason why his pipes command top dollar is the fact he has not made any new pipes in quite a while now.