Secret Classics and Quality Estate Bargains?

[Mister Moo]

What will be the next best thing?

Several years ago a Peter Brakner Axe (Antique finish) pipe was recommended to me by a trusted collector/reseller as a high quality bargain. I bought the pipe and appreciated the smoking qualities along with the unusual rustication. I've been smoking it regularly ever since. I started shopping Ebay and other estate sites for Brakners and, over the past couple of years, found another ten or so that were in good enough shape to be pleased with and, like the Axe Antique, each had a well cut vulcanite stem (mostly ignored and oxidized) that passed a pipe cleaner, a finish and style that appealed to me and, without exception, fine smoking qualities.

Well, the party is over. The pipes I was finding for $40-$80 on Ebay are now pulling $150-$200 (or more), in line with a European estate reseller who always seems to have a Brakner or two for sale. I've bought pipes from three US pipe makers and found two of them disappointing and not exactly bargain-priced. The one that was not a letdown (Mark Tinsky's American Smoking Pipes Club Stogie forum pipe) is a fantastic pipe but was not hardly a brakner-ebay-oxydized-$40 "find". What estate line or contemporary maker do you think is selling undervalued quality? After JM Boswell I run out of ideas.

[dmkerr]

Johs.

I've purchased three new Johs pipes from smokingpipes.com and the most expensive was $120 (on sale). The total of the 3 was about $265 new and the price is ridiculously low for the value. Nice Danish styling, beautiful grain, the flaws are few and tiny (sandpits) and they smoke very well. Add to that the generous size that I prefer and these are great values.

[uvacom]

Dr. Grabow "Emperor", "Viscount", and "Eldorado" all used the best briar that was available to the company.

Sasieni "family" pipes are not exactly an unknown find, but even fairly pristine pre-WWII examples go for under $200 which is kind of amazing.

[Dylan Cerling]

I don't know if this counts, but Arley Curtz makes very high quality pipes and sells them (new) for $100*. However, he's a local carver and as far as I know his pipes are only sold in one store (Jeanie's Smokeshop in SLC - a great place if you're ever in town). I bought one, and it's gorgeous and a great smoker.

Basically, it might be worthwhile asking at your local B&M for local carvers - they usually don't have brand recognition, so they sell high quality pipes for mid quality prices, and mid quality pipes for low quality prices. Plus you can look at the pipes and handle them, and you don't have to worry about buying something off the internet. The only downside is if you're interested in resale value. Personally, that's not something I care about at all - I'm looking to smoke the pipes, not sell them!



*talked to another (non-associated) guy who said that equivalent brand-name pipes would go for $400-500. I've never smoked such a pipe, so I wouldn't know.