QuoteCfickter - 2/8/2014 9:08 AM
Interesting thread. I'm not a pipe smoker but is that typical prices for high end pipes?
Chuck, pipes vary in price, from under $10 for a Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob pipe to, say, new Dunhill pipes that run $500 to $1,000 and rare, mint estate pipes, such as a Bo Nordh that commands high 5 figures to mid-6 figures from collectors.
In the $50 to $100 range, one can find new/unsmoked low to mid range machine made pipes by reputable makers such as Savinelli, Brebbia, Stanwell, Brigham and others -- as well as some restored estate pipes (I personally avoid eBay) from a host of great vendors such as
SmokingPipes.com,
smokershaven.com,
JamesIslandPiper.com,
MKELAW-Pipes.com and others -- one just has to do some research. It's the norm, rather than the exception, to save 40%+ over MSRP opting for a nicely restore estate pipe. This means that, for example, a restored estate pipe, can be listed for $50, where the the same pipe, brand new, would flirt with a price at or close to $100.
How much is too much? Well, that's a personal choice,but I'm a firm believer in getting the best pipe one can afford. A little gun shy? Then sure, start with a full-size MM Cob (I'davoid the smaller "pony" or "mini" -- if you like smoking a pipe, then move up price-wise for the next one.
I have friends who *love* their MM cobs and smoke them a lot (I have some MM Cobs myself and enjoy smoking one on occasion. If one is going with a Corn Cob, though, I strongly suggest to go for a Missouri Meerschaum and no other brand as there are some really crappy Chinese knock-offs out there and they all suck. Dave Wolff at
WalkerBriarWorks.Com sells "Forever Stems" for MM Cobs,he can fit it to a brnad-new cob and you can pick your length from short stem to churchwarden length, as well a choice of vulcanite or acrylic/Lucite stem material available in a variety of colors.
When one gets to the $200+ range, that opens up hand crafted, superbly engineered artisan pipes, as well as fine makers such as Ashton, for example.