Buying an Estate Pipe - Part 3: The Market

Here are a few resources, some direct buying advice and price suggestions.

Advice and Resources:
First, you might want to familiarize yourself with some pipe shapes:
• I like this page: Pipedia's Pipe Shape Page.
• You will also want to use the Pipedia - Pipe Brands and Makers (mentioned later).

You might have to hunt a little longer to find your style within your budget, but that's what finding a deal is all about.


Next, you should look at the market.  I suggest eBay for its number of estate pipes and its search filters. Please refer to the reasons to pass up a pipe listed in my last post!

• Search eBay in the Collectibles or Tobacciana section first.  Many deals are to be found on mis-categorized auctions, though - look for them later.

• Don't use the price filter at first - get a familiar with top-end brand names, styles, and simply what a good expensive pipe looks like.  Later you might set a $30 or $50 limit though.

• Search for pipes by the same maker to compare price against.
• Any pipe that has cracks in the wood or stem, do not buy.
• Look at the bit for tooth marks/holes too!
• Sometimes a "no-name" pipe looks good and is at a great price.  Take a gamble, maybe it will smoke great!

Use the Pipedia - Pipe Brands and Makers page to find out more about pipes that interest you.  Some pipe makers are notable, some are mediocre, and some are "no-names" or unmarked.  With experience you will come to know the market.

Pricing:
As a very loose idea of what I will spend on estate pipes (including shipping!):
• No-Name Estate Pipes < $15 each
• Mid-level Makers < $25 each (GBD, Kaywoodie, Mastercraft etc)
• Notable Makers < $50 each  (Savinelli, Peterson, Ben Wade, etc)

The further the price is under the numbers I listed, the better deal you are getting...hopefully.  (FYI, these numbers are VERY subjective to the specific brand and quality of the pipe.  Furthermore, churchwardens are always more expensive)

When bidding on a Pipe Lot (multiple pipes in one auction), follow the same guidelines but scaled up for the number of pipes in the lot.

Final wisdom: 
Until it's in your hands, you have cleaned it, and are successfully smoking out of it, nothing is certain.

Good Luck!

~TMP