Decent Meershaums?

[DireWolf]

Decent workhorse meershaum, carved with a case.

I don't want an art piece, but a decently made brand that I can pull out and turn a decently carved buccaneer or Bacchus or carved skull brown.

I don't know CAO from SMS from another. Wife bought me a billiard for cheap as a gift, and it's pretty well junk, but smokes nice and dry.

Irreverent, decent quality, won't break the bank.

Any suggestions?

 

[scotties22]

I have an SMS Straight billiard (African Meer) that smokes really well. I want to say it cost about $80 at my local B&M. I don't know much about any other brand as the one SMS is all I have, Meer wise. There was an entire table of figural Meers at the KC show last year, but I don't remember what the brand was. To anyone that was at the show it was right across the isle from my table.....do you remember?

 

[Briar Spirit]

Not much difference in prices between Altinok & SMS, word on the wire is that Altinok is the preferred maker when it comes to Meer' pipes but SMS get some fair reviews too.

Personally if it were me buying I'd go with Altinok but that's just a personal preference to my own point of view in carving quality but as I don't own one from either source take that opinion for what it's worth. :face:

http://altinokmeerschaumpipes.com/pipes.asp
http://www.smspipes.com/index.cfm

 

[DireWolf]

http://altinokmeerschaumpipes.com/pipes.asp

Now I know where to get a morta/meerschaum calabash is I can ever afford one.

:lol:

I had seen that name before under "Turkish Estates" on smoking pipes, and so forth.

Great info, thanks.

Things like this are awesome: http://altinokmeerschaumpipes.com/detail.asp?product_id=ME133

 

[Richard Burley]

Having just spent three bills on a Baki meerschaum, I am not one to speak, but someone on this forum, I forget who, recommends this guy. Looks good to me as a value, but can't speak from my own experience.

http://www.meerschaumpipemaster.net/

 

[juanmedusa]

My only meerschaum, which I received for Xmas, was from the Meerschaum Store. A nice site to look around.

 

[DireWolf]

My only meerschaum, which I received for Xmas, was from the Meerschaum Store. A nice site to look around.

That's one I had found, but know little about it.

Nicely made?

Lots to look at, but most are "sold", which drives me crazy when there are hundreds to choose from.

 

[dkj42]

I have 4 meershaums. 1 from Servi an apple - only complaint was drilling in bit so tight could not get a cleaner thru it after I got it open smokes great. 2 from Altinok both great no coplaints a billard and a poker. 1 carved from And Meershaums ok no real complaint but bowl dia less than I like. :cyclops:

 

[juanmedusa]

My only meerschaum, which I received for Xmas, was from the Meerschaum Store. A nice site to look around.

That's one I had found, but know little about it.

Nicely made?

Lots to look at, but most are "sold", which drives me crazy when there are hundreds to choose from.

I know what you mean. Here's one of those sold pipes, mine!

http://www.meerschaumstore.com/proddetail.asp?prod=FL178

I picked it. And yes it is categorized as a lady's meerschaum as well as a floral but I was not swayed away by that. It appears well made. The case is excellent also. But my first meerschaum so maybe I don't know the obvious places to look for issues.

 

[monbla256]

Altinok or SMS. You can't go wrong with either !! :twisted:

 

[Dutch]

Wolf, I have bought several from Sadik Yanik on ebay, but he is in Turkey and has no return policy. The last one I purchased came in broken, and I had to eat it.

If I decide to purchase any more meers, they will be from Baki. Some of his lower priced meers without the silver fitments and elaborate carvings are reasonably priced.

http://bestmeerschaums.homestead.com/bakipipes.html

 

[DireWolf]

:fap:

 

[Brewdude]

My one and only meer is a Royal Meerschaum. Bent Apple style, golf ball carving. Smokes great and just starting to color but I don't smoke it much for some strange reason!?

In any case it's a fine pipe, and while it was gifted to me I can see it is not expensive either. Here's a page from their website-

http://www.royalmeerschaumpipes.com/Deluxe-Meerschaum-Pipes-s/1.htm

Cheers,

RR

 

[Feazelle-n-it]

I've got three meers from www.meerschaumpipemaster.com Bahri does excellent work. As Richard Burley said, I highly recommend him. He sells on eBay too. Check him out. He's the only one I'll buy from. Two of my three are customs. He carved my raven pipe and it's one of my favorites.

 

[Dutch]

:fap:

Wolf, I know you said you didn't want to go overboard, but it doesn't cost anything to look most of the time. I thought you might have missed this vid on Baki's page. If you want to go straight to Astroman's box opening portion of the vid, it starts around the 7 minute mark. I have wanted one of these babies for a long time, but not sure I could bring myself to set fire to it.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_bqWLCPQjA

 

[Feazelle-n-it]

Let me just add that the custom Navy pipe my wife had made for me from Bahri was only $120 and it's got a gigantic bowl. I've never seen anyone beat Bahri's prices.

 

[DireWolf]

Let me just add that the custom Navy pipe my wife had made for me from Bahri was only $120 and it's got a gigantic bowl. I've never seen anyone beat Bahri's prices.

He has some really nice carves.  There's a Dunhill figure ($699) that's absolutely amazing.

And that Baki Calabash pipe is beautiful.

Both are out of my range, but still.

Good suggestions!

 

[Idlefellow]

I don't know squat about meerschaums;  I found a nice vintage bent once but I ended up selling it on ebay.  I have a cheapo billiard that a friend brought me back on his trip to Turkey, and this one that another friend brought me back from a trip over there somewhere.  Truth to tell it smokes wonderfully, but I haven't given it the attention it deserves...

 

[Feazelle-n-it]

Yeah my meers take a back seat during the winter since I'm an outdoor smoker. I don't want to run the risk of cracking one (done that before). But as soon as the weather warms I'll be lighting them up again. That is a good looking dog Idle. It should color nicely.

 

[DireWolf]

Yup.

Nice classic shape.