Favorite place/site/person/eBay seller for meerschaum pipes?

[Kyle Weiss]

If you look back in this thread you will notice mine is a Altinok from turky, They are block meershaum and I enjoy mine, she smokes real nice. I got her used from ebay for a nice price. I want to think 30 some bucks. Some of the coloring was already there so ive just added. Mine smokes preety cool. Of course you can get any of them hot im sure you know.

I indeed did not look back through this thread and should have paid attention the first time. :lol:



Thanks! :lol:

 

[Tim_Haggerty]

My (very) limited experience with meerschaum is that it smokes well, colors nicely, and is fragile. I've got an IMP in the rack andit's a nice pipe but I guess I'm too clumsy to appreciate them fully; the ornate ones can be nice works of art, but I worry about protecting them too much. My own bias is for briars that keep their history through smoking, handling, and cake, but anyone who argues well in the other direction should be listened too as well!

 

[Kyle Weiss]

I am extremely careful with my pipes. My ultimate goal is to have a meer with a longer stem (perhaps a churchwarden) that I can comfortably enjoy on my porch day after day. Something I can easily hold by the stem, watch color over time, and keep as an "at home" luxury. 8)

 

[RDPipes]

For a new Meer I'd have to say S.Yanik on eBay would be the best, very skilled but, very expensive. Other then that an old estate would be my second choice because I'm not only cheap I'm poor ta boot.

 

[Boulder]

Kyle,

If you get a used one you realy like at a bargen price you can add a longer one piece stem. :rendeer:

Even broken long segment type stem pipes can be a real bargen, the stems are in sections

that screw to each other and the broken section can be left out as long as it's not the pipe shank

or stem thread thats broke. :cheers:

 

[Kyle Weiss]

The right pipe will find its way to me, pipegods willing. 8)

One thing I do know above all, when I get a meer finally, I'm going to have to get a pair of gloves good for handing the thing. When I smoke, I tend to be a "holder," as per the way I tend to smoke. Or, have a longer stem option, as I pointed out. I really would like to see what pure, unhandled smoking does for these pipes more than anything.

 

[Boulder]

Found this on the cheep with buy it now; :santa:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/330659654129?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Thanks! Not exactly my style, and well.. I've bought enough pipes this month... :lol: Looks like a winner for a nicely cared-for figural.

 

[Boulder]

Found this on the cheep with buy it now; :santa:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/330659654129?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I know Kyle,

I posted it here for others that may want one, after your PM. :rendeer:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/330659654129?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Nice. 8)

 

[plumbernater]

Take a look at this one. Nothing fancy but real nice, has class http://www.ebay.com/itm/MEERSCHAUM-CHURCHWARDEN-STYLE-PIPE-ESTATE-BILL-TAYLOR-UNSMOKED-/370570177129?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5647b42a69

 

[Kyle Weiss]

That's perfect, plumber! Nice!!!

 

[plumbernater]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FREE-HAND-Churchwarden-Block-Meerschaum-Pipe-fitted-CASE-3015-pipa-NEW-pfeife-/140654503349?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20bfa965b5 Heres a nother one

 

[plumbernater]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eagles-CLAW-Churchwarden-Hand-Carved-Block-Meerschaum-Pipe-comes-CASE-2951-NEW-/140657737332?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20bfdabe74 Or this one

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Thanks for everyone helping me get on the right track. Smokingpipes.com provided me with my first meerschaum, an IMP with a slightly longer stem and rusticated design:

Seems like a good start until I find one I like the looks of from Baki.

 

[RDPipes]

Real Nice on Kyle!

 

[Kyle Weiss]

I might need some help with suggestions on the whole "beeswax" issue, it's a very opinionated field, and I'd like some input from the folks here.

One thing I do know, this thing is going to color something pretty. 8) It's going to be a great adventure with this one.

 

[Lesepfeife]

It's been a while since this thread has been active but I have a recent experience to share and it fits perfectly in this discussion. A couple weeks ago I mentioned in the PAD thread about picking up a new meer churchwarden off Ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300754743150&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123
I discovered this thread after making the purchase. When it arrived I loaded it, which didn't take much since it is a very light pipe and has quite a small bowl. It smoked quite well at first but then developed a pronounced gurgle. When I tried to swab it with a pipe cleaner I discovered that the stem hole was so tight that friction built up and I couldn't get it all the way through. A day later I tried again with a different tobacco with the same results. Not to worry, I started plans to send it to Walker Briar works for Dave to work his magic.

I always leave feedback on my transactions and in doing so gave the transaction very high marks and mentioned the small hole in the comments. Soon thereafter I got an email from the seller. He recalled that this particular pipe was one of a run of custom ones he had made that for some reason had smaller holes. He offered a number of suggestions, all worthy of consideration, as to how he could make me 100% satisfied. I'll leave off the details but in the end we settled on him sending a slightly larger replacement at no additional cost to me. I'll let you know how that one is when it arrives but I did want to put in an enthusiastic plug for this seller, meerschaumpipes. He is obviously (justifiably) proud of his work and stands behind it 100%++. He has quite a nice variety of block meer styles available in a large range of prices and each comes with a fitted case.

 

[Dutch]

I have 9 meers, 8 of which are Sadik Yanik.

Honestly, when it comes to this carver, the quality is hit or miss. You can purchase one, and it will be flawless, but the next one may have some very obvious flaws in the carving process.

For example, I purchased a gorgeous double bowl meer from Yanik that I really love having in my collection, but one of the bowls is obviously larger than the other. This flaw was never mentioned in the ebay description, and in fact the pics were taken in such a way that you could never see both bowls side by side for comparison.

Another Yanik meer I have is an upside down rooster head, shaped in the traditional cutty shape. It is a figural pipe, and the problem is that the carving on each side doesn't match. It appears that during the carving process, he hit a flaw in the meer, but continued the carving, despite the flaw.

What should be noted, is that he has a no return policy. Also, if you win two pipes the same day, even if he ships them together, you get no discount on the shipping, which is $18 per pipe.

You may ask why have you continued to purchase them if you are unhappy with some of them. The answer is, I like the ones that are right, so I plan to hang on to the flawed ones and never smoke them, and sell them a few years down the road when I think I can get 100% return.

As far as his stems and fittings go, I have had zero issues with those.

I am having problems downloading pics to photobucket right now, but as soon as I am able, I will post a few pics to this thread.

Bottom line is, if you buy Yanik, you takes your chances, and if you aren't happy, it's yours to keep or sell.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Well, I've heard others, here and on the vast Internets, that have liked their Yanik pipes a lot. Is the seller Les referred to also Yanik? I couldn't tell, it's been a long while since I've perused ePrey for pipes.

Hey, if a seller is still willing to make things right even after you give a positive feedback but leave a small concern (that could have easily been ignored) then that says quite a bit right there.

8)