Mastro de Pajas

[Slow Puffs]

Does anyone have a Mastro de Pajas pipe? Care to share about it?

I'm doing some research on the Lorenzetti pipes. I came across a post in the Knox BB that suggested the Lorenzetti brothers made pipes for a while for Mastro de Pajas. Apparently they are quite comparable to the Lorenzetti pipe.

 

[Doc Manhattan]

I have a Mastro straight billiard in their "Striata" finish (it's like fine-wale corduroy around the bowl.) Not one of their high-grades, but a real solid smoker. Nice, thick walls and a good capacty bowl. This was my first name-brand Italian pipe and it's still a favorite.

 

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have a Mastro de Pajas pipe? Care to share about it?

I'm doing some research on the Lorenzetti pipes. I came across a post in the Knox BB that suggested the Lorenzetti brothers made pipes for a while for Mastro de Pajas. Apparently they are quite comparable to the Lorenzetti pipe.

I have 3, 2 of them identical. They are solid pipes. Drilled well, open draw. I smoked them alot when I first got them, but as my inventory (the collector versus smoker thread has me questioning whether I have a collection) grew, I find them neglected. In fact, I can't remember in which case I have my Mastro bulldog.

BTW, I do have a liking to Italian pipes...

 

[docwatson]

Hello SP,
I will be glad to say that Mastro's have been a favorite of mine for many years. I am fortunate to have about a dozen and in my opinion they are probably some of the finest Italian briars that I smoke. They are certainly a bargain on the estate market from what I can see. I was lucky to have known the importer of this brand in the late 80's early 90's who was a wonderful gentleman now departed. Tom Cristiano did wonders for this brand during that time. After Tom left Mastro de Paja as importer it was discovered by some collectors that Mastro was filling some of their smooth high grades which turned out to be quite true much to my disappointment and this hurt the collectibility of this brand significantly. I have in my possession a couple unsmoked specimens of high grade that have visible fills. This did not, however change my feelings for this brand since I simply enjoy the smoking qualities of Mastro's. They are superb IMHO. I would recommend them highly provided you are not looking for a return on investment and enjoy a fine smoking Italian maker.
Regards,
Doc ipe: ipe:

 

[Justpipes]

JR's in their stores near me are stocking a huge inventory of Mastro's pipes that are very nice looking pipes in the $90 range. They are in a variety of traditional shapes with a brown to black rusticated finish.

 

[Mikem]

I have one (a bulldog) that is well made (although large IMHO for a bulldog) that I purchased at least six months ago. It is one of four pipes that I usually rotate taking to work for a lunch break smoke. It is a good smoker, well constructed, very nice finish and grain and easily passes the pipe cleaner test. I think that they are a very good bargain. The local cigar shop that just opened up several blocks from where I live has a nice selection of them and I am seriously considering purchasing another. I am very partial to Italian pipe makers. I would say they are just as good as a Stanwell, Peterson, Jirsa or Savinelli for cost and quality.

 

[Sasquatch]

SP, I rate Mastro de Paja as a very good value. Their fit and finish is excellent, and the briar is very good. Typical mid-grade Italian - they compare well with Il Ceppo, for example.

I have a 1bs grade full bent apple, and it is a wonderful pipe - very comfortable, very good smoker, and very good looking.

As a newbie pipe maker, I look at Mastro de Paja as a standard for workmanship and for value. And honestly, I can't compare with either.

Get one if you find one you like.

 

[Sasquatch]

Here's mine - pathetic, ugly little thing:

FWIW, I would have thought that Lorenzetti's current run-of-the-mill pipe was nowhere near as good as a MdP. I have seen quite a few of them in local shops, and none have been even close in terms of briar or fit and finish. Of course, maybe they have higher grades too that I have not seen.

 

[Winslow]

That's a great looking pipe,I like everything about it.Nice silverwork and apple
shape and bent so nice,perfect for reading. 8)

Winslow :sunny:

 

[Slow Puffs]

Thanks guys... I am trying to see if there is a connection in craftsmanship between the Mastro de Pajas and the Lorenzetti... I sent a PM to Mark where a retailer is talking about the Lorenzetti pipes about 6 years ago... he indicated it was a "bust' but in his opinion the Lorenzetti was on par with Mastro de Pajas.

Sasquatch, do you has a Lorenzetti as well? Brigham has the Canadian distribution rights and they are a rare sighting in the USA.

I came across a beautiful photo of a Lorenzetti that was the "contest pipe" in the World smoking contest a year ago or so in Russia. I'll see if I can find it and post it here.

 

[Sasquatch]

Winslow - I bought that pipe with money I didn't even have. Wife was not pleased, but I couldn't pass it up.

Puffs, I have seen Lorenzettis up close and personal in a number of retail shops, mostly in malls. This is the kind of store that has a couple of dusty old Petersons listed for double what they are worth, and some dried up bags of Navy Mixture from 1970 and some tins of Erinmore. The Lorenzettis were listed around 75-100 bucks CDN which really ain't much.

Here is my theory. Brigham outsourced all but it's top end pipes to Italy. You see the low end Brighams with plastic, er, no, uh, space-age material instead of aluminum tenons, and fit and finish isn't what it should be imho. I assume that Lorenzetti is making these pipes, and the distribution of Lorenzetti pipes was Brighams' go in the other direction on the deal. Pure speculation.

Either way, when I see "Italian" pipes with bowl coating slopped on the rim and plugging up the airway, I get UNexcited real fast. Obviously a machined pipe, and quality standards didn't look great. I will gladly go have a serious inspection if it would be helpful to you. Field Research Vehicle standing by.

Strangely, looking at the Lorenzetti website, they look like a higher grade pipe, so I really just don't know what to think. What I do know is that Stanwell, Peterson, Bjarne (or now Johs), Savinelli, Nording, etc etc offer me excellent pipes at 100 bucks so I'm not really too excited to move in other directions.

 

[Sasquatch]

I reckon I have seen this series:
http://www.lorenzettipipe.com/eng_pipe_tipo_4.htm


But the fancier pipes on the site sure look nice.

Now here's a weird little bit of info:

I have a "tester" pipe, given to Bill F of Kaywoodie to see if he wanted to have the shape produced:

Also known as Lorenzetti shape 61!

Small world.

 

[Justpipes]

I reckon I have seen this series:
http://www.lorenzettipipe.com/eng_pipe_tipo_4.htm


But the fancier pipes on the site sure look nice.

Now here's a weird little bit of info:

I have a "tester" pipe, given to Bill F of Kaywoodie to see if he wanted to have the shape produced:

Also known as Lorenzetti shape 61!

Small world.

That Kaywoodie GF POY is an awesome smoker!

 

[Slow Puffs]

This is one of my "free-hand" Lorenzetti. I have 3. I read of the website last night that they boil the burle roots and dry and age them. I'm not familiar enough to know if this is common practice.

But they are great smokers IMHO

I also brought 2 of the Augustus Caesar billiards style and they smoke great as well. I find that the briar is so light. I suspect some style connection with the Mastro de Pajas with the thick walls and spacious bowl as mentioned earlier by someone in the thread.

I find I am reaching for them more and more.... even the cheap ones...

 

[Natch]

I have a nice quarter bent paneled pot that is my #1 flake pipe. I got it on eBay several years back from some guy in Israel for what I thought was a good deal. Probably one of my favorite two or three pipes I own, though not that expensive. It's got a 23mm x 35mm so it's rather wide and shallow and just seems to let those chunks of flake smolder nicely.

Natch

 

[Sasquatch]

That Kaywoodie GF POY is an awesome smoker!

Uh, yeah, I kinda noticed that too! That's why I bought the Thorn, actually.


SP, that big freehand looksa verr nice! FYI, all briar is boiled for about a day in some or other solution (mostly water I believe) to remove bad tasting resins. Then it dries and cures for a few years. Most briar a guy can buy has been boiled, but I'm sure that certain pipe makers like to do the whole thing from start to finish.

****, now I gotta go buy a pipe.