Savinelli Autograph question

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TJDiesel

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Hi all, first i want to say glad i finally signed up on here, it was about time (considering how long ive been visiting the site). Anyway, i recently bought a savinelli autograph estate pipe and since its my first from the savinelli line, i had a couple q's.
The pipe (which is in great condition, only some inner rim darkening)has the brandname and the word autograph stamped on the leftside of the shank, with the number 0 on the bottom. Is it on the higher or lower end of their grading scale? For the price i paid ($175) i really cant tell. Im curious to see if i paid too much...or too little.
 
Welcome aboard, Diesel. You'll be pleased to know that Autographs are just about the top of the Sav line. At $175, you practically stole that pipe.
 
Thanks! Its good to know that i didnt pay too much and got a deal instead. Its definetly one of my better pipes, if not the best (i have yet to try it). Probably wont be my last Autograph
 
Let us know how she smokes. Better yet, post some pictures so we can all drool over it. I've got 7 or 8 Savinellis, but never could afford an Autograph. I usually see them in the $300-$400 range.
 
Look on eBays completed listings for what Autographs are selling for. A 0 is a fairly high grade in that line but as with any estate pipe condition very important in determining value. Enjoy! :shock:
 
Not sure how to post pics but its still up in the savinelli estate section on the website i got it from. They have other Autographs on there, but their pricing seems to be all over the place in regards to grades. briarpatch.biz

 
Heres a direct link briarpatch.biz/estatesavinellipipe1289a.jpg
briarpatch.biz/estatesavinellipipe1289b.jpg
The lighting is very dull and does not do the pipe justice in my opinion
 
TJDiesel":eb61nnqx said:
Not sure how to post pics but its still up in the savinelli estate section on the website i got it from. They have other Autographs on there, but their pricing seems to be all over the place in regards to grades. briarpatch.biz
Went to that site and they had some VERY nice examples of High Grade Savanelli's and their prices did not look out of line for what their photos showed. Yours was # EST1289 ? If so that looks like a VERY NICE example of an Autograph to start with! I have one I bought back in the 80s and it is one of my best smoking pipes I own. Savanelli has and still makes some of the nicest smoking pipes today across just about ALL price points. Enjoy it :p
 
Sorry, Diesel. I should have known better before I asked, but you've gotta be around for a little while before you can post direct links. It separates the spammers from the guys who actually want to participate. That may go for pictures, too. I'm not sure.
 
TJDiesel":s37ueok5 said:
Not sure how to post pics but its still up in the savinelli estate section on the website i got it from. They have other Autographs on there, but their pricing seems to be all over the place in regards to grades. briarpatch.biz
Here you go:

estatesavinellipipe1289a.jpg


The grading on the Auto's is bit odd. They're all made from Plateau block and they are the size they are (most fairly big) so the difference between grades is grain. The finer and more dense the straight grain the higher the grade.
In descending order from highest the grading runs something like 000, 00, 0, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3.

Expensive beasts when new. They don't seem to hold their value very well on the used market.
Before 1982 they were straight classic tenon-mortise stemmed pipes. After that they went to the filter plumbing.
 
Thanks for all the replys! Its good to know that their value doesnt hold up very well on the estate market, makes them all the more affordable for us. Thanks for posting the pic Rusty, as George mentioned it wouldnt let me post a direct link. Now all i have to do is figure out which tobacco i want it dedicated to...
 
Not sure how useful this is, since is anecdotal. . .But I went through a Savinelli Autograph phase a couple of years ago, where I tracked just about every Sav Auto to come up on EBay.

Over the course of several months, I saw maybe three of grade "0", "00", or "000".
All were being sold by the "High Grade" guys, and went for a lot of money.

90%+ of Autographs were grade "4", which means a large portion of the bowl is either blasted or rusticated.
I think $175 for your grade "0" was a great value. . .it's a beautiful pipe. Congratz.
 
From what im hearing from everyone it seems like i got lucky, got a good pipe for a good deal, an uncommon grade and better yet its un-filtered. Not bad at all!
 
TJ,
That's a beautiful autograph for sure. You are starting out near the top of the line in collecting, and that should entice you to find a 00, then a 000 !!!!!!
Happy hunting. :D
 
I have a question myself:
Do all Sav Autographs come with vulcanite stems?
 
Harlock999":ejn9c577 said:
I have a question myself:
Do all Sav Autographs come with vulcanite stems?
That's a good question. I believe, though not positive, that all current Auto production is both acrylic stemmed and uses the 6mm filter plumbing. Has anyone seen any current or recent production with vulcanite stems?

Before 1982 (when 6mm filter plumbing proliferated through their premium lines) Auto stems were all vulcanite. I have one from 1974 and the stem is vulcanite. So stem material is one of the attributes that is often used to date Auto pipes. So for example when a seller says it's an Auto with a vulcanite stem they usually also connect the manufacturing date to the 70's.
 
Rusty":99q0uf79 said:
Harlock999":99q0uf79 said:
I have a question myself:
Do all Sav Autographs come with vulcanite stems?
That's a good question. I believe, though not positive, that all current Auto production is both acrylic stemmed and uses the 6mm filter plumbing. Has anyone seen any current or recent production with vulcanite stems?

Before 1982 (when 6mm filter plumbing proliferated through their premium lines) Auto stems were all vulcanite. I have one from 1974 and the stem is vulcanite. So stem material is one of the attributes that is often used to date Auto pipes. So for example when a seller says it's an Auto with a vulcanite stem they usually also connect the manufacturing date to the 70's.
Thank you sir, much appreciated!
 
I have some that I've bought in the last 7/8 years that are stemmed with acrylic. All of the older Auto's that I have are vulcanite. As much as I like the feel of vulcanite, the acrylic stems are much less work to keep in good condition.
 
Id have to agree, i much prefer acrylic over vulcanite due to it being easier to handle. As far as acrylic being more harsh of a material to clench while smoking i find it easier to just let the stem hang in the jaw (it helps if the pipe has an open draw) rather than aggressively chomping down on it.
 
I think it was a good purchase, the older Autographs in particular are very good pipes. If you want a cheap Auto, buy an older Estella, they are Auto rejects for appearance reasons. The two I have are rusticated, and excellent smokers.
 

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