Who's the best?

[Ocelot55]

As an amateur pipe maker I'm always interested in acquiring higher grade pipes to use as an example in my own work. As you can imagine that can get expensive fast. I don't have many "high grades." In fact most are mid to mid-high range factory pipes. Right now the "highest high grade" I have is a Scott Klein. I've been thinking of starting to save for an "Ultra-High Grade," you know the type: the collector's wet dream kind of pipe. Of course a high grade like that costs some serious scratch. I want to buy pipe that is closest to perfect that I can. Question is, which maker? Chonowitsch, Former, Eltang, S.Bang, Rasmussen, Balleby, Heding, Knudson, Tonni Nielson...

Who do you think makes close to the perfect pipe and why? It doesn't have to be any of the above listed, or even be considered a "high grade." My Scott Klein retailed for $400 and it is very nice, but my next nicest pipe is a Kurt Huhn that cost me only $150. A lot of guys go bonkers over Rad Davis pipes.

I just want your honest opinion backed up by some reasons. No right or wrong answers.

 

[the rev]

I would rather figure a way to go work with one of these guys. If I could spend the money I would spend on an eltang but instead spend a week with Rad Davis, or Todd Johnson, or Jeff Gracik or dream of dreams Tom Eltang... that is what I would rather do than own a pipe

that said, when it comes to the best in craftsmanship and style, I would say Eltang is the best in my mind. The shaping is almost impossibly perfect, and the finish is otherworldly. His are not my favorite pipes, but he has made very very few pipes that I did not like and none I didn't respect.

rev

 

[monbla256]

For me, my "ultimate High Grade" would have to be a Charatan Summa Cum Lauda or Crown Achievement. They were only made for around a decade and from what I've read, they only made about 10 of each grade in a year, sometimes less due to shortage of "perfect" blocks suitable for them. If you ever see one in person you will be in the pressence of the ultimate in the pipe makers art. Thay sold in the $1,000.00 to $2,500.00 range back in the early '70s and I saw one recently , Summa Cum Lauda, go for $4,500.00 in unsmoked condition. But since I will never be able to afford one, much less find one, I'll just smoke my Charatan Specials instead This is all my HO :twisted:

 

[Ocelot55]

rev, that is a pretty good idea. It also seems to me that the best up and coming stars have, if not studied under, have hung out with those carvers enough to pick up some tricks. I envy a lot of amateurs that have pros living nearby. Growley lives close to Rad Davis. I know that has been a great help to him. Ultimately that might wind up costing more money than buying a high grade pipe, but is probably more useful.

monbla, how did I know you were going to mention Charatan. Accessibility is of course a factor. A pipe that rare probably doesn't need to be in my hands anyhow.

 

[dshpipes]

IMO... if you want to save for an ultra high-grade to study, I think you should pick a maker that you admire whose work epitomizes the type of work you aspire to make and either contact them to see if you can somehow spend some time in their shop or buy a pipe that they've made. I think just buying any ultra high grade would be a disservice to you if you aren't interested in creating their style of pipe. That is, if you are buying a pipe to study.

For you, I'd say shoot for Jess Chonowitsch. Reason: he makes as near to perfect Danish influenced classic shapes as are possible.

 

[Puff Daddy]

I agree with what David just said.

I have been fortunate enough to eyeball quite a few fine Danish pipes over the years. The best I've ever seen as far as fit and finish go are also the same pipes reccomended by a few high grade collectors I personally know who have smoked a lot of them. The short list is Former, S Bang, Kent Rasmussen, kurt Balleby. You could go for the carvers either dead or no longer carving, like Lars, Jess or Bo, but you'll need a mortgage. There is a tier of amazing carvers whose skill and popularity is barely (barely!) a cut below Former, Bang and Kent, might be a bit more economical but you'll likely get no less of a pipe. Look at Wofgang Becker, Cornelius Maenz, Tonni Nielsen. Of course, there are American carvers who are amazing as well. Rad Davis, Larry Rousch, Adam Davidson.

 

[Ocelot55]

Great advice, guys. My ultimate goal is to create excellent quality classics. I thought Dunhill and Ashton would be a good start. Frankly, now that I have multiple examples of both brands, I'm less than impressed.

Who who makes top notch classics? David says Chonowitsch. Any others?

 

[Harlock999]

I'm a bulldog guy, so S.Bang, Ilsted and Balleby for the Danes.
GBD for the English. With the Italians, it's a toss up. Any of the well known brands can produce both fantastic, and fantastically not so fantastic examples.
Rad represents the USA with class. Brad Pohlmann too.
For art pipes, Florov.
Overall best? Maybe Former, maybe the Bang boys. They never seem to go wrong.

 

[PreppyHippy]

From a long list of the greatest of the greats I want to be simple: Eltang.

 

[Ocelot55]

Eltang seems to be a name that comes up frequently. I used to own an Eltang. I traded it for an old patent Dunnie. To tell the truth I really wasn't that impressed with the Eltang I had. Good pipe? Yes, definately so, but what surprised me about it was how normal it was. Granted it was a lower grade Eltang, but I think all the hype had me expecting a truly awe inspiring piece of briar, and that it was not.

This pipe by Balleby, on the other hand makes me gasp aloud just about every time I see it:


http://www.alpascia.com/detail.asp?detail=22676

 

[Harlock999]

Eltang seems to be a name that comes up frequently. I used to own an Eltang. I traded it for an old patent Dunnie. To tell the truth I really wasn't that impressed with the Eltang I had. Good pipe? Yes, definately so, but what surprised me about it was how normal it was. Granted it was a lower grade Eltang, but I think all the hype had me expecting a truly awe inspiring piece of briar, and that it was not.

This pipe by Balleby, on the other hand makes me gasp aloud just about every time I see it:


http://www.alpascia.com/detail.asp?detail=22676

Yup.
Balleby is absolutely owning that shape.
I like the golden contrast stain that Eltang is famous for, but those "Tubos" pipes of his, and his spiral rustication, are a little bit of a turn off. I wouldn't kick one out of bed though...

 

[kaiser83]

Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob Pipes

Reasons:
1.) Popeye the Sailor Man
2.) Douglas MacArthur
3.) Frosty the Snow Man
4.) Fiorello La Guardia
5.) J. Edgar Hoover
6.) Bing Crosby
7.) Norman Rockwell

I believe I have made my point, and good day Sir.

 

[Dutch]

Michail Revyagin.....

 

[the rev]

yeah, Misha would be one of the guys I would look to.

rev

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I thought Bing smoked a Sav not a cob?

 

[kaiser83]

I found a nice long article stating him as also smoking a cob.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Funny because I read an article that said popeye switched to a Bo Nordh pipe once he became famous and had lots of cake to spend on briars and brothels.

 

[user 2031]

I found a nice long article stating him as also smoking a cob.

Link or it doesn't exist. :lol:

 

[kaiser83]

I found a nice long article stating him as also smoking a cob.

Link or it doesn't exist. :lol:

Gimme a few, I am trying to put together a power point presentation for my criminal justice class. I'll post it though when I find it again. It was actually a scan of a newspaper article.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I would post a link to the popeye article except ... er ... it's not quite finished yet