Without Warning, an Assessment

[Richard Burley]

I was looking around at my pipe collection this morning and suddenly realized that I hate stem/shank enhancements of any kind. And weird shapes. Even Italian "classic" shapes look wrong. Have been in denial about this for years. Think I'd be better off sticking to Dunhills and other old Brits from now on.

 

[Sasquatch]

Basically that's where I live too. Plain and perfect. Most of the pipes I smoke are dressed down boring shapes and finishes, and most of what I make is the same. Give me wood and ebonite.

The Italians I appreciate are Castellos more than any other brand, and even then, only 1/10 or so is a "hit" for me, I see a lot of bad/lazy shaping.

 

[Richard Burley]

Agreed, and those Castellos tick me off too. Close, sometimes, but no cigar. I'll keep you in mind. And let's not forget patina! Maybe I've watched too many '30s and '40s movies; nevertheless, there my pipesmokerly aesthetic sense lies.

 

[Ocelot55]

For the most part I'm with you, but I am a sucker for silver!

 

[Sasquatch]

Psssst... hey buddy.... wanna buy a pipe?

I jest - actually I took this pic in the shop the day the pipe was done, took it to a pipe-club type thing that night, and it never came home with me. Fancy pipes sell, there's buyers for all kinds of stuff, but classics, done right, done tight... they ALL sell.

 

[Ocelot55]

 Fancy pipes sell, there's buyers for all kinds of stuff, but classics, done right, done tight... they ALL sell.  

Truer words never spoken. Reversed-calabash-alier-snails-climbing-mount-Fuji-volcano-blowfish are certainly cool, but there are only a handful of guys willing to shell out that kind of dough for the art that it is. Thousands more just really want a decent pipe to burn tobacco in.

 

[monbla256]

Having focused on three shapes ( Bulldog, Pot, and Apple) for the past 50 years I've not gone in for Freehands ( except for Charatans definition of a Freehand which has usually been a variation on a standard shape) so I don't own one. I haven't found ANY Artison pipes made by ANYONE that appeal to me! JMHO :twisted:

 

[ftrplt]

I fully confess to being a "traditional" British-shape type of pipe smoker. I have a paltry two or three "Danish-style" pipes, but nothing acquired in over 20 years. I'm a good ol' Pot, Billiard, Apple, Bulldog, Brandy, etc.; both straight and bent, kind of guy! That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!! :cheers: FTRPLT

 

[BriarBeagle]

I like them all, and offer no apologies for it. Different strokes for different folks.

Sent from Topic'it App

 

[Zeno Marx]

I'm an Italian pipe person. Pretty much have been from the beginning, though my first four pipes were all traditional British pipes. I do like swirly, marbled lucite, but that is the extent of it. I don't like bands, metal, horn, inlays, and all that nonsense. I have owned a few of these eyesores, but my attention instantly slam into all that crap and make me think, "Next!"

 

[Richard Burley]

...I haven't found ANY Artison pipes made by ANYONE that appeal to me! JMHO :twisted:

Well, I suppose so if you don't look. The two artisans above, Jesse and Todd, among others here and there, are masters of their craft and quite capable of producing classics that are exquisite in their shapes. And they generally sell for less than, say, a Dunhill. My observation was merely a statement of personal preferences, not a condemnation of alternate aesthetics. I even like seeing divergent shapes and such, as long as they're in others' hands and not residing on my racks screwing everything up. Call me OCD, or anything else that fits.  :lol:

 

[monbla256]

...I haven't found ANY Artison pipes made by ANYONE that appeal to me! JMHO :twisted:

Well, I suppose so if you don't look. The two artisans above, Jesse and Todd, among others here and there, are masters of their craft and quite capable of producing classics that are exquisite in their shapes. And they generally sell for less than, say, a Dunhill. My observation was merely a statement of personal preferences, not a condemnation of alternate aesthetics. I even like seeing divergent shapes and such, as long as they're in others' hands and not residing on my racks screwing everything up. Call me OCD, or anything else that fits.  :lol:

As wood sculptures they are beautiful, but for me, their NOT pipes :twisted: :twisted:

 

[Sasquatch]

WHAT isn't a pipe? I think you are confused between freehand and handmade.

Here's a handmade pipe that isn't a freehand. It's more or less a copy of a GBD pot, only the grain is crazy nice. What's not "pipe" about this?

 

[monbla256]

WHAT isn't a pipe?  I think you are confused between freehand and handmade.  

Here's a handmade pipe that isn't a freehand.  It's more or less a copy of a GBD pot, only the grain is crazy nice.  What's not "pipe" about this?  

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THAT's not what I would call an ARTISON pipe. Guibleo d' Oro's are handmade pipes not ARTISON.as most that call themselves  that.  No confussion here . :twisted: :twisted:

 

[huffelpuff]

First of all Sasquatch that is an absolutely stunning rendition of a GBD pot, wow just wow! Second I won't involve myself in the artisan vs handmade debate. You can call your self and your products anything you like. As to the OP I completely agree 90% of my pipes are strictly classic British shapes with zero adornments. The other 10% are a mix of handmade/ artisan pipes and clay or meerschaum pipes. I don't have anything against off shapes or adornments but I never seem to buy them. To each their own.

Jim

 

[hobie1dog]

Over analysis leads to paralysis

 

[MisterE]

Over analysis leads to paralysis

:cheers: Herseth and Jacobs.... 8)

 

[fishnbanjo]

I like everything I own but if I had to live with just 3 makers, Becker, Radice and Ascorti would be my choices.
banjo

 

[Sasquatch]

That astonishes me. I've had two Ascortis and hated them both as smokers. Utterly lifeless pipes.

 

[Idlefellow]

Many years ago I was enamored with unusual shapes, "freehands" and the like.  In fact, the more unusual, the better I liked it.   With age that pretty much went away, and so did the pipes.  I still have one or two that were special gifts that just can't be disposed of, but must admit they seldom come out of the rack.  And I still have a few pipes that drift a bit - but not TOO far - from the traditional in terms of shank or bowl shape, etc.  Beyond that, anything other than traditional shapes leave me completely cold.  But I do like oval, square or diamond shanks, and as for stem/shank enhancements, well, a nice Peterson with a sterling band is one of God's gifts to pipe smokers .