Would you pay retail for a pipe not exact to what you want?

[tarheel7734]

I am working on a 7 day set of group 5 bent english bulldogs. Problem being is there are not that many English makers that will do custom work today. I have been in contact with upshall trying to see if they can do a group 5 with a tapered stem and they have a Tilshead and a a grade with a saddle stem but cant get a tapered stem. I really dont like saddle stems on Bent bulldogs. Would you pay the price for a new pipe and try to have it restemed without the markings?
Tilshead




Upshall a grade

 

[monbla256]

First off in answer to your question, NO !! As far as your group 5 bent bulldog 7 day set goes, if it's to be a smoking set I'd have a replacement stem that you want made to use, keeping te OEM bit for value collector wise. If he set is to be "collected" then stay with the OEM stem. Either way, I would not pay for what was not what I wanted. :twisted: :twisted:

 

[ftrplt]

Pretty simple. Me customer, my money. You want my money, you make/have what I want. No want to make, me go elsewhere!! JMHO!! :cheers: FTRPLT

 

[Dutch]

I have to concur with the above opinions. There are just too many talented carvers in all price ranges, to spend your money on something you don't really want, and then immediately need to send it off to someone else to try to turn it into what you wanted in the first place.

 

[tarheel7734]

I have to concur with the above opinions. There are just too many talented carvers in all price ranges, to spend your money on something you don't really want, and then immediately need to send it off to someone else to try to turn it into what you wanted in the first place.

For the most part I have to agree. Only thing is this set I am trying to put together are British made large bent bulldogs. I was trying to get a variety of makers but looks like it will only be Northern Briars, Ferndown, Askwith, and Ashton. I guess I can live with that.

 

[Dutch]

tarheel, have you checked with those 4 pipemakers to see if they could recommend 3 other Brits to help round out your seven day set?

 

[tarheel7734]

tarheel, have you checked with those 4 pipemakers to see if they could recommend 3 other Brits to help round out your seven day set?

No I have not. I have been smoking British pipes since 2005 and was just going off what makers iI knew of with the exception of Chris Askwith who is fairly new to pipe making. Maybe there is another new pipe maker that I don't know about. I just learned about him and Ian Walker about a year ago.

 

[RDPipes]

There's some fine Brit made pipes and pipe-makers out there but, I would not limit myself to only Brit made pipes, there's no prestige in that. There are many other fine makers out there and there not all Italians either. There some grand American makers also, of course if you wish to stick with the Brits you'll only be be limiting yourself.

 

[Sasquatch]

Is that Upshall new or estate... just seeing some spider-webbing in that chamber on the user-side?

Buying a pipe to have it because it's English, or red, or 8" long, or whatever your collection is seems fine to me as far as that goes, but if you essentially don't like the pipe, dropping cash on it seems silly to me.

Clearly Upshall is unable to meet custom orders at this point. So, hunt ebay, ask around on the boards for what you are seeking, someone will have one for you.

 

[tarheel7734]

There's some fine Brit made pipes and pipe-makers out there but, I would not limit myself to only Brit made pipes, there's no prestige in that. There are many other fine makers out there and there not all Italians either. There some grand American makers also, of course if you wish to stick with the Brits you'll only be  be limiting yourself.

It is just for this set that I am restricting to Brit pipes. Once I have this then it is open season. I would love a few Italian pipes by Don Carlos and Ser Jocope as well as other makers. I would also like some American made pipes. There are fine carvers on this side of the pond.

 

[tarheel7734]

Is that Upshall new or estate... just seeing some spider-webbing in that chamber on the user-side?  

Buying a pipe to have it because it's English, or red, or 8" long, or whatever your collection is seems fine to me as far as that goes, but if you essentially don't like the pipe, dropping cash on it seems silly to me.  

Clearly Upshall is unable to meet custom orders at this point.   So, hunt ebay, ask around on the boards for what you are seeking, someone will have one for you.  

They are new pipes straight from Upshall. You are right. I am going to pass on these. I can do the set without an upshall an once it is over it is open season. I would like some bent and straight billiards and maybe some other pipes.