A Thoughtful Pipe

 

My wife says she likes when I write about a particular pipe.  I'm fascinated with Brulor pipes, because they are very good pipes at very good prices and are reminiscent of pipes from the first half of the 20th century.  This is a new company whose pipes Smoking Pipes have listed on their website.   The above pipe is a straight stem Churchwarden pipe with a smooth finish that is listed at $65.  I've written about very expensive pipes in this blog, but decided the best pipes are often in the $100-$150 price range.  I've decided I no longer want a pipe that is more than this price range with about $125 being the sweetspot for most any pipe.

The above pipe, in my thinking, is a steal at $65.  It would be a better purchase than the most expensive Dr. Grabow pipe.  For one thing the Briar is old aged Briar.  I own three Chrchwarden pipes, but they all have a bent stem.  It's the straight stem that makes this pipe unique.  Almost all Churchwarden pipes have a bent stem.  I am not a collector of pipes as such, although I own some 40 pipes.  Only a few are what I might think a collector would have any interest.  

There are pipe smokers who will collect only one brand.  There are collectors that might collect only Dunhill pipes which decrease in value very little if smoked.  I was scrolling through eBay the other day and found six Dunhill pipes listed at $1600.  That is a steal for a Dunhill collector.  Depending on the condition of the pipes, of course.  A vintage Dr. Grabow might fetch about $50 but generally they might be around $25.  

Would the above pipe increase in value?  I don't know.  I don't know that any pipes I possess, including my sole Dunhill pipe, have a lot of value.  If I take good care of my Dunhill it's value might remain steady.  But I don't know the collector's market at all.  I wouldn't buy the above pipe as a collector pipe.  Which is why my price point for a new pipe is about $125 in today's money.  I might take a risk on an estate pipe for $25, but that would be my price point for ANY smoked pipe.

Years ago, I paid $30 for my only estate pipe, and it has only been a few years I put it in my rotation.  It is a very good pipe.  That pipe is my Gettysburg pipe.  I probably wouldn't have the above pipe in my rotation, but it would make for a great occasional pipe.  

I just thought I'd share the above Brulor pipe with you this morning.  Brulor is a French company that went out of business in the late 20th century and was revived in the 2010's.  I'm smoking my family's Dunhill pipe with some Captain Black Original while sipping a cup of hot Guatamalan black coffee.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave