How or where can I find pipe values?

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by Zoomschwortz

Well, lets take Ebay for instance.

If I see a pipe made somewhere in the 50's that is in nice shape, how do I place a value on it?

Another case, I bought a beautiful freestanding J shaped Giorgio Orsini with silver on the stem and on the top of the bowl. The fit and finish is very nice and it smokes great.

I bought it in Munich in 2007, don't remember what I paid for it, but I believe it was somewhere in the 150-250 Euro range.

Did I get a good deal or did I get ripped off?

Where would I go to find out?

Thanks.
Ken

Watching pipes on e-bay will give you an idea of what their value is on the open market. Also, you do searches for estate pipes of the same make and era.

Originally Posted by Zoomschwortz

I know it is very hard to get an idea of a pipes value with a picture, but it is almost impossible without one, so here is a picture of the pipe I bought in Munich.

As for the Orsini, from what I know, you got a decent price for the pipe.

Ultimately it comes down to this. Do you think you got a fair price for the value of the smoking experience you are getting from the pipe.

For example, I have yet to have a Dunhill that I thought was worth $50, much less the $300+ pricetag on them. Thankfully, I never bought one, but they were all estate pipes given to me. And others thing Dunhills are the cat's meow - whatever. Therefore, if you'd have said you paid $300 for a new Dunhill, I'd have said you were ripped off.

To sum this all up - you need to satisfy your own tastes and base your analysis for value upon that. It is kind of like your tobacco and cigars. If you like what you are smoking, and really enjoying it, who cares what anybody else thinks. If it is in your price range and makes you happy, then it is a good value.

That's my

Peace of the Lord be with you.

[Zoomschwortz]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

Watching pipes on e-bay will give you an idea of what their value is on the open market. Also, you do searches for estate pipes of the same make and era.



As for the Orsini, from what I know, you got a decent price for the pipe.

Ultimately it comes down to this. Do you think you got a fair price for the value of the smoking experience you are getting from the pipe.

For example, I have yet to have a Dunhill that I thought was worth $50, much less the $300+ pricetag on them. Thankfully, I never bought one, but they were all estate pipes given to me. And others thing Dunhills are the cat's meow - whatever. Therefore, if you'd have said you paid $300 for a new Dunhill, I'd have said you were ripped off.

To sum this all up - you need to satisfy your own tastes and base your analysis for value upon that. It is kind of like your tobacco and cigars. If you like what you are smoking, and really enjoying it, who cares what anybody else thinks. If it is in your price range and makes you happy, then it is a good value.

That's my

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Thank you very much and I am glad that you mentioned the Dunhills because I have seen them listed and was having a hard time understanding why they cost so much.

I hold my pipes and cigars in my hand and rarely have them clamped in my mouth, so for my pipes I seem to be attracted to heavier pipes.

Thanks again.
Ken

[Zoomschwortz]

Are there any books that give pipe values?

I seem to be baffled by pipe prices.

I was just checking ebay and found a Peterson's Tankard that they want $110 for. I picked up a restored one at Tinderbox, out of their estate box for very little money, maybe $20.

I need to start educating myself.

[Commander Quan]

There is nothing out there on the web or in print that is a "Blue Book" type price guide. With Thousands of carvers and tens if not hundreds of thousands of lines it would be imposable to do.

For good condition estate pipes a decent guideline is they can be bought for half of what they cost new. If your selling or trading one to a B&M expect to get 1/4 to 1/3 of what it cost new.

[MarkinAZ]

Understanding Ken' question right off the bat, I knew that he was looking for a 'blue book' of pipes or a web page or two for the value of certain pipes.

Pipe values, unlike antique oil lamps, game bird plates, or coins, I believe are based more on intrinsic values. In essence, people may place a certain value on the carver (domestic/foreign), pipe style (apple, billiard, poker...), type of wood (domestic/foreign briar...), is it smooth, rusticated, age and condition of the pipe, sentimental value (gee, looks just like the pipe good ol' uncle
Bert use to smoke...), and blah, blah, blah, and blah....

Best bet is to monitor *bay and other web sites dedicated to selling estate pipes (and there are many of them) to get a good idea of the potential value of a particular pipe.

Hope my 3 cents helps you out...

ps. I haven't done this yet, but possibly walking into your local pawn shop may produce a beauty of a pipe as well

[Neuromancer]

Originally Posted by Zoomschwortz

Are there any books that give pipe values?

I seem to be baffled by pipe prices.

I was just checking ebay and found a Peterson's Tankard that they want $110 for. I picked up a restored one at Tinderbox, out of their estate box for very little money, maybe $20.

I need to start educating myself.

This is such a difficult subject...you start cruising the online pipe e-tailers and ebay, and you sorta begin to get a feel for it...dunno any other way...

[Zoomschwortz]

Thanks everyone for your help.

Looks like I need to do a lot more surfing of the web and I might even hit some of the pawn shops. I might even hit Packwood Washington this weekend for their swapmeet. Every Memorial and Laborday weekend the whole town turns into a swapmeet.

Take care and have a safe and fun Memorial weekend guys.
Ken

[Mister Moo]

There are valuation formulas for used pipes (which I have read elsewhere, hell if I remember where) that are quite specific. Professionals routinely work with percentage rates off MSRP to determine value. If you're in the business the values do not include guesswork.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by Zoomschwortz

Thank you very much and I am glad that you mentioned the Dunhills because I have seen them listed and was having a hard time understanding why they cost so much.

I hold my pipes and cigars in my hand and rarely have them clamped in my mouth, so for my pipes I seem to be attracted to heavier pipes.

Thanks again.
Ken

I like to sit a puff while doing other things, so I prefer pipes that I can "hook." That is when the top button on the bit is against my upper teeth and resting lightly in my mouth - gravity keeps it from falling out. Clenching give me a jaw ache.