Smoking and collecting Estate Tobacco Pipes

The picture shows an outstanding example of an estate pipe (recently on sale on Ebay), a beautiful and exclusive horn-shaped art pipe by famous pipemaker Kent Rasmussen from Denmark.

But there is no exact definition for "estate pipe". The term is used synonymously with "vintage pipe", "classic pipe", "collectible pipe". Or even, more down to earth, "used pipe".

There is only one thing all "estate pipes" have in common: they are "old" and usually that specific model is not for sale any more from the pipemaker/manufacturer. Not all estate pipes have to be smoked already - there are often designer pipes for sale that are 50 or 60 years old and never have been smoked, poor things spending their entire lives in some glass coffin... ;-)

But in any case you have to watch closely what people sell as "estate pipe" - there are enough poor pipes from some rotten attic, their bowls only consisting of cake and bad smell, the stems ruined and bleached, and some weirdo on Ebay tries to sell it to you as a rare and unique collectors item...

Estate pipes, for one, will usually be cheaper than a comparable new pipe. Unless of course the pipe has somehow gained in value due to becoming rare while demand is still high, the pipe maker died or the manufacturer/brand has come to an end, etc
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An estate pipe has been "broken in", as pipe smokers call it. This is a subtle and sometimes difficult process where a new pipe is smoked the first times in a special way, so the protective coal layer ("cake") in the bowl is built in the correct way, the briar absorbs tobacco oils and aromes, and any weakness of the pipe might show itself in the form of cracks, fractures and burnout. An estate pipe already has survived that process and most likely some more smoking and (after reconditioning) is ready for your own tobacco and special flavor.

An estate pipe will have aged briar (if it is a briar pipe, of course ;-) ). Not only does aged briar handle moisture more easily (it evaporates better), but pipes from early to mid 1900s or older have usually been made from briar that had a better quality than what today's pipemakers are able to get their hands on. Mass production, pollution and the ever-ongoing war on nature have taken their toll. Good briar needs time and special conditions to grow and develop a nice grain - and it should be treated with respect and should age quite some time before you attempt to make a pipe from it.. Both has become increasingly rare.

Every pipesmoker tends to collect pipes, but not all of us would consider themselves to be "collectors". Actually many of us just want nice and easy-to-smoke pipes. If they are unique, that is great, but we do not care that much about the insignia of a famous pipemaker, some ultra-fancy freehand form, or the ultimate briar/grain quality. Less of a problem if the dog decides to chew a bit on it as well, and less pricey in any case... ;-)

Cheap or midrange Estate pipes are ideal if you are looking for a trustworthy "bench & garden" pipe that you can knock around a bit. They already have proven that they can stand the test of time (and smoking). They are often made of better briar than nowadays pipes. And very often they are even 30-80% cheaper than a comparable new pipe.

Recommendation: stay in the 20-100 Dollar price range. Below that chances are you buy yourself some overpriced (and small!) firewood - above that makes you almost a collector... ;-) Incredibly cheap pipe deals, esp. on Ebay, are rarely worth it - usually the pipes are in poor condition, and in most cases you will have to clean, repair and recondition yourself. Sometimes you will catch a real steal (I have a giant Lorenzo pipe, a "Titano", the one on my profile picture, - cost me about 15 bucks, had some minor flaws in the briar that do not hurt at all, and has become my favorite pipe...), but more often you will be frustrated and waste time and money.