herman
New Member
Posts: 50
Location:
|
Post by herman on Aug 10, 2019 10:31:23 GMT -5
Hi all; I was just wondering how a person can tell if a pipe is briar or something else. I read somewhere that in the 50s or 60s they tried to make artificial briars. I have 3 pipes that do not say briar on them. One made in Italy, another with nothing on it and the last is made by E. Wilke in N.Y.C.. Thank-you for your responses. Be well and stay happy. Herman  . |
|
|
|
Post by mgtarheel on Aug 10, 2019 11:00:51 GMT -5
Never heard of artificial briar
|
|
|
|
Post by Legend Lover on Aug 10, 2019 11:11:02 GMT -5
Never heard of artificial briar I wonder if he's referring to brylon. Isn't that a nylon-briar mix? |
|
djo
Junior Member
Posts: 239
Location:
|
Post by djo on Aug 10, 2019 11:30:37 GMT -5
Brylon pipes are obvious. They look and feel like they're made of heavy plastic. I had one once. Not a good thing. I recommend against them.
|
|
|
|
Post by trailboss on Aug 10, 2019 11:37:56 GMT -5
I wonder if it is possible at some time someone misused the word artificial.... there were times when Briar was impossible to get (wartime) and pipe makers resorted to using briar alternatives like Manzanita.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Location:
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2019 14:33:14 GMT -5
Most pipes say imported briar, but not all. The Wilke is definitely briar and the other two are likely briar too.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Location:
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2019 16:27:15 GMT -5
I wonder if it is possible at some time someone misused the word artificial.... there were times when Briar was impossible to get (wartime) and pipe makers resorted to using briar alternatives like Manzanita. I had a Manzanita pipe and it smoked lousy, but imagine an America with so many pipe smokers that a briar alternative had to be found. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Location:
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2019 17:54:09 GMT -5
I wonder if it is possible at some time someone misused the word artificial.... there were times when Briar was impossible to get (wartime) and pipe makers resorted to using briar alternatives like Manzanita. Interesting. I'm familiar with Mazanita, but never heard that it was used as a briar alternative. I looked it up and it was apparently labeled "Mission Briar" during WWII. |
|
elric
Full Member
Posts: 619
Location:
|
Post by elric on Aug 10, 2019 19:58:50 GMT -5
I wonder if it is possible at some time someone misused the word artificial.... there were times when Briar was impossible to get (wartime) and pipe makers resorted to using briar alternatives like Manzanita. Reading a story on the history of briar [way back so no link sorry] there was an effort to grow Heath shrubs in [In California if memory serves] for the briar during WWII. |
|
|
|
Post by trailboss on Aug 11, 2019 0:55:45 GMT -5
I wonder if it is possible at some time someone misused the word artificial.... there were times when Briar was impossible to get (wartime) and pipe makers resorted to using briar alternatives like Manzanita. Interesting. I'm familiar with Mazanita, but never heard that it was used as a briar alternative. I looked it up and it was apparently labeled "Mission Briar" during WWII. With whatever search engine you use, look up "mountain laurel pipe". I recently saw a cardboard display of mission briar pipes filled with all the models at a Brick and mortar auction house, almost pulled the trigger, but decided not to. |
|
elric
Full Member
Posts: 619
Location:
|
Post by elric on Aug 11, 2019 2:15:22 GMT -5
Interesting. I'm familiar with Mazanita, but never heard that it was used as a briar alternative. I looked it up and it was apparently labeled "Mission Briar" during WWII. With whatever search engine you use, look up "mountain laurel pipe". I recently saw a cardboard display of mission briar pipes filled with all the models at a Brick and mortar auction house, almost pulled the trigger, but decided not to. A cardboard display with a full compliment of models, [new I'm presuming] of any brand wouldn't come up that often, much less something as uncommon as mission briar pipes. It would have been very tempting. What was the price? |
|
|
|
Post by qmechanics on Aug 11, 2019 2:28:24 GMT -5
I find that so long as one can see the grain etc. , an unobstructed view of the material, and is familiar with the differences, it is a bit easier to tell most pipe materials from others. There are other factors like the pipe's weight, texture, general feel, how it smokes, make and model etc. that can help.
|
|
|
|
Post by papipeguy on Aug 11, 2019 9:54:20 GMT -5
I believe that mountain laurel was also used during WW II by American pipe companies.
|
|
|
|
Post by trailboss on Aug 11, 2019 10:20:24 GMT -5
With whatever search engine you use, look up "mountain laurel pipe". I recently saw a cardboard display of mission briar pipes filled with all the models at a Brick and mortar auction house, almost pulled the trigger, but decided not to. A cardboard display with a full compliment of models, [new I'm presuming] of any brand wouldn't come up that often, much less something as uncommon as mission briar pipes. It would have been very tempting. What was the price? I do not recall...it was a brick and mortar in another state that I viewed online...so there is the 20-25% auction fees and you have to contract a local UPS store/ mailing center to pick up, package and ship...the prices can quickly get out of hand. |
|
.
