Blurry photos in eBay's Estate Pipes category

[LandonColby]

Not trying to hijack...but I see a lot of "Algerian Briar" pipes go for dirt cheap. Any information on those?

[NeverBend]

Not trying to hijack...but I see a lot of "Algerian Briar" pipes go for dirt cheap. Any information on those?

Hi Landon,

The answer to your question is really two parts, the briar (Algerian) and the quality of the pipe.

Algeria was the primary source of briar for most brands for many years until just before the Algerian Civil War in 1954 when the supply evaporated. The myth that it's superior comes from the famous brands, like Dunhill and Barling, that used mostly Algerian briar through (about) 1954. The truth is that many brands, before 1954, used Algerian briar too.

Most pipes that are marked "Algerian Briar" were made after the Civil War using existing stocks so they were 'marketing' what was no longer available. It's not a reliable way to date the pipes but they're usually 50 or more years old.

You need to evaluate the quality of the pipe independent of the claim of Algerian briar. If you like the shape, finish and size and it's manufactured well and in a condition that you're comfortable with then it should be a good choice. That it was made with Algerian briar won't hurt.