german

Pulvers' Prior Briar
P.O. Box 61146
Palo Alto, CA 94306

Phone/Fax:
(650) 965-7403
Email:
mpulvers@aol.com

Pipe
Categories:

Frank Axmacher Cobra 10271024

The pipe takes advantage of the fine briar, accentuating the
marvelous Bird's Eye grain that covers the entire length of the
pipe, but which, due to my inanity was not photographed. If I
can remember, I'll have that done at the next opportunity.

6 1/2" long. Weight: 3 3/8 oz., 95 grams. New. Price: $450

Wolfgang Becker Grade F #5102856

Another classic Wolfgang. Perhaps, just as Bo Nordh only
made a few pipe shapes, and perfected them, so it is with
Wolfgang, who is constantly refining his shapes, his technique
and his focus. New. Price: $720
5.2" long, bowl 1.7" high. Weight: 2 1/8 oz., 59 grams

Cornelius Maenz Grade B #5102818

That I am now able to bring to you Cornelius Maenz pipes is a
source of great satisfaction and pleasure for me, and I hope for
you too. I seem to be lucky with the German pipe makers, as I
can not imagine presenting a finer line of pipes than Wolfgang
Becker, Jurgen Moritz, Frank Axmacher and now Cornelius. As
the highly regarded Belgian pipe authority, Erwin Van Hove
suggested in his superb article on Axel Reichert in the latest
edition of " Pipes & Tobaccos" magazine, the next new
development in style, form and function seems to be coming
from this generation of German pipe makers. I have to agree.
I met Cornelius and his equally ebullient wife, Anya, at this
year's Chicago show. I do hope our relationship continues for
both his pipes and his good company. He's a delightful young
man, which makes any business arrangement so much more
pleasant. Actually, besides their pipes, Wolfgang, Jurgen,
Frank & Cornelius are just superb citizens. It's an honor to
know them. As for this pipe, here it is: A wide open draw, a thin,
comfortable hand-cut stem and a good sized chamber. New.
5" long, bowl 1.65" high. Weight: 2.75 oz., 77 gr. Price: $750

Frank Axmacher Grade C #5102799

Pretty pipe, huh? What you can't see is that it is slightly
asymmetrical, with the right side (as you're holding the pipe)
effecting a sligh concave curve. It still sits up. It is as well
proportioned as it looks. New. Price: $540
5.6" long, bowl 1.98" high. Weight: 1 5/8 oz., 45 grams.

Jurgen Moritz #5102812

I wanted to buy this pipe from Jurgen, but felt that it might be a
bit high, considering the grain pattern, so I started yelling at him
to lower the price, and he did. I think I intimidated him. (If you
knew Jurgen, and saw him, about 6'5", 315 lbs, you would
understand how absurd it is to think that all 5'5" of me could
possibly intimidate him. He is, however, an extremely sweet,
gentle man and might even accept my yelling at him, until he
got tired of it and slapped me one good one.) Well, now that I
have this home, and can take a closer look at the pipe, I'm a
little ashamed because the grain pattern is just fine. In the
lower photo, you can see a side full of Bird's Eye. On the other
side, the pattern doesn't show so well, but it is quite interesting
and not at all disappointing. Further, this has either a very
satisfying stain color, or great patina, or both. Further, there
are many subtle carving details that aren't visible in photos.
As is standard with Jurgen's pipes, the air hole is wide open
and the stem is hand cut and thin and comfortable. New. $580
6.3" long, bowl 2.1" high. Weight: 2.25 oz., 64 grams.

Frank Axmacher #5102793

Looking at the rectangular shank treatment that Frank
employed on this pipe, I think he picked up on the style that
would work best with this Elephant's Foot bowl shape. I'm not
sure I've seen that before, and it looks right. The front of the
pipe is thick with nothing but Bird's Eye grain and Frank nailed
the cross grain on both of the sides of the pipe. Considering
the quality of the work, it is well underpriced. New. Price: $600
5.6" long, bowl 2.7" high. Weight: 2 3/8 oz., 69 grams.

Frank Axmacher Grade B #5102796

Despite the severe angle of the stem to the bowl, this pipe
keeps faith with Frank's high standards of construction and has
a nice, open draw. Of course it sits up, at a tantalizing tilt, and
it has a very deep, ring grain. New. Price: $390
5" long, bowl 2" high. Weight: 2.25 oz., 61 grams.

Wolfgang Becker WolfPaw #10244300

Just another rather magnificent piece by Wolfgang Becker.
The sandblast treatment as the end of the smooth shank is
stunning, not that you would expect less from Wolgang.
5.25" long, bowl 1.8" high. Weight: 2.5 oz., 71 grams.
New. Price: $990

Wolfgang Becker Grade 8 #10244310

Very comfortable to hold, either around the bowl or with index
finger across the shank. the Becker quality is, of course, built in
5.1" long, bowl 1.6" high. Weight: 2 1/8 oz., 60 grams.
New. Price: $420

Wolfgang Becker Grade 8 #10244311 (SOLD 11/4/08)

This is a medium-large pipe, so a ham-fisted smoker will enjoy
holding the bowl, as will the normal sized person. Of course, it
has all of the attributes of a Wolfgang Becker, which means his
fanatical attention to detail, bless him. New. Price: $420
5.35" long, bowl 1.8" high. Weight: 2 3/8 oz., 66 grams.

Eric Andersen #10244353KM

I was about to post this pipe on the Danish page when I looked
at the bottom to make sure I had the correct spelling of
Andersen, i.e., with the Danish 'e' in the last syllable. Well, I
had that right, but not the country of origin. I still believe Eric is
Danish, but he might have been living in Germany at the time
he made this beautiful and intricate pipe. Aside from not
having been cleaned up prior to photographing it (it's in Exc.
Cond.) I failed to have the bottom and the front of the bowl
exposed, which would show you more of those lines that you
glimpse above. The cross grain is perfectly placed on the front
and back of the bowl and follows all the way underneath the
shank from front to back. Hence, you get that magnificent
Bird's Eye on the two sides of the bowl. It's a good handful to
hold and the band is sterling, if you had any doubts. Used. $575
5.2" long, bowl 1.98" high. Weight: 2 5/8 oz., 76 grams.

Joura B #10244343

Here is a pipe of some historical interest, I would think. It is the
work of Karlo Joura, of Bremen, Germany and it most certainly
is an example of his early work. Not so early that it doesn't
exhibit his precision, but it does not give a country of origin,
thus indicating he was not thinking of exporting his pipes past
his native borders, and the "Freihand" is the German for
Freehand and, again, indicates that he was thinking only in
terms of local distribution. He did not yet think that he would be
considered one of the world's great pipe makers. Although the
shape is less elegant than those he now produces, the
deftness of his lines are those of a master carver. The
condition is excellent. Used. Price: $225
5.2" long, bowl 2.25" high. Weight: 2.5 oz., 71 grams.

Joura A #10244365CG

This is a perfect short smoke. It's one of Karlo's more recent
productions, and pipes of this grade go for about $880 when
new. Maybe more. Anyhow, this one also has a stamp on the
bottom which indicates where the briar came from. I'm
supposed to know this stuff, because along with David Field, I'm
the importer of Joura pipes, but I can't remember. However, I
do think this one is his stamp for Sardinian Briar, which is, in my
opinion, the sweetest briar I've tasted and is what makes
Joura's pipe smoke so splendidly. If it isn't the Sardinian, then
it's his Corsican briar, which, believe me, ain't bad. Used. $350
4.9" long, bowl 1.5" high. Weight: 1 1/8 oz., 31 grams.

Cornelius Maenz B #10244372

The condition is like-new. I would think that a pipe this
handsome would have been smoked by its owner. It hasn't
been given any kind of test. To me, the stem is very
comfortable, the bowl is easy to hold and it is light. It is as
comfortable a pipe as I can find, and considering the maker, it
should be an excellent smoke, as well. But, here it is, and if it
appeals to you, you can consider yourself to be getting a new
pipe (nearly) for used pipe prices. Used. (barely). Price: $475
5.3" long. Weight: 1 5/8 oz., 45 grams.

Cornelius Maenz AB #10244367

A rather magnificent carving job by Cornelius. And the grain
isn't too shabby, either. Actually, it's exceptional. In addition,
the condition is excellent; it's very near new. Perhaps it was
smoked once. Certainly, not more. A little scrutiny of this pipe
reveals why Cornelius is considered such an elite pipe maker.
5" long. Weight: 2 1/8 oz., 59 grams. Used. (barely) Price. $575