Old Smoke Pipe found along the river yesterday

[Lowryevans]

Was metal detecting in the woods yesterday along the Ohio river in West Virginia and dug this old pipe almost a foot deep. I think it may be made of pewter. I think it is pretty old, but don't know exactly how old. My buddy who was detecting close to me at the time found a piece of melted lead as well. We didn't get a chance to hunt the area very long, but plan on going back in a few days.

 

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[ShovelinDave]

Very nice rescue. No pipe expert here but I'd say it's old. Maybe someone else will chime in on it. Congrats to you mister.

 

[muddpuppy]

Sweetness, congrats. Keep Swinging!!

 

[Old Pueblo]

No idea on the age, but smoking tobacco goes back a long, long ways in those parts. Very cool find, I have yet to find any pipes. Seems like southern Arizona must have been tobacco free back then?

 

[tomhighland]

Congratulations on an interesting find. Can't wait to see what you find on the next go round. With that depth you may have to dig whispers. Good luck.

 

[CRUSADER]

Looks 18th C. Unusual to get any type of metal pipe. I've only ever had 1.

 

[vpnavy]

..: NICE Pipe Lowryevans :..
Thanks for sharing!​

 

[Scrappy]

Very nice find! The shape is like 1700's clay pipes, but it's metal. Very unusual!

 

[pepperj]

Great looking metal pipe, nice recovery.

 

[nagant]

Nice, here is a link to another similar one Opinons Please on 17th Century Pewter Trade Pipe - Native American & Handmade

 

[Trezurehunter]

Very nice find. I have some clay pipe bowls, and stems, but have never found a metal one.

 

[junkhunt]

Nice, here is a link to another similar one Opinons Please on 17th Century Pewter Trade Pipe - Native American & Handmade

I notice the pipe in the link picture has that same little piece on the bottom as the one posted.

 

[toasted]

A metal pipe is up on the banner now. Congrats.

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on the unusual pipe very nice

 

[CRUSADER]

Nice, here is a link to another similar one Opinons Please on 17th Century Pewter Trade Pipe - Native American & Handmade

As far as I can tell, if this one is 17th C it will only just scrape in.
Assuming that the pewter ones follow the same evolution & shapes of the clay ones, it would date from 1690-1750 ish. It's not the right shape for ones that pre-date 1690.

There are only about 5 metal pipes recorded on the UK databases & they are dated broadly - 18th-19th C. However, they were not this type/shape.

One of the reasons given/guessed for the lack of metal ones compared to clay is as follows;

''Metal pipes are not ideal for smoking, but are thought to have either been an alternative material, trialed before clay became dominant, or been used for sea voyages where frgaile clay pipes could have been easily damaged''

 

[CRUSADER]

It would be fair to call this pipe 'Extremely Rare' & for that reason alone, my vote is in.

 

[A2coins]

really cool ive seen similar ones on here before looks like a promisung site.I found an old brass chinese opium pipe from 1900 wuth chinese drawings on it still havent cleaned it. yours looks really old good job

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[Lowryevans]

Since I found this I have been told these metal pipes are pretty rare by many people

 

[CRUSADER]

Since I found this I have been told these metal pipes are pretty rare by many people

Many people are right...lol

 

[CRUSADER]

Since I found this I have been told these metal pipes are pretty rare by many people

PS. Pretty Rare sounds like an understatement to me, but 'pretty' close enough.