When I understand the difference of meerschaum pipes, I feel myself very lucky because I am from Turkey so I could find qualified pipes very easily, I had many different shapes from succesful meerschaum carvers but Blackmeerschaum is different than others. Briar tenon makes a big difference, also meerschaum quality is the best so Blackmeerschaum is tremendus experience for my pipe adventure. I gave up whole the others and Blackmeerschaum always with me. Thanks to Blackmeerschaum family.