von Erck's Classics naming and nomenclature
Serial numbers are interpreted as follows
The first 2 digits are the year reversed.
For example, a pipe numbered 20010 was made in the year 2002. The last 3 digits are chronological within the year. So the example above is the 10th pipe in the year 2002.
Interpreting Grades
AAA
Strong straight grain with no pits visible to the naked eye. Only 3 of this grade have been produced to date.
AA
No flaws (pits) visible to the naked eye. This grade may have some flame grain.
A
Most of the production ends up in this grade. There could be up to 10 pits or flaws that have been hidden with feathers, partial etching or sand blasting or completely sand blasting. If there are more than 3-4 pits the piece will be sand blasted.
C
May have fills that have been hidden in etching or sand blasting. Drilling may be off. This grade is not sold. Mostly these pipes I smoke. Some are given away to friends.
R
Revised. Very few of these pipes exist. These are pipes I had second thoughts about and redesigned them after I thought the pipe was done.
