Info wanted on a rare boatswain pipe

[River Rat 1]

I am on the verge of buying this rare pipe made in the 1920's in China called dragon pipes sold to sailors like the US Sailors on US Navy gun boats in China like the movie the sand pebbles love that movie. In my day we would get liberty cuffs on our jumper uniforms dragons embroidered on the inside cuffs and the back flap of the jumper uniforms so I can see a boatswain mate getting one of these to have the coolest pipe on ship. Anyone knows the history of these. Tell you won't be a cheap buy these are expensive and rare. This one has makers marks on it.

[warguy]

You are going to want to reach out to @Dirk an administrator here on the forum. He will tell you everything you want to know…..I suggest you post a close up of the makers mark so he can see that, and maybe a couple more detailed photos if you can. It looks like a pretty cool piece. Good luck. 

[River Rat 1]

Here is another photo have not bought it yet just waiting for the seller to tell me the shipping price so I can pay in full. Been a slow process buying this one. Warguy I sent Dirk a message.

[Dirk]

Thanks Warguy…..replying back to him….your right am keying on the makers mark 

[River Rat 1]

Received it today the mark was on the keel or gun as some call it sent a photo of that to Dirk due maybe someone coping it might not be good to post the mark these pipes are not cheap. It's heavy silver you can feel the difference when you hold it. And it has a great sound I am a little rusty tried to do the twill on it still can do all hands. Posted a photo of it next to a WW2 US Navy sterling pipe for size comparison. A boatswain mate using this on ship would be a showoff. And this one had to been used on ship it was tuned.

[warguy]

That’s a looker. Love it! 

[River Rat 1]

One thing someone tuned it and were your thumb goes when you hold it to do a call their wear a cool piece of history. And it has a great sound.

[Dirk]

River rat…I pmed you! Beautiful piece! 

[River Rat 1]

A shot in the dark does anyone here in the forum read Chinese there is a maker's mark on the pipe I will send a photo to any member who can read it.

[River Rat 1]

I sent photos of the pipe to the US Navy Museum to see if they have any info on these. They might treat this like liberty cuff since they were none authorized so don't tell the rebellious side of the US navy Sailor nothing in their collection on those the same might go for the pipe. Wonder these were used until 1912 when the Navy outlawed liberty cuffs and maybe these pipes at the same time?

[USMCR79]

This pipe is in my collection and was bought post WWII by a sailor who was WIA on the USS Nevada on December 7th.

[River Rat 1]

Cool you got history on yours. Nice pipe.

[USMCR79]

11 minutes ago, River Rat 1 said:

Cool you got history on yours. Nice pipe.

Thank you - It was very tarnished yesterday AM but I was inspired by your post to clean it!!

[River Rat 1]

Since I started really collecting vintage pipes, I have seen a few different designs some more detailed different dragon faces and different whiskers some were the dragon crawled up the gun the part you blow into and there all cool some have makers marks some don't wished I got into collecting these early better prices than now,

[sigsaye]

I have one like that, which I got in Hong Kong in 1973