Has anyone else gotten one of the Dutch porcelain snuffboxes from Mr. Snuff? I picked one up when I got the new schmalzlers from Pöschl and Bernard’s (well, some of them actually), and it doesn’t really seem like the sort of box you can carry around in your pocket. If the hinge gets tap, it leaks, although it doesn’t do that if hit anywhere else. Also, there’s no real secure way to close it, if something brushes it the right way, it’ll open. I’m happy having it as a snuffbox to sit on my desk, so I’m not complaining. Just thought I’d warn anyone who was planning on getting one and carrying it around like a Patrick Collins box, because I think you’d lose quite a bit of snuff if you did.
I don’t have one, or looked at it, but many boxes seem to me to be made for desktops and not for pocket travel.
I sort of thought that was the big draw of them, being able to carry snuff about in your pocket without having to worrying about a WoS tin opening on you. Oh well. I really just want to get a couple of PC boxes, maybe one of the German ones, and a dress snuffbox as I think of it. For the last one, I’m looking at the round silver ones on Snuffstore. Just something nice to have for work/fancy occasions. Other than that, if I’m getting one for my desk, I’m really only looking at getting something like a snuff mull. A great big thing, that I can use to hold massive quantities of HDT. I should actually get looking/saving for that snuff mill actually, because I’m planning on getting a 450g drum of F&T HDT from Mr.Snuff, as I’ve got a 10% discount code.
I’ve really never had any interest in getting a snuff box, as the actual tins/tubs/bullets all worked fine for me. I did get 3 very nice soapstone containers that I have used as desktop snuffboxes, I posted a pick a while back on the thread called snuffboxes, I think it was called.
I know there are people who will disagree with me on this one but I really love the McCrystals small tins (i think they contain 3.5 or 5g) They seem to seal well and dont accidentally open and hold about a days worth. I carry it in my pocket all day and it does me well.
Any smallish box may be sold as a snuffbox when it has not been specifically designed for that purpose at all. The best hinged snuffbox you are likely to buy as new (as opposed to second hand) is the wooden tabatière made in the Jura region of France, and I have noticed that several people here have them. The genuine ones are made with tight-grained wood such as ebony, rosewood, or burl (or mixtures thereof including Madagascar wood) and usually have a zinc and nickel maillechort decoration. The better ones have metal ends. Of concave shape, with straight endings, its usual dimensions are: 85x45x20 mm, but larger sizes are available. The last one I bought (I’ve possessed two) was in Paris in 1979. It is very dark in colour and has metal ends. Despite very heavy use over thirty years it’s as good as when I first bought it. The secret to longevity is opening the box correctly. In those days every tobacconist in Paris had a good selection, but they are much rarer now. Many came from St. Claude, but the workshop (which also made pipes) has closed. A UK outlet (James Barber) had a good few in stock, which were being sold at a discount. Not surprisingly almost all have gone and the few basic ones that are left now retail at £34.95 ($56.62). http://www.smoke.co.uk/acatalog/Snuff\_Boxes.html