Vintage Bagpipes for Sale

Duncan MacDougall, Circa 1890s, Brazilian Kingwood, Silver, Ivory

SOLD – This lovely and most desirable bagpipe spent its life in New Zealand, where Duncan and Gavin MacDougall had a solid market in the years around 1900.

This Duncan MacDougall set was likely made in the 1890s. It appears to be Brazilian Kingwood, a musical hardwood similar to cocuswood and frequently used by makers at this time. Like cocuswood, it is more stable than ebony and less prone to cracking. The set is mounted in elephant ivory and plain silver.

The pipes were completely refurbished in 2023 when they were stripped, a couple of stock cracks invisible whipped, and then refinished. The silver slide on one of the tenor drones has some small dents in it, invisible from three feet away.

The pipes played like a dream: full, seamless, steady and rich.

As shown, sticks and stocks only: CAD $9,540 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. For Lee & Sons bag, please request a quote. To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165. For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.
CAD $10,295 plus shipping

Robertson, Circa 1950s, Imitation Ivory, Nickel

This bagpipe came to me mounted in casein and nickel but with two mounts replaced with orange catalin and a couple of the nickel mounts missing. It was decided to replace all the projecting mounts with imitation ivory. All nickel ferrules were replaced as well.

Aside from this, the bagpipe was in good shape except the blowpipe was badly cracked. It has been replaced by a poly-lined blackwood replica. The pipes were stripped and refinished.

This set features tapered bores in the stocks, a feature of Robertson pipes during the late 1950s and 1960s, perhaps their greatest years.

The set played beautifully, like virtually any other Robertson pipe I have ever played – steady, full and vibrant.

Here is a lovely and ivory-free vintage Robertson bagpipe that looks like new.

As shown, sticks and stocks only: CAD $4,550 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. For Lee & Sons bag, please request a quote. To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165. For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.
CAD $5,295 plus shipping

MacPherson, 1972-73, Engraved Silver and Ivory

The Hugh MacPherson company made bagpipes in Edinburgh from 1946 until 1987. There was always a close connection between the MacPherson and Sinclair pipemaking companies. To make a long story short, MacPherson and Sinclair bagpipes are quite similar, both inside and out, almost identical.

These pipes came to me in very good shape. The blowpipe stock was badly cracked. It has been replaced by a poly stock with the original mount moved to it. The pipes were stripped, a couple of stock cracks were fixed, and the pipes were refinished.

The pipes played very well with my set of Canning drone reeds. The sound is full, though not booming, bright and steady.

This is a lovely looking bagpipe that plays very well: a soliid and well priced option for someone looking to upgrade to an antique with some bling!

As shown, sticks and stocks only: CAD $6,650 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. For Lee & Sons bag, please request a quote. To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165. For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.
CAD $7,395 plus shipping

Peter Henderson, Silver and Ivory, Hallmarked 1972.

This set would have been made during the last year of the original Peter Henderson company’s existence under then director Greig Sharp.

The set came to me looking superb. It needed no work other than rehemping and oiling. What appears to be the original finish is still in excellent shape. There is almost no wear on the bass bottom joint, suggesting the pipes were never played much. The overly long blowstick you see in the photo has since been cut back to a more useful length.

The pipes played well with my Canning drone reeds. This is not the booming Henderson sound of pre-1950. It is less robust, but still refined and steady, perhaps more in a Hardie vein. The tenors tuned a bit low, though this is becoming more common as the pitch of the modern chanter continues to rise.

This is an attractive, resilient and tuneful bagpipe perfect for any player looking for a solid sound along with some bling.

As shown, sticks and stocks only: CAD $6,550 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. For Lee & Sons bag, please request a quote. To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165. For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.
CAD $7,295 plus shipping

R. G. Lawrie, Circa 1920, Cocuswood, Nickel, Ivory

This is a classic mid-level Lawrie bagpipe from around 1920 with classic spun, tapered nickel ferrules and ivory projecting mounts.

The wood appears to be cocuswood which was dwindling in supply around the time this bagpipe was made. It’s possible some pieces are ebony.

The set had a number of cracks that have been invisible whipped and should give no more trouble.

The tone was quite remarkable. These old Lawries are robust and vibrant, with a big bass sound, lovely chanter blend and lots of harmonics. A classic old model!

As shown, sticks and stocks only: CAD $4,550 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $5,295 plus shipping

Duncan MacRae, Circa 1909, Nickel, Ivory

SOLD – This MacRae bagpipe came to me with the famous MacRae hempless slides. Two of the slides were usable, but two were not and were not repairable, so we removed them all and replaced them with hemped slides.

The hempless slides had no patent information stamped on them – normally they did, after the patent was acquired – so this dates the pipes to around 1909, around the time the patent was secured, and shortly after Duncan MacRae went into business as a pipemaker.

There were several cracks in the instrument. All have been invisible whipped and will give no further problems. The bass mid-joint is sleeved with brass, for reasons unknown.

This set played like other MacRae sets I’ve played:  very, very bold and steady with a great chanter blend and a seamless mix of bass and tenor.

As shown, sticks and stocks only: CAD $5,250 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $5,995 plus shipping

Kilgour & Kron, Silver and Imitation Ivory, Hallmarked 1992

George Kilgour was an Edinburgh man and a Scots Guards Pipe Major. In his younger days in the late 1940s, he learned pipemaking in the shop of James Robertson — one of the best in the business. In 1988 he emigrated to the US and set up shop with his apprentice, Charlie Kron in Dobbs Ferry, New York. He would stay until his retirement in 1995.

This gorgeous set is hallmarked 1992. It is in superb shape except for a small dent in one of the silver tenor drone caps (visible in photo). The only work the pipes needed was to have a new mouthpiece bulb made to replace a mismatched bulb. All pieces are original and the perfect finish and anecdotal evidence suggest the pipes were never played much, so they are quite pristine.

Though I worked with Charlie Kron for some years, I had never played a Kilgour & Kron set. I was pleasantly surprised by the very robust sound. The drones tuned in the right places and steadied up very quickly.  The set also comes with a Kilgour & Kron pipe chanter with an imitation ivory sole. 

As shown, sticks and stocks only: CAD $5,750 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $6,495 plus shipping

Henry Starck, Circa 1930s, Engraved Silver Slides, Ivory

This Starck set came to me as ebony, but it may be a mix of ebony and African blackwood. All pieces are original except for one tenor stock and the blowpipe. The tenor stock appears to be a Lawrie with a nicely matching ivory ferrule. The blowpipe has a premium imitation ivory ferrule. The set had been stripped and refinished at some point before I acquired it, and this finish is still in excellent condition.

The set has engraved, hallmarked silver slides.  I had trouble identifying the hallmark, but it may be 1942. The slides are almost certainly later add-ons. 

There are some splits in the ivory. These have been filled and are stable. One or two are visible in the photos. 

In typical Starck fashion, this set was bold and steady. The tenors tuned quite high, but not too much so. It’s a good set, despite the minor visual compromises.

As shown, sticks and stocks only: CAD $4,450 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $5,195 plus shipping

Wm. Sinclair & Sons, Circa 1950s, Full Ivory

This Sinclair set came to me in excellent condition save for a cracked blowpipe stock that has been invisible whipped and will give no more problems. The original finish has been maintained and polished. The tuning chambers were evened up, and the set was re-hemped and oiled.

The pipes were likely made in the 1950s and feature the solid ivory ring caps that both the Sinclair and MacPherson pipemaking companies in Edinburgh were known for. The bass ring cap was unfortunately broken in the near past and was replaced by Dunbar Bagpipes using their premium imitation ivory.

Sinclair pipes are known for their full and very bright sound. I played a Sinclair set all through the 1980s, winning the Gold Medal and Clasp at Inverness as well as the Glenfiddich M/S/R, so I have a soft spot for this maker!

These pipes played as expected, so it was bit of a trip down memory lane for me.

As shown, sticks and stocks only: CAD $4,950 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $5,695 plus shipping

Robert Reid, Circa 1930s, Full Ivory

Robert Reid was one of the greatest players of the 20th century. He operated a small pipemaking firm from 1932 until 1957 in Glasgow, so this bagpipe has a bit of history going for it in addition to a great sound.

The bagpipe is mounted in full ivory with projecting mounts in the Henderson tradition.

The pipes are in excellent condition but for a couple of ivory chips and a slightly stained blowpipe mount.

I’d never played a Robert Reid bagpipe before this and I was pleasantly surprised. I tested the pipes while I was testing four lovely sets of old Hendersons, and this bagpipe sounded right at home: very full and resonant, with great chanter blend and steadiness.

As shown, sticks and stocks only: CAD $4,450 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $5,195 plus shipping

Henderson, Circa 1930s, Imitation Ivory, Nickel

This Henderson set seems to be attracting no interest, though it is tonally one of the best sets on the site.

It would be a confusing bagpipe to come across because it was remounted at some point with non-replica mounts. After considerable study, the pipes were determined to have probably been made in the 1930s.

At some point the pipes were remounted by the David Naill company, who used their own projecting mount design.  The ring caps were not touched, and are ivory. Hemp stops were added during the remount.  Overall, the pipes are in excellent condition. All pieces appear to be original.

Like several other sets on the site right now, this set was full, classic Henderson: rich, steady and enveloping.

As shown, sticks and stocks only: CAD $3,750 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $4,495 plus shipping