Old Country Smoker

Texas Turtle · 07-23-2011, 11:56 AM

Stopped by Academy to pick up some golf balls and of course I had to stroll through the Q department. They had what was labelled as "Old Country Handmade Smokers Brazos Model". The thing is aparently 20" diameter by about 40" long in the smoke chamber, weighs 470 pounds and says it is 3/16" steel. Comes with framed cooking grates, already has a firebox baffle plate and a 3" diameter stack located at main cooking grate height. Takes two hands to raise the top of the smoke chamber. All welded construction. They want $999 for the thing. I'm thinking of buying one to replace the Silver Smoker, which is going in the church garage sale in October. The spousal unit is limiting me to a grand to replace it, and this unit looks like more bang for that much dough than I can get from the big names. Anybody know about this brand? It is made in Laredo from rolled steel, not pipe.

Callahan-que · 07-23-2011, 12:15 PM

Sounds like you know as much about them as most of us do

There have been a few posts here in the past about them, maybe you could search for them.

LVBBQMan · 07-23-2011, 01:54 PM

When CharBroil bought out New Braunsfels in about 2006, Academy was left in lurch as they were a major reseller of New Braunsfels models. They were not happy with the cheapness of the replacement models offered by Char Broil and searched to find a replacement fabricator. I have talked to the people at Old Country and Academy has just about consumed its entire fabrication capacity. They seem knowledgeable and a friend of mine in Houston has one and he likes it. His and my only concern is that the firebox is welded to the smoking chamber. If you run into problems such as burnthrough, you will have to have a new firebox fabricated, the old one cut off, and the new one welded on which will be a bit more of a problem for those of us that don't weld.

Pappy · 07-23-2011, 02:02 PM

So what you're saying is take a welding class at night school so you can make freinds that know how to weld and like BBQ.

Arlin_MacRae · 07-23-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LVBBQMan

When CharBroil bought out New Braunsfels in about 2006, Academy was left in lurch as they were a major reseller of New Braunsfels models. They were not happy with the cheapness of the replacement models offered by Char Broil and searched to find a replacement fabricator. I have talked to the people at Old Country and Academy has just about consumed its entire fabrication capacity. They seem knowledgeable and a friend of mine in Houston has one and he likes it. His and my only concern is that the firebox is welded to the smoking chamber. If you run into problems such as burnthrough, you will have to have a new firebox fabricated, the old one cut off, and the new one welded on which will be a bit more of a problem for those of us that don't weld.

That's some good info there.

Here's another dicussion on Old Country pits:
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...hlight=country

DirtyDirty00 · 07-23-2011, 09:56 PM

i currently have been emailing old country about their pits. go to their website, they have many pits that they make. most of them they have a few premade in stock waiting to be picked up/shipped. I am interested in buying thier "all american" however i am going to get it custom built bc i want it to be 20x40 instead of 20x36. the all american lineup is a bit different than the old country look in that there is no big steel wheel and the firebox is square. i also am having them add a full size top slide out shelf as well. the price is 1060 plus 200 for the modifications. So comparing them to other high quality pits, the prices are very good. The only difference that i notice is that they are made from 3/16 instead of 1/4. However if you dont mind the 'old country' look (with the large steel wheel and round firebox) then they have the old country lineup on thier website that is 1/4 inch steel for around 900 for a similar size. im just waiting back for the email to tell me how long it will take to custom make mine before i send a deposit!

then will be the longest 3-4 weeks wait of my life, possibly.

but ill be smiling all 3-4 weeks

Texas Turtle · 07-23-2011, 10:28 PM

Thanks for taking the time to read my question and answer. I have also sent an email to the manufacturer and am awaiting an answer. If I decide to buy direct, I am going to go for the square firebox as well. It appears to me that the closest thing I can get from the big guys (Klose, Gator, Lang, etc) would be another $400 - $500 for the same size unit. Since my budget is externally constrained, I may have to seriously consider this if I want to move up to a smoker that will handle bigger cooks.

brotherbd · 07-23-2011, 10:52 PM

One of the points that you may want to consider is that while Old Country cookers are based in Laredo, TX the cookers are actually manufactured just across the border in Mexico. It says so on their website.

I'm not taking a side one way or the other but it is something you may decide to consider when thinking about your purchase.

Blessings,

brotherbd

DirtyDirty00 · 07-24-2011, 09:48 AM

hmmm i didnt know that. i hate to say it, but in these crunch times... i can use the extra dough in my pocket :(

i was going to go with the party gator but its gonna run me 2100 roughly. however one of these old countrys (same size) will only run me about 1600. thats like free shipping!

07-23-2011, 11:56 AM	#1
Texas Turtle Take a breath! Join Date: 05-26-09 Location: Fulshear, Texas	Old Country Smoker Stopped by Academy to pick up some golf balls and of course I had to stroll through the Q department. They had what was labelled as "Old Country Handmade Smokers Brazos Model". The thing is aparently 20" diameter by about 40" long in the smoke chamber, weighs 470 pounds and says it is 3/16" steel. Comes with framed cooking grates, already has a firebox baffle plate and a 3" diameter stack located at main cooking grate height. Takes two hands to raise the top of the smoke chamber. All welded construction. They want $999 for the thing. I'm thinking of buying one to replace the Silver Smoker, which is going in the church garage sale in October. The spousal unit is limiting me to a grand to replace it, and this unit looks like more bang for that much dough than I can get from the big names. Anybody know about this brand? It is made in Laredo from rolled steel, not pipe.

07-23-2011, 12:15 PM	#2
Callahan-que Babbling Farker Join Date: 11-18-10 Location: Callahan Fl Name/Nickname : Rick	Sounds like you know as much about them as most of us do There have been a few posts here in the past about them, maybe you could search for them. __________________ Rick

07-23-2011, 02:02 PM	#4
Pappy is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 05-09-11 Location: Granite City, Illinois (Near St. Louis "GO CARDS")	So what you're saying is take a welding class at night school so you can make freinds that know how to weld and like BBQ. __________________ 22.5 WSM, 120 Gallon Offset, Weber Performer, IQ-110, ET-732

07-23-2011, 09:56 PM	#6
DirtyDirty00 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-13-11 Location: Mamaroneck, NY	i currently have been emailing old country about their pits. go to their website, they have many pits that they make. most of them they have a few premade in stock waiting to be picked up/shipped. I am interested in buying thier "all american" however i am going to get it custom built bc i want it to be 20x40 instead of 20x36. the all american lineup is a bit different than the old country look in that there is no big steel wheel and the firebox is square. i also am having them add a full size top slide out shelf as well. the price is 1060 plus 200 for the modifications. So comparing them to other high quality pits, the prices are very good. The only difference that i notice is that they are made from 3/16 instead of 1/4. However if you dont mind the 'old country' look (with the large steel wheel and round firebox) then they have the old country lineup on thier website that is 1/4 inch steel for around 900 for a similar size. im just waiting back for the email to tell me how long it will take to custom make mine before i send a deposit! then will be the longest 3-4 weeks wait of my life, possibly. but ill be smiling all 3-4 weeks __________________ Smokers: 20x48 Pits by JJ Cinder block smoker Wishlist: 22.5" WSM

07-23-2011, 10:52 PM	#8
brotherbd On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-15-10 Location: Irving, TX	One of the points that you may want to consider is that while Old Country cookers are based in Laredo, TX the cookers are actually manufactured just across the border in Mexico. It says so on their website. I'm not taking a side one way or the other but it is something you may decide to consider when thinking about your purchase. Blessings, brotherbd __________________ brotherbd Weber Genesis 1000 - LP Newly finished UDS - Cooking but unpainted -supporting the U in UDS!

07-23-2011, 01:54 PM	#3
LVBBQMan On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-29-11 Location: Las Vegas, NV	When CharBroil bought out New Braunsfels in about 2006, Academy was left in lurch as they were a major reseller of New Braunsfels models. They were not happy with the cheapness of the replacement models offered by Char Broil and searched to find a replacement fabricator. I have talked to the people at Old Country and Academy has just about consumed its entire fabrication capacity. They seem knowledgeable and a friend of mine in Houston has one and he likes it. His and my only concern is that the firebox is welded to the smoking chamber. If you run into problems such as burnthrough, you will have to have a new firebox fabricated, the old one cut off, and the new one welded on which will be a bit more of a problem for those of us that don't weld.

07-23-2011, 10:28 PM	#7
Texas Turtle Take a breath! Join Date: 05-26-09 Location: Fulshear, Texas	Thanks for taking the time to read my question and answer. I have also sent an email to the manufacturer and am awaiting an answer. If I decide to buy direct, I am going to go for the square firebox as well. It appears to me that the closest thing I can get from the big guys (Klose, Gator, Lang, etc) would be another $400 - $500 for the same size unit. Since my budget is externally constrained, I may have to seriously consider this if I want to move up to a smoker that will handle bigger cooks.

07-24-2011, 09:48 AM	#9
DirtyDirty00 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-13-11 Location: Mamaroneck, NY	hmmm i didnt know that. i hate to say it, but in these crunch times... i can use the extra dough in my pocket :( i was going to go with the party gator but its gonna run me 2100 roughly. however one of these old countrys (same size) will only run me about 1600. thats like free shipping! __________________ Smokers: 20x48 Pits by JJ Cinder block smoker Wishlist: 22.5" WSM

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