Is one ah-so opener better than the next?

[Wes_Barton]

@Larry P

@Michael S. Monie

If there is anyone making any type of corkscrew with a worm a “few inches longer” than the one with the Durand, I’d really like to know so that I can acquire one. I seem to remember some Durands being made at Roy Hersh’s request, that had slightly longer worms. No matter the quality of any ah-so, as a stand alone device, it won’t prevent the pushing in of a loose cork. Really apples and oranges when compared to the Durand.

The worm on a Screwpull™ is certainly longer, but I don’t think this is a good thing. With a crumbly cork, a worm long enough to pierce the bottom of the cork will certainly push cork bits into the wine.

The worm part of these are good when there’s a lower portion left in the neck, especially if it also got pushed down. The it’s too far for waiters corkscrews or a Durand to reach. A sharp, narrow tip of a worm is crucial for snagging rather than pushing. Sometimes the bottom portion is fused to the neck, so you want to secure the cork bit, then get an ah-so in there to give it a twist before carefully pulling with minor sideways pressure. That can also help keep a crumbly bottom portion intact…

[Brian_Tuite]

@Michael S. Monie

I should have paid closer attention to Sarah’s first post. It’s been a long time since I’ve owned or used a Screwpull. But, regarding the cost of a Durand, instead of thinking of the cost of a dinner, I prefer to think of the cost of a bottle of wine. By doing so, it seems both affordable and indispensable.

Agreed. It only hurts once, when you click on “Submit Order.” After that you just appreciate how easy it is to remove a stubborn cork without having to jerry rig two other tools in an attempt to fix what never woukd have happened in the first place.

[Arv_R]

I like the Monopol’s better than the other brands. I open up older bottles frequently so once I started using the Ah So I have eschewed most other opening methods. It doesn’t work for the rare synthetic cork that crosses our path.

[maureen_nelson]

I like the Durand ok - in fact I own two (one came as a gift) but i can’t use it myself. I mean, I can insert the worm and then the prong part and twist - but my hand is too small to grasp both parts with any strength when it is time to pull everything out. And I don’t have particularly small hands for a woman.

[dcornutt]

@Michael S. Monie

If there is anyone making any type of corkscrew with a worm a “few inches longer” than the one with the Durand, I’d really like to know so that I can acquire one. I seem to remember some Durands being made at Roy Hersh’s request, that had slightly longer worms. No matter the quality of any ah-so, as a stand alone device, it won’t prevent the pushing in of a loose cork. Really apples and oranges when compared to the Durand.

The special Roy Hersh model. That is the longer corkscrew model. You have to ask for it. Not sure how many Mark has. The Durand is much better than the Ah So or any combination of that with another corkscrew.

[Wes_Barton]

I should add that if you already have a good ah-so and a good waiters corkscrew, then you don’t really need a Durand, but if you don’t, then getting a Durand makes a lot of sense, as it avoids the trail and error, time and expense of finding the right adequate components. It’s also just a nice elegant devise.

Also, you can find Monopols on eBay for cheap, sometimes. I got one for $6, which is the low end for new ones (which run the gamut form nearly as good to complete utter garbage). I found it searching for a historic winery name, and “Monopol” wasn’t part of the listing. There are plenty in the $8-12 range.

[Paul_Jaouen]

@maureen nelson

I like the Durand ok - in fact I own two (one came as a gift) but i can’t use it myself. I mean, I can insert the worm and then the prong part and twist - but my hand is too small to grasp both parts with any strength when it is time to pull everything out. And I don’t have particularly small hands for a woman.

You don’t need to grab both parts. All you need to do is put your hand in the handle and pull. Turning as you pull helps.

[Arv_R]

@Wes Barton

I should add that if you already have a good ah-so and a good waiters corkscrew, then you don’t really need a Durand, but if you don’t, then getting a Durand makes a lot of sense, as it avoids the trail and error, time and expense of finding the right adequate components. It’s also just a nice elegant devise.

Also, you can find Monopols on eBay for cheap, sometimes. I got one for $6, which is the low end for new ones (which run the gamut form nearly as good to complete utter garbage). I found it searching for a historic winery name, and “Monopol” wasn’t part of the listing. There are plenty in the $8-12 range.

Are those really the same as the German $20 ones? I find the real ones steel tongs are the best.

[Daniel_Moritz]

@dcornutt

@Michael S. Monie

If there is anyone making any type of corkscrew with a worm a “few inches longer” than the one with the Durand, I’d really like to know so that I can acquire one. I seem to remember some Durands being made at Roy Hersh’s request, that had slightly longer worms. No matter the quality of any ah-so, as a stand alone device, it won’t prevent the pushing in of a loose cork. Really apples and oranges when compared to the Durand.

The special Roy Hersh model. That is the longer corkscrew model. You have to ask for it. Not sure how many Mark has. The Durand is much better than the Ah So or any combination of that with another corkscrew.

He may still have a few left. I got one about a year ago specifically for long Gaja corks. To each his own on this argument, but I open old wine 2-3 days a week and the Durand is the one thing I can’t live without.

[Wes_Barton]

@Arv R

@Wes Barton

I should add that if you already have a good ah-so and a good waiters corkscrew, then you don’t really need a Durand, but if you don’t, then getting a Durand makes a lot of sense, as it avoids the trail and error, time and expense of finding the right adequate components. It’s also just a nice elegant devise.

Also, you can find Monopols on eBay for cheap, sometimes. I got one for $6, which is the low end for new ones (which run the gamut form nearly as good to complete utter garbage). I found it searching for a historic winery name, and “Monopol” wasn’t part of the listing. There are plenty in the $8-12 range.

Are those really the same as the German $20 ones? I find the real ones steel tongs are the best.

Yeah, vintage ones. There’s quite a price range, so snoop around and don’t include “Monopol” in the search. This one looks correct: http://www.ebay.com/itm/WINE-CORK-PULLER-AH-SO-STYLE-WITH-SHEATH-BILTMORE-ESTATE-NORTH-CAROLINA-/272743955001?hash=item3f80ce7a39:g:rugAAOSwcB5ZHYwP

[TomHill]

This weekend, I received, not one, but two solicitations from Amazon, offering up the Monopol Ah-So.
Be afraid…be very afraid…JeffBezos is watching you!!
Tom

[Patrick_Taylor]

I googled “Ah so vs Durand” and this thread is the first hit.

There’s some good knowledge in this thread.

Congratulations, Berserkers!

[Victor_Hong]

$2.79 splurge on eBay. Works perfectly. It deliberately lacks the worm which could otherwise break apart the cork which the prongs are meant to keep whole.

[Steve_Slatcher]

Or just use a screwpull and a reasonable ah-so together, and feel smug about getting the same or better performance without spending the price of dinner. You can even call it a Durand if it makes you feel good, since AFAIK it isn’t patented.

It is:
United States Patent Nos. 7,237,455 & 7,290,463
United Kingdom Patent No. GB2442420
South Africa Patent No. 2008/00086
Hong Kong Patent No. HK1114359
Australian Patent No. 2006266346
Canadian Patent No. 261449

[Tom_Chen]

For how special older bottles are (both rarity and cost), the Durand has been one of my very best purchases. I have never lost a cork using the Durand (can’t compare with an Ah-So, but have to guess the screw portion of the Durand makes it much easier and somewhat more effective than an Ah-So).

BTW: A bit surprising how long ago these were filed though (first back in July 2005).

[Eric_White]

Apropos of nothing, seeing this thread pop up got me wondering how the ah-so got it’s name:

Also known as butler’s friend or “Ah-So” (from the German ach so!, meaning now I understand!)

so there ya go!

[Howard_Cooper]

Or just use a screwpull and a reasonable ah-so together, and feel smug about getting the same or better performance without spending the price of dinner. You can even call it a Durand if it makes you feel good, since AFAIK it isn’t patented.

It is:
United States Patent Nos. 7,237,455 & 7,290,463
United Kingdom Patent No. GB2442420
South Africa Patent No. 2008/00086
Hong Kong Patent No. HK1114359
Australian Patent No. 2006266346
Canadian Patent No. 261449

When does the US patent expire?

[Tom_Chen]

Or just use a screwpull and a reasonable ah-so together, and feel smug about getting the same or better performance without spending the price of dinner. You can even call it a Durand if it makes you feel good, since AFAIK it isn’t patented.

It is:
United States Patent Nos. 7,237,455 & 7,290,463
United Kingdom Patent No. GB2442420
South Africa Patent No. 2008/00086
Hong Kong Patent No. HK1114359
Australian Patent No. 2006266346
Canadian Patent No. 261449

When does the US patent expire?

July 2025

[John_Morris]

2026, according to Google Patents.

Having once been called upon to hire a patent lawyer to make an application for a simple mechanical device, which was rejected, I’ve wondered if the Durand patent would hold up if challenged. I think there’s an argument that it is too obvious. But there’s probably not enough profit to be made from a competing product to justify the legal costs of a challenge.

Jayson Cohen might be able to opine more knowledgeably.

[Tom_Chen]

I got the July 2025, based solely on the rule of 20 years from the earliest priority date, which is a July 2005 provisional patent application filing. However, there is an exception in that the term can be extended due to delays from the Patent Office during the process of obtaining the patent, so that March 13, 2026 from Google Patents may be correct.

Challenges can be successful since the patent office only has a limited amount of time to search for prior art, and with litigation, there is a lot of time and money spent on experts who can find all sorts of prior art. That said, there is only 3 1/2 to a little over 4 years left on the patent, so not much business reason for someone to challenge validity, given the time and money it takes. So, anyone who wants to copy the Durand is probably better off just waiting for the patent to expire rather than spending gobs of $$$$ trying to invalidate, with no guaranteed results.

Caveat: Been a patent lawyer for over 25 years (litigation and getting companies patents), but not legal advice by any means .