Pipe styles and quality

[capper]

I have been a cigar smoker for over 18 years. I have been experimenting with pipes for the last 18 months (my wife enjoys the aroma, it reminds her of her father) I have found a good resource locally for pipe tobacco but I don’t like their choice of pipes. They are over priced in my opinion for average quality.

Currently I have 2 Petersons and a 1 Ashton pipes in my collection.2 bent 1 straight (no pun intended) :D . I prefer the bent, it keeps the smoke out of my face and it feels more comfortable in my mouth.

My questions are, is there a difference in the shape of a pipe, style of a pipe, or material of a pipe that makes 1 better than the other. Cooler smoke, better burn, etc. I have seen some big price differences, from $30 to $1400. Is this just for collectivity?

[capper]

Anybody...........

[croatan]

Bent v. Straight
I prefer bent because, as you noticed, it keeps the smoke out of your face.

Bowl Shape
I think a lot of this comes down to personal preference. How does it feel in your hand? Is it appealing to your eye? How big of a bowl do you want/how much tobacco do you want to fit in your pipe at one time? I don't think there are any wrong answers to these questions. I have smaller bowls and bigger bowls in a number of different shapes and I like each one for different reasons. Some are great for traveling, others are perfect for sitting at home and smoking for hours.

Expense/Quality
What you have so far is a great start. I think Peterson makes a great entry to mid level pipe (I have half a dozen) and highly recommend them. For me, they're about the bottom end of my pipe collection. I have some cheaper pipes but I never smoke them because they don't feel right, don't build a good cake, or just don't smoke very well. I believe that with pipes, like most things, you get what you pay for--at least to a degree. I have a few Dunhills that I love. They smoked great right out of box, I didn't even need to worry about breaking them in--and they smoke great every time and look beautiful. I have a number of pipes that fall between these two lines and I like them all. For more money, I think you typically get 1) a pipe that smokes better quicker, 2) a piece of art, made by hand. Now, when you get into the really expensive pipes, say over $600, you are often paying a premium for the finish, accessories, or limited nature. I have a wonderful Dunhill Harvard limited edition pipe (came with two stems, one of which is churchwarden), limited edition out of 100 (I think, it may be less though), good-looking silver band, etc that is quite valuable but smokes just the same as other Dunhills.

[EnyafanJT]

i prefer canadian pipes myself. they are longer and smoke cooler than the shorter straight pipes. while i do have some bents i never smoke full bowls in them since i get too much gurgle even when smoking slowly. i used to think the expensive pipes were for collecting but if you will look on ebay you will see 400 plus dollar presmoked pipes up for bid. i think anything over 100 bucks is overpriced although i have a dunhill and a really nice giant smooth ardor (i actually do not smoke them since i am afraid to burn the rim and make them look bad). if you look around you can find petersons and savinellis on sale for good prices. i think iwan ries had some good sale prices on petersons earlier this year. but like i said i would not smoke ppes over 100 bucks myself. ps if you can find a new winslow crown 100-viking for 80 or less, he says they have the same quality briar as the expensive winslows and i know they smoke very well and look great.

[capper]

Thanks for the recommendations. I saw a couple of Dunhill’s on eBay I am interested in.

What are your thoughts on the Italian pipes (Lorenzo, Rinaldo, Leonessa, etc)?

[EnyafanJT]

only italians i have are sav's and the ardor. i think i have some generic ones as well. i tend to like the danish pipes best , dunno why just do lol.

[IHT]

Thanks for the recommendations. I saw a couple of Dunhill’s on eBay I am interested in.

What are your thoughts on the Italian pipes (Lorenzo, Rinaldo, Leonessa, etc)?
i love italian pipes. rinaldos are pretty nice, from what i read, although i don't own one.
i own a few Mastro de Paja's and Savinelli's.

if you're looking for a solid smoking fairly cheap pipe, Stanwells are hard to beat, and you can nab them off ebay for around $40 or less brand new.

used mastro (http://cgi.ebay.com/Judds-Mastro-De-Paja-Fatta-A-Mano-Pipe_W0QQitemZ5435572993QQcategoryZ596QQssPageName ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

another used mastro de paja (http://cgi.ebay.com/Mastro-de-Paja-1C-1981-Briar-Pipe-Used-Estate_W0QQitemZ6219212852QQcategoryZ4119QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

nice new savinelli (http://cgi.ebay.com/Unsmoked-Savinelli-Straight-Grain-C_W0QQitemZ6218789653QQcategoryZ4119QQrdZ1QQcmdZVi ewItem)

a cheap one....... NOT (http://cgi.ebay.com/TOM-ELTANG-SNAIL-GRADE-ELEPHANTS-FOOT-UNSMOKED-NR_W0QQitemZ5436751526QQcategoryZ596QQrdZ1QQcmdZVi ewItem)

yet another mastro de paja - i like this one... (http://cgi.ebay.com/Mastro-de-Paja-SERA-Briar-Pipe-New-Pipe-Nuova_W0QQitemZ5436129159QQcategoryZ596QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem)

wow, nice castello, won't stay this cheap though. (http://cgi.ebay.com/CASTELLO-KKKK-SEA-ROCK-PI-NEW-IN-BOX-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ5436726907QQcategoryZ596QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem)

italian pipe - il ceppo (http://cgi.ebay.com/IL-CEPPO-SANDBLAST-ONE-HANDSOME-HUNK-OF-BRIAR-NEW_W0QQitemZ5436247932QQcategoryZ596QQrdZ1QQcmdZV iewItem)

that's all for now...

[Nooner]

italian pipe - il ceppo (http://cgi.ebay.com/IL-CEPPO-SANDBLAST-ONE-HANDSOME-HUNK-OF-BRIAR-NEW_W0QQitemZ5436247932QQcategoryZ596QQrdZ1QQcmdZV iewItem)


That is a gorgeous pipe!!! I wonder what the reserve is?

[capper]

Im guessing $200. I goggled the IL CEPPO and the inexpensive ones go for $180+.

I put in a bid for $70 and didn’t make the reserve.

[gabebdog1]

wondering can you get one carved like a bulldog head? that would be cool :cool: .some of my friends in socal save there cigar caps and use that for pipe tobacco ,anyone else??

[IHT]

wondering can you get one carved like a bulldog head? that would be cool :cool:
yes.

[altbier]

ok, stupid question, i am not a pipe smoker, but i am intrigued. but isnt smoking someones used pipe like sharing someones toothbrush?

no flames please....

cheers!

[croatan]

ok, stupid question, i am not a pipe smoker, but i am intrigued. but isnt smoking someones used pipe like sharing someones toothbrush?

no flames please....

cheers!
I've seen many posts and articles addressing the issue and explaining ways to thoroughly clean and sanitize a pipe. Personally, I still think it's--for a lack of a better word--icky.

[madurofan]

ok, stupid question, i am not a pipe smoker, but i am intrigued. but isnt smoking someones used pipe like sharing someones toothbrush?

no flames please....

cheers!
Most used pipes are cleaned thoroughly. I'll usually clean the stem with alcohol or a good soaking in a bleach solution. Most newer stems are made from hard plastics and clean very well. As an added bonus most estate pipes already have a nice cake (layer of carbon) so you don't need to break them in.

[Nooner]

ok, stupid question, i am not a pipe smoker, but i am intrigued. but isnt smoking someones used pipe like sharing someones toothbrush?

no flames please....

cheers!

George,

You have no problem reusing a beer bottle right? Very similar things. I love estate pipes, a good way to buy a high quality pipe without the cost.

You can easily change the stem too if that is a concern.

[IHT]

You can easily change the stem too if that is a concern.some local shops even have someone that can make you a new lucite stem that will last forever.

[Nooner]

some local shops even have someone that can make you a new lucite stem that will last forever.

yep... I just sent off a vintage Ben Wade Golden Walnut to get cleaned and have a new stem put on it. I am gonna keep the old one as it still has the BW crown on it, but I will smoke it with the new stem. My local B&M can't do it, but they do have a place to send it off to...

[gabebdog1]

yes.
ok where can I get 1?

[IHT]

ok where can I get 1?
be patient and look... :rolleyes:
seriously, they do have them, you just have to find them...

i haven't looked in a while, but SMS Meerschaum might have some.
{edit - no they don't}

but, don't look at these next photos.
http://www.meerschaumstore.com/images/s161_3.jpg

http://www.meerschaumstore.com/images/s161_4.jpg

[IHT]

i don't think they make anything with bulldogs that look like this... i can't find a single one....
http://www.meerschaumstore.com/images/s325_3.jpg

y'know how hard it would be to actually find something that looked like a bulldog??
http://www.meerschaumstore.com/images/s325_1.jpg

that would be damn near impossible. don't you think?
http://www.meerschaumstore.com/images/s325_2.jpg

and if i could, would i be nice enough to tell you?











NAAAAAAAH........ if i were you, i wouldn't click this. (http://www.meerschaumstore.com/animal4.htm)

[capper]

That’s a beauty

[Deriffe]

I check ebay for estate pipes all the time. There are some great deals to be had. My focus lately has been on Freehands, particularly full bents. I really like Danish freehands. They are some of the most unique looking pipes out there.

Estate pipes that have been properly cleaned are an outstanding bargain.