Do You Own a Pipe 5” or Less in Length?

[Mike N]

It used to be that if you owned a shorter pipe like the vintage 5-1/2“ GBD Fantasy lucite below on left (one of my all-time favorites), it was to bring along in your hunting vest or in your tackle box. The average pipe was 6” or more in length.

Now when I watch videos of the the Chicago and Columbus or Muletown pipe shows, every other table is full of the sub-5” pipes like the two on the right in the photo. Go on any artisan pipe maker website, and it seems like the majority of the designer pipes are “nose warmers“ nowadays.

Are shorter pipes with big bowls now the norm? Do you own a pipe under 5”?

(click or tap on photo to enlarge)

 

[Chasing Embers]

Do you own a pipe under 5”?

Nope, don't like smoke in my eyes.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

I own several sub 5" pipes and probably most of my pipes are less than 6". I have always favored the more compact, nimble and lightweight pipes and notice no discernable difference in smoking abilities. I also like that they fit easily in a shirt or jacket pocket.

 

[AJL67]

Not with this nose.

 

[anotherbob]

one it's tiny pipe. It's basically a briar kiseru for all intents. It's a great little Tsuge pipe. Love that thing though I don't smoke it often it's my Semois pipe basically and need to order some soon.

 

[minerLuke]

I do have a couple of sub 5" pipes, closer to 4" like a nose warmer. While they smoke well enough the nosewarmer isn't my favorite, I much prefer a pipe 5 to 6 1/2" in length.

 

[woodsroad]

It’s not the length, it’s how you pack it.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

It's rare I go for a pipe over 5" in length - but I don't smoke those Danish/nouveaux American shapes that are always 1/8 to 1/4 bent with oblong shanks, like those pictured above.

 

[PlaysWithMatches]

I spend about 50% of the time with my pipe clenched. Nose warmers seem to be easier to clench for extended periods. I usually smoke outdoors, so I usually have a bit of air movement and hardly ever get smoke in my eyes.

 

[LeafErikson]

Most people stress the importance of length but underestimate the importance of girth..

 

[OzPiper]

Quite a few.
I love old Britwoods - a lot of them are sub-5 inches
I also like nosewarmers. So those as well
Quite a few have "normal" sized chambers

 

[bullet08]

Never bothered to measure any of my pipes. If it looks good, it's good enough for a smoke. And has to be Peterson.

 

[ashdigger]

Plenty of short pipes. Britwood cased sets. Most pipes pre-WW2 were small with smallish chambers. Especially early 1900’s

I love them all. But I also own gigantic pipes.

They all smoke.

 

[georged]

Most people stress the importance of length but underestimate the importance of girth..

Once upon a time you could make that joke and refer to those "most people" as a collective term which starts with the letter "w".

Today, well, it's... complicated.

 

[Brendan]

That's just nightmare fuel...


As for my pipes being under 5" - no way, you can ask my wife if you don't believe me.

 

[OzPiper]

I’m not sure how long the OP has been smoking a pipe or how much time he spends browsing through the huge inventory of pipes available for sale.

Seems to me he is making a generalisation regarding short(er) pipes.

In the 1800’s - early 1900s tobacco was expensive, so pipes (clays and the early briars) tended to be small.
Even so, large pipes were available as evidenced by the meerschaum Kalmasch of that era - some of which will easily hold 1 ounce of tobacco or more

While I have centurions which are a group 1-2 in size, the majority of my antique pipes are group 3-5. I have a Barling briar Kalmasch which is a whooping group 6-7

Fashion plays a part - then and now. Pipe makers have to sell their wares. So they will make what the market demands.
This is evidenced by the popularity of the devil anse a few years ago.
Lane era Charatans were considerably upsized compared to their diminutive early family era predecessors

Lots of examples of what members like on the various threads - “Show Us Your ……” and “WAYS”
There are members who love nosewarmers - @KORNEY comes to mind with his beautiful collection.
@Chasing Embers prefers pipes with more capacious chambers

Personally I am fairly small sized. So I prefer pipes below 6ins in length.
In fact for ease of clenching, my preference is for one no longer than 5ins.
But if I like a pipe enough I will buy it regardless of its size.

Overall I have not seen evidence of a trend towards sub 5in pipes or nosewarmers.

There is enough variety to suit every pipe lover here.
Buy/collect what you like.

 

[crashthegrey]

Tons of them. I am a fan of short pipes.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

as a side note ,when watching older movies from 40-60 if I happen to notice a pipe out there ,in 90% of the case it seems to be straight billiard. Or canadian shape

 

[Chasing Embers]

@Chasing Embers prefers pipes with more capacious chambers

I probably wouldn't mind smaller pipes as I did when I was much younger but my hands can no longer close enough to hold them.

 

[proteus]

I really enjoy my dagner pokers. Easy to smoke and carry.