I like a number of different shapes and sizes of pipes. But for the most part, they've mostly had one thing in common. They were bent. A bend in a pipe is pleasing to my eye. I like the way they flow. Now early on in my journey into pipe smoking, forum member Fnord sent me a straight Diebel to help me round out a seven day set. It was a small little pipe, compared to my others, and being a straight pipe, normally wouldn't have been something I would have looked twice at. But it's a good little smoker and I still have it and use it. In fact I really enjoy that pipe. But I still, regardless of that Diebel, wouldn't have looked twice at another straight. Fast forward a few years, and Moonshine puts out it's deviled egg shape. It's a bit of a beefy take on a devil anse with a good sized egg shaped bowl... a straight pipe, but something about the pipes had me constantly going back to look at them. I never thought in a million years I'd actually buy a pipe that wasn't bent. But finally one day I saw one that I had to have and ordered it. And now I have two, and want more. And I see similar pipes from other makers that appeal to me as well. And then there's the Peterson 999. I love my Petersons, but never cared for the Peterson 999 and so never thought I'd buy one. And then last years St. Patrick's Day pipes came out, and they didn't include the XL90 shape like they normally do. I had a few other choices, but decided on the 999 basically in spite of my not liking the shape. Dumb reason to order that one, but it worked in my favor. I was pleasantly surprised when I actually had it in hand. It's one of those shapes, I suppose, that photos don't do justice, and I fell in love with it when I actually had one person. Now I want more. The Savinelli 320... everyone is always talking about that ugly pipe! Honestly, I thought it was ugly. But so many people talk about how wonderful a smoker they are, I decided to give one a try. Again, another pipe that photos don't do justice. In hand and in person, they're beautiful pipes. And the big bowl feels very comfortable in the hand. And indeed they do smoke magically. Now I have two and want more. And I wouldn't mind having another one of those little Diebels either.
So tell me about pipes you might have purchased or were gifted, that you normally wouldn't have otherwise owned, but fell in love with once you did. What pipes, that would normally be outside your comfort zone have you fallen in love with, would not part with, or want more of?
So tell me about pipes you might have purchased or were gifted, that you normally wouldn't have otherwise owned, but fell in love with once you did. What pipes, that would normally be outside your comfort zone have you fallen in love with, would not part with, or want more of?