Starter Pipe For A Woman?

[sparrowhawk]

I return once again to ask for your august wisdom and advice. A lady friend of mine, 58, has expressed interest in purchasing and learning pipe smoking. What would be a good pipe for a lady? I remember a straight with yellow stem that has stuck in my memory, from the Pipe Babes, and I was thinking something on that order, and probably diminutive, would be a good choice, but what say you? Please also let me know where the suggested pipe is available. Thanks!
Fixed thread title, please see rule number 9. Pertinent portion: Please capitalize words in the thread titles.

Thank you Robert.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I don't remember the pipe you mention, but BC makes a Ladies pipe. I think Peterson does as well, but not entirely sure.
https://www.thebackyshop.co.uk/products/butz-choquin-ladies-pipe-rouge-briar-smoking-pipe

 

[Chasing Embers]

I've always thought that Savinelli's 402 had a bit of a feminine air to it.
http://m.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=188994

 

[stvalentine]

Ladies pipes are often very smallish with all the disadvantages a small pipes brings. I wouldn´t recommend a small pipe to a new pipe smoker but a pipe that is more forgiving to smoking hot which would be a normal "mens" pipe.

 

[judcole]

She might be more comfy with a smaller pipe. Try looking in this section of smaller pipes.

 

[disinformatique]

Small pipes aren't recommended for new smokers. A few cobs in teh Cobbit Series and smaller Petersons would be nice.
Chris

 

[disinformatique]

Correction: Medium sized Petersons or any other good brand.

 

[janosh]

Butz Choquin Ventose 1775

 

[p4ttythep3rf3ct]

I posted the following on Reddit not long ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/PipeTobacco/comments/40noxw/odd_question_but_more_feminine_pipes/cyvmcmr
Also recently grabbed the 16 poty which is a smooth author, it's beautiful. She might also dig the prince shapes.

 

[michaelmirza]

I think a small churchwarden (6-7") would look very elegant in the hands of a lady. The Baraccini Tavern pipes with slim stems, small bowls, and filters are good examples: http://www.pipesandcigars.com/mobile/pipes/97839/baraccini-tavern-dark-pipes/

 

[sthbkr77]

The ladies Pete is an elegant piece, one I wouldn't mind for myself personally. Looks perfect for a quick flake. As was said above though, maybe something more "user friendly" for an intro pipe. perhaps a MM Eaton cob (if flashiness isn't mandatory).

 

[sw0snuff3r]

The United Colors series from Big Ben looks like it is targeted toward the female smoking audience. My local B&M has a couple, they are sharp looking pipes.

 

[kcvet67]

Back in the '60s, several companies marketed lines of petite pipes aimed specifically at women and had pretty extensive ad campaigns. None of them did very well, the pipes were all flash and no quality.

 

[winton]

Show her a picture of your pipes and ask her which ones appeal to her. Then get clarification on what features. Then show her how to use a search on a pipe vendor's site to find a pipe with these features.

 

[bigpond]

Patty...that wrinkled line on Reddit...so accurate and so utterly horrid. The Urushi pipes are beautiful, no doubt.
Peterson makes a specialty line of smaller pipes. I have a belgique which is a lovely shape and an awfully nice pipe overall. Here's one:

http://www.iwanries.com/Peterson-Belgique-Smooth-P12278C251.cfm
They also make a calabash style: here's one n the ebony finish, but they do make them in brown as above and a rusticated, both of which are less dear:

https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/peterson/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=191962

 

[cosmicfolklore]

My oldest daughter enjoys her Tsuge lacquered bamboo billiard. But, she also likes her clay pipe the most. She took over one of mine a few years ago, and I have not gotten her to give it back. I do see her smoking it occasionally, so she is probably giving that thing more use than I would be. I also think that clay pipes teach good form and cadence very well, a trial by fire sort of thing. They'll scorch you if you don't appease the cadence gods.

 

[mso489]

Like anyone else, your friend might have her own ideas about what pipe she likes, so you might show her a selection and see what she thinks. Her taste may or may not relate to what you or I might think she'd like, related to how big a pipe, what finish, what shape, and so on. Some people have a cultivated sense of style and would be particular, and others might find a cob a good place to start. Here are some good quality but moderately priced small pipes to show her, but she may have something entirely different in mind.
http://www.iwanries.com/Ewa-C1860.cfm

 

[michaelmirza]

I'm glad we got a response from an actual woman in this thread.

 

[demetrakopoulos]

To get my girl into pipe smoking, I got her a little bent nose warmer.
I've never actually thought of applying genders to pipes. I mean, I can see why smoking a large bowled bulldog or Sherlock Holmes pipe wouldn't look very feminine, but most pipes can look well on women, too.

 

[agnosticpipe]

I know that when my wife started pipe smoking she liked a bent style, maybe at least half bent as it let her see the top of the bowl so she could see what she was doing and what was happening when she lit the tobacco. After 30 years, she still prefers bent pipes, but has a few straight ones too. She never liked pipes made especially for women, but just bought normal medium size pipes. Just a suggestion from me and my wife, who likes to support women pipers. ::