Do Sterling Pipes Offer the Same Benefit as Army-Mount?
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Yes and no. Yes in that they offer a similar construction, and no in that neither really guarantees that disassembly while hot will not crack the shank. Full spigots are different from military mounts in that the craft hole is fully sheathed in metal, and that may offer more protection.
There are times when one wants or needs to do so. One has to be ham handed or ignorant to cause damage just because it's warm or hot. Still, it's safer to follow the old saws.
For reference, here are some examples of what I mean:
spigot mount
army mount
sterling mount
sterling mount 2
spigot mount
army mount
sterling mount
sterling mount 2
Yep, but a full spigot lines the interior of the mortise with sterling as well as lining the end of the stem with sterling. A half spigot has the spigot shape without the sterling lining of the mortise and is no different than an army mount except for the shape. A sterling mount is merely a band around the end of the shank and doesn't line the mortise.
The band doesn't really offer any protection as it's thin. The army doesn't protect the wooden mortise and you can split the shank by applying too much pressure. Only a full spigot protects the mortise because it's a metal to metal fit. None of the others are.
I'm curious as to why removing the stem when the pipe is warm (it shouldn't be hot, ever) is an important feature.
The band doesn't really offer any protection as it's thin. The army doesn't protect the wooden mortise and you can split the shank by applying too much pressure. Only a full spigot protects the mortise because it's a metal to metal fit. None of the others are.
I'm curious as to why removing the stem when the pipe is warm (it shouldn't be hot, ever) is an important feature.
I don't know who told me or where I heard it, but I've always had the impression that an Army mount was designed for military smokers so they could remove the stem and tuck the pipe in a pocket or pouch in a moments notice. I would think that if your were sitting in a trench enjoying a pipe and all of a sudden the enemy was attacking or firing artillery at you, then you might want to put the pipe away quickly.
Like I said, I don't know where I got that from but it's something I remember.
Like I said, I don't know where I got that from but it's something I remember.
I suppose that if you were setting in a ditch, with hundreds of scared rabbits, and bombs were coming at you, and gas attacks melting your face off, and just waiting for the whistle signalling time to run right towards machine guns... you might smoke you pipe a little faster than the guy listening to Bach in a leather covered recliner.
But, in the spigot I have, and the ones I have seen, they are pretty much just decoration now. Guys probably wouldn't chose to take a Ferndown into muddy trench warfare these days.
But, in the spigot I have, and the ones I have seen, they are pretty much just decoration now. Guys probably wouldn't chose to take a Ferndown into muddy trench warfare these days.
The army mount pre dates WWI. So the whole idea of it being created to tear it down for combat is false. Peterson had a contract to supply the army with pipes during WWI which probably started the nomenclature of "army mount" or "military mount".
To the OP. Spigots offer the best protection for hot tear down. The army mount 2nd. The banded version is least but it is still better than a traditional mortise and stem pipe. The deluxe system in your link is still just an army mount. I agree with sablebrush52. Why do you need to break down a hot pipe? If it's moisture in your current pipe, there are a number of reasons contributing to it and buying a pipe for hot tear down doesn't fix the moisture problem.
Just my 2¢
To the OP. Spigots offer the best protection for hot tear down. The army mount 2nd. The banded version is least but it is still better than a traditional mortise and stem pipe. The deluxe system in your link is still just an army mount. I agree with sablebrush52. Why do you need to break down a hot pipe? If it's moisture in your current pipe, there are a number of reasons contributing to it and buying a pipe for hot tear down doesn't fix the moisture problem.
Just my 2¢
"Why would you want to disassemble a pipe hot?"
I often dismantle my pipe mid smoke to run a cleaner through the stem then into the shank to remove the moisture produced by combustion, (even 'dry' tobacco contains some moisture) and have never yet damaged a pipe by so doing.
As John points out, so long as one is not gorilla handed then it's a perfectly acceptable way to maintain a dry smoke.
Regards,
Jay.
I often dismantle my pipe mid smoke to run a cleaner through the stem then into the shank to remove the moisture produced by combustion, (even 'dry' tobacco contains some moisture) and have never yet damaged a pipe by so doing.
As John points out, so long as one is not gorilla handed then it's a perfectly acceptable way to maintain a dry smoke.
Regards,
Jay.
I smoke my tobaccos very dry to get the most flavor from them, so on those rare occasions that I need to run a pipe cleaner through to dry out the airway during a smoke, I just run it through the assembled stem and shank. That does the job just fine. The only time I disassemble is when I'm cleaning the pipe at the end of the day.
I used to do it that way Jesse but as 99% of my pipes are bent, the cleaner wouldn't always reach to the bottom of the bowl hence me changing my methods. Even 'bone dry' tobacco still leaves moisture that needs to be taken out.
Just so long as one is careful, taking a hot pipe apart shouldn't be the cause for tears but of course, each to his own.
Regards,
Jay.
Just so long as one is careful, taking a hot pipe apart shouldn't be the cause for tears but of course, each to his own.
Regards,
Jay.
Basically, never force a removal of a stem, be it hot, warm or stony cold. Never just try to pull it straight out. I twist clockwise on both removal and reinsertion. (Jokes re other activities are possible.)
Who wouldn't take a Ferndown into the trenches. I would in a heartbeat if the need arose. Why bring a crappy pipe along in that situation. Smoke the best you have.
Well, in the case of Peterson's deluxe system pipes, (they're not spigots), the claim was that, due to the mortise arrangement whereby the stem was made not to seat completely into it, it had the advantage of capability for disassembly while still warm. Now, in my case, as I always smoke multiple bowls of tobac in a sitting, if the pipe gets a bit wet during the smoking, will take the stem out before done to swab it with a cleaner. Never really had a problem with that with any pipe/brand I've smoked in 40+ years with the exception that I did manage to loosen the stems too much on 2 of my pipes.
I'm still on the search for that right full spigot pipe. I really think that it will make a great pipe for hunting and hiking, despite most people agreeing that they are more decoration these days. I just haven't seen the perfect one yet.
The story I heard was soldiers would repair broken shanks/stems in the field by sheathing them with spent bullet/shell casings, hence "military mount".
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