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bogglor

Might Stick Around
Nov 30, 2012
88
0
I've currently got 3 pipes:
- an Amadeus (a value brand from Greece, as I understand) Dublin

- a Peterson 'Sherlock Holmes' Strand (Acorn shape) with a standard mouthpiece

- a Boswell Rusticated Canadian
All three of these have large-ish bowls and I'm in the market for some different shapes with a smaller to medium sized bowl. The Amadeus and Peterson were both estate, the Boswell I bought new. The Peterson is my dedicated pipe for Balkan blends and I smoke only VA and VA/Perique blends in the Boswell. I use the Amadeus for "in between" blends like Penzance and Lancers Slices. When I do smoke aromatics or 1792 flake, which is very rarely, I use corncobs.
My want list includes:
- A quality Meerschaum pipe. So far I've looked at Baki, SMS, and Storient pipes. I really want the classic eagle claw shape.
- A Savinelli of some persuasion. I've heard so many good things about them.
- Something with a shallow but wide bowl, like a Prince or Tomato shape. I'd also like to add Rhodesian and Bent Brandy shapes.
- I don't like light colored grain usually.
- Except for the Meerschaum which I know I'll pay dearly for, I'm trying to keep the price under $100 per pipe.
I've looked hard at these pipes specifically but can't seem to pull the trigger till I do some more due diligence:
Savinelli Tevere Bent Brandy: http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=96885
Savinelli Duca Carlo Rhodesian: http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=117889
Tsuge Kaga Bent Brandy: http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/tsuge/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=97984
Brebbia Squat Tomato (I wish this one didn't have the scars): http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/brebbia/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=116408
Crowdsourcing and feeding others' PAD is one of the things people around here do best, so let's do this! :D

 

crpntr1

Lifer
Dec 18, 2011
1,981
156
Texas
IMO You can't go wrong with a Sav. If you can inspect a Pete first or if you're buying an old one, I think they're great too..

 

taerin

Lifer
May 22, 2012
1,851
1
I'd be careful with the Savs too, I got the first one with a cracked shank, second brand new Sav came with a badly cracked bowl and scratches everywhere, very deep and large ones. I'm having every bit of bad luck with them as I have had wtih the Petes. One more try and it's refund time!

 

slownumbers39

Can't Leave
Jul 29, 2012
371
1
Savinelli Duca Carlo Rhodesian: http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=117889
I just got one of this earlier this week and it seems very nice.

Heeding Eric's advise, I think I will have a closer inspection of it when I get home tonight to ensure it is not cracked.

 

robusthermit

Starting to Get Obsessed
Nov 9, 2012
135
1
I would have to go with the Savinelli Duca Carlo Rhodesian. But I have a soft spot for Rhodesians and Bulldogs.

 

rmbittner

Lifer
Dec 12, 2012
2,759
1,995
I'd lean you toward the Savinelli Tevere. The Savinelli Rhodesian is nice, but I have a GBD Rhodesian that also doesn't have the bead line around the bowl, and it just feels like something's missing, like the pipe is only 3/4 of the way realized. (Actually, I think of it as my "pod people" pipe, like the people in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" who aren't yet fully formed.)
As for the Tsuge. . . I've heard nothing but good things about the brand, but the bowl looks like it goes awfully wide on the bottom. Since I recently sold a very wide-bowled pipe, this one doesn't appeal to me. And the Brebbia just seems a bit oddly proportioned for my tastes. (I realize my tastes may not be your tastes. But you did ask. . . ;) )
FWIW, I've found you can go wrong with a Savinelli. I've had two: one was awful and one is fine. I'd never buy another one without actually holding it in my hand first; my "awful" one was far too heavy for its size, and it smoked like it had never been completely dried and cured. (It actually tasted "green.")
That's my .02, anyway.

 

bogglor

Might Stick Around
Nov 30, 2012
88
0
Well, after careful review of all of the above information, I came the closest to pulling the trigger on a couple of the ones that roth pointed out (James Island Piper had many items of interest to me). You almost cost me a lot of money, sir! :D
Ultimately though, I ended up purchasing a couple of pipes from Milan Tobacconists (and taking the tax hit, because I live in VA).
One was the aforementioned Savinelli Tevere 645 KS, in a rusticated finish:
http://www.milantobacco.com/savinelli_tevere_rustic_pipes2.htm
This one was actually cheaper here than on SPC by $3.
The other was the first meer in the list:
http://www.milantobacco.com/meerschaum_claw_pipes.htm
I really liked the Sav you linked to off of James Island, roth. I'm gonna sleep on it and might go for it tomorrow. Chances are if I do, I won't be able to resist PAD for these either:
http://www.jamesislandpiper.com/store.php?seller=JamesIslandPiper&seeall=Y&navt1=110811&navt2=110860&pd=4891719

http://www.jamesislandpiper.com/store.php?seller=JamesIslandPiper&seeall=Y&navt1=110811&navt2=110860&pd=4890868
My next priority is a really large pipe, but I want to find something that I'm absolutely 100% in love with. I want this one bad but uh, $535 is a stretch to say the least:
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/ardor/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=117723
Damn PAD! And I thought TAD was expensive.

 

instymp

Lifer
Jul 30, 2012
2,420
1,029
Roth found some beautiful Savs! I have a couple of the Savinelli Tevere's & like em.

 

flyguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2012
1,018
4
My best smoking briars are Savinellis. I must admit, however, to having a limited collection :oops:

 
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