Pipes Magazine » General Pipe Smoking Discussion

1. 

   bogglor
   

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   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!

   Have a peek inside my cellar!
   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtrTzJLDbOXgdFhSZWR1SGNobkFXQUdXSWNNVXdrYWc&usp=sharing

   Posted 3 months ago #
2. 

   Chris
   

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   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..

   The most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen...not necessarily in that order

   Posted 3 months ago #
3. 

   Eric
   

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   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!

   "The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time."
   Mark Twain - Eric (taerin): nickname (username)

   Posted 3 months ago #
4. 

   slownumbers39
   

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   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.

   

   Posted 3 months ago #
5. 

   robusthermit
   

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   I would have to go with the Savinelli Duca Carlo Rhodesian. But I have a soft spot for Rhodesians and Bulldogs.

   Posted 3 months ago #
6. 

   rmbittner
   

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   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.

   Posted 3 months ago #
7. 

   rothnh
   

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   I've only bought one brand-new pipe in the last year.

   I buy restored estates from reputable vendors, many of whom are sponsors of PM Forums. The only estate pipe I've had to return was my single eBay purchase. I usually buy pipes with MSRP of $100+, some are $300 or more, all are always for less than half their MSRP.

   Here's some restored estate pipes; I know you indicated some preferences, but some of your links are pipes, such as light finish, that you state you don't like, so I just listed nice pipes. You can adjust accordingly, as many of the vendors have a ton of didferent pipes in the same brand:

   A quality Meerschaum pipe.

   http://www.jamesislandpiper.com/store.php?seller=JamesIslandPiper&Tsearch=CAO&pd=4890308

   http://www.mkelaw-pipes.com/html/pipee1774.html

   A Savinelli of some persuasion.

   http://briarblues.com/tl01.htm

   http://www.smokershaven.com/search.aspx?find=savinelli+estate

   http://www.jamesislandpiper.com/store.php?seller=JamesIslandPiper&navt1=110812&navt2=110854&pd=4953029

   http://www.mkelaw-pipes.com/html/pipee2043.html

   This one you're looking at already. If this pipe weren't so small, I'd own two (a smooth & a blast): http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/tsuge/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=97984

   Posted 3 months ago #
8. 

   bogglor
   

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   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!

   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.

   Posted 3 months ago #
9. 

   instymp
   

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   Roth found some beautiful Savs! I have a couple of the Savinelli Tevere's & like em.

   Posted 3 months ago #
10. 

    flyguy
    

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    My best smoking briars are Savinellis. I must admit, however, to having a limited collection

    “Apples for walking, and a pipe for sitting.”
    ― Samwise Gamgee

    Posted 3 months ago #
11. 

    rothnh
    

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    Joh's makes great pipes. A friend has 3, he paid less that $10 for each of them and loves them all.

    As for the large Ardor pipes, Bradley (Old Cajun) loves BIG pipes; he owns some Ardors and really likes them. Marty Pulver usually has a couple big Ardors posted, Two Friends has a "Christmas" pipe, looks new, and IIRC, those dance around the $300, their price is $150; BriarBlues has 5 estate Ardors ATM, although all are higher end, Dave Neeb has 'em on occasion. Some of these vendors will sometimes go along with "keeping an eye out" for an certain estate pipe and will call/Email you if they get one; some actually have a bunch of pipes in the queue for restoration and may even have "your" pipe in a drawer somewhere.

    Here's a nice Ardor, not that huge, but quite striking, IMO. $210: http://www.mainstreetpipeco.com/ARDOR-URANO-FANTASY-2010-ESTATE-AUF2010.htm

    Posted 3 months ago #
12. 

    hodirty
    

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    I really like the tusge bent brandy myself. Good price for it as well.

    If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
    J.R.R Tolkien

    Posted 3 months ago #
13. 

    Teddy
    

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    Grat Place to pick from
    http://www.alpascia.com/groupIndex.asp

    Posted 3 months ago #

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