Pipes And Diminishing Returns

I've been through this with music. Ultimately my tastes return to a few favorites that are both unique and functional, meaning they express something of relevance. In the same way, with pipes, I made a decision not to stockpile a whole bunch but instead to focus on good everyday smokers for grab 'n' go enjoyment.

I tend to stay around 50 to 60 pipes, I buy occasionally but I also cull them regularly. I have a group of 20 or so pipes I'll never sell, but the rest of them tend to get replaced as I my collection focus changes or I get better examples of what I already like.

The wife informed me today that I'm north of 100 not counting what hasn't arrived/picked up yet. I've got to thin the herd and my local antique shop wanted some estates so that helps. I'm trying to concentrate on Pete's and Grabow's . That said, I've got maybe two dozen that I smoke regularly. I've got some unsmoked estates and a few new unsmoked but the allure of finding that next oddity or old collectable is irresistible to me.

I agree, I think less is more. And, I only have 5 pipes. I may get a few more eventually but I can't see myself ever owning more than 10 pipes, and it's probably not likely I'll have more that 7.

I justify the price of enjoyment like this: If I purchase a new Blu-ray (film is another obsession of mine) for, say, $20, but the hours of pleasure are equal to the hours it cost to pay for said item, then it's a win. So, if a single pipe (or other treasure) can supply years of bliss, it's a win-win!
A classic movie, cup of joe, and fresh blend... heaven on earth ― and well worth the investment.

18 pipes (not including 3 cobs). Every pipe I've bought/been given has remained important and valuable to me. One of the aspects of my smoking experience can actually come from thinking about how I got the pipe; as well as the history if it's an older pipe. Each pipe I own has some sort of sentiment attached with it. Whether it be when/where I picked it up, who I met when I got it, who gifted it to me, or the memories made while smoking it; they will always hold a place.
I actually thought of the significance of a pipe the other day. It's a Dr. Grabow Rusticated Regal Lovat. It was purchased for me along with a DG Sculptura from an antique store. Something about smoking it that particular evening brought back memories, even from over 5 years ago! Smoking with my neighbor who got me started, my friend smoking out of it some, me making him give it back, the process of learning with it when it went sour, rebuilding it back to glory, and even recent memories of smoking it while playing with my niece. This has always been my "main" pipe and is for smoking Admirals Choice Vanilla Cavendish. To begin to detail the full flashback experience would require a lot more typing with that one. My DG Regal isn't the only one with sentiment attached just a prime example.

Regardless of how many I own, the sentiment is my value. That is pretty consistent. The new Savinelli Saint Nicholas out performs it, and only has the sentiment of it being an early Christmas present so far. Has not changed my opinions on any of my pipes. They all have their value in their own right.
Though I suppose it could apply for some. It really depends on the person and how they interpret value. Say someone had a a pipe that didn't smoke so well, but kept it in rotation. Then, along comes a the same pipe that smokes better. If there are no other factors other than the purpose of the pipe, of course the one better serving the purpose will make the former less useful, therefore less valued. However, the opposite can be said. A new pipe comes in, and fails to outshine the others. The original pipe would keep it's value and purpose. So the original pipe may have actually GAINED in value because it performed better than the new. Whether it be psychological or in function...there are so many variables it's hard to place certainty here. Everything is different, one way or another. I know my new black t-shirts don't fit right...even though it's the brand and size I always get :D
Hopefully I typed that all out correctly and it flows. Have been interrupted a dozen times. As always, mso489 bringing a thinker to the table.

I have more than enough pipes. There is pleasure in the hunt, but at this point I'm not really buying. It would have to be something really special for me to be interested.

My pipes are seasonal. Each set goes through a rotation every four months. My Weavers are my weekend pipes, so they see the most use.

I have more pipes than I need but fewer than I would like to have. I rarely buy a pipe these days. Pipes get better with use. If you have enough pipes to let one rest 3 or so days, that's all you need, right? Too many pipes may mean diminished use but diminished return, hardly. A pipe is a beautiful thing, and I only need one more to be happy!

Mike S.

They (pipes) certainly obey this law in terms of price. In that a $200 pipe doesn't perform twice as well as a $100pipe. This does not mean it wasn't worth $200. Blah, blah... We've all discussed this before.
I would say that 10 pipes is 10x more valuable than 1 pipe, everything being equal. In a real stretch you could say that 10 pipes is more than 10x more valuable than one in that each gets used less but only in the limit that they don't get used at all. .....
Which brings me to shoes. I often tell my wife that if she can identify which pair I've hidden, she can buy a new pair. While this challenge is never accepted and shoes get bought regardless, I suppose that test may apply to your pipe collection. So be very careful!

Now, how does buying a rack of 12 Comoys at the West Coast Pipe Show fit in with that?

Click to expand...

Smoke one, guarantee you'll be able to think of the pipe show Besides, having that rack of pipes allows you to smoke a different one every month! "This is my December Comoys"

Numerous scientific study agree that one's enjoyment of a new pipes begins to diminish once you hit 1200-1400 pipes.

The pipe community is an ecosystem. People serve different roles. Some drive pipe innovation with their need for novelty and elegance. Long live the $4000 pipe.

When taking up the hobby in the spring I bought a few on ebay just because they looked nice and were inexpensive. Out of the few, 6, I bought I really like 2 and don't care about the others.

I have bought 4 online and one in a BM for a grand total of 11. Out of them I only smoke 4. I've learned to be patient and buy a pipe I really like rather than just because it looks ok and is cheap.
I'd like to have no more than 10 pipes, that I really like, which would be in a regular smoking rotation.

Estate pipes the #1 leading cause of hording in pipe smokers.

There are no diminishing returns on joy.