For many years, I primarily bought and smoked mid- and high-grade Italian pipes (primarily Cavicchis, Castellos, and Radices). Last year, for fun, I decided to see if I could build a seven-day set of American classic pipes for less than $100. I just studied up on the old marques (Ehrlichs, Schoenlebers, Kaywoodies, Grabows, etc.) and started watching the Ebay auctions. It was too easy. Over a period of a few months of careful watching, I wound up with nine good-quality pipes for less than $100. All of them required serious clean-up, but none required a major repair. All smoke well. A couple smoke very, very well. I recommend these good old brands. If you want to start studying up on them, look at Rick Newcombe's book, In Search of Pipe Dreams (he has a chapter on old American pipe brands) and Dave Whitney's Old Briar, which has tons of information on finding and restoring classic old briars. Also, just look at the Ebay listings and do a little research when you see a crusty old pipe that you think has possibilities. You'll be learning a lot of history along the way.
The briar in these old pipes is, well, old. That means it is well-cured. It smokes very well. These pipes were made when lots of people smoked pipes and demanded a pipe with a certain level of basic engineering integrity. And, if you are a Greenie and a recycler like me, buying these old pipes is not just fun, but makes good economic and ecological sense.
I am not against new pipes, by the way. As I say, I have several big racks of high-quality Italian, American, and English pipes. But I love these old pipes, too, and collecting them is a lot of fun. And if you are on a budget, as most of us are in these dismal economic times, these old pipes cannot be beat. In fact, I am smoking an old Kaywoodie, made no later than 1968, now. It smokes so well that I have smoked it for three days. I think I could smoke it forever and it would be fine.
Happy hunting!
The briar in these old pipes is, well, old. That means it is well-cured. It smokes very well. These pipes were made when lots of people smoked pipes and demanded a pipe with a certain level of basic engineering integrity. And, if you are a Greenie and a recycler like me, buying these old pipes is not just fun, but makes good economic and ecological sense.
I am not against new pipes, by the way. As I say, I have several big racks of high-quality Italian, American, and English pipes. But I love these old pipes, too, and collecting them is a lot of fun. And if you are on a budget, as most of us are in these dismal economic times, these old pipes cannot be beat. In fact, I am smoking an old Kaywoodie, made no later than 1968, now. It smokes so well that I have smoked it for three days. I think I could smoke it forever and it would be fine.
Happy hunting!
