I'm quite a fan of corncobs, having something like 200+ I've collected over the years !
Most of them are unsmoked, from 8 or 9 different manufacturers and nearly every generation of corncob pipe production. I have cobs from the late 1800's, 1910, 20's 30's 40' right up to present production.
What I can say is there used to be a LOT of competition to make better cobs. But over the years, all of the competition folded and was bought out by Missouri Meerschaum.
What they make today doesn't hold a candle to what was made in the heyday of everyone trying to outdo one another.
I think the best cobs made were from the 50's to the 70's, when the quality of raw materials was better than before, but the old school craftsmanship and spirit of competition was still at its zenith.
In my opinion, the freehands they make today are some of the nicest cobs being made, but they dont compare to the old freehands with corncob stems and an actual burnished finish instead of just stain. The stems are still high quality though, and should last just like the stems on any decent briar.
My favorite tobacco in a Freehand is the C&D burley flakes, to take advantage of the tall bowl and the harmony of good old burley in a corncob pipe.