What Makes a "Serious" Pipe Smoker?

bassbug

Lifer

Dec 29, 2016

1,112

906

• Aug 26, 2018

• #1

A few musings to get the conversation started.
A minimum number of pipes owned?

Artisan pipes vs. factory pipes?

A well stocked cellar?

Smoking many different types of tobacco?

Smoking only a few different blends?

Smoking a minimum number of bowls per day/week?

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,442

109,357

• Aug 26, 2018

• #2

Someone whose primary tobacco consumption is with a pipe.

 

npod

Lifer

Jun 11, 2017

2,942

1,024

• Aug 26, 2018

• #3

Many ways to answer these musings. But for me the key word is “serious”. With that in mind, I believe a serious pipe smoker is one who loves smoking tobacco. Full stop. The rest is just layers of minutia and collecting and discussion.
For better or worse, I have used tobacco since I was 11 years old. Mostly for nicotine consumption in my younger days. However, along the way I grew to love tobacco. I enjoy the flavor and I enjoy smoking it in a pipe (also cigars, snus, chewing plugs, but never cigarettes). So I can bond with any “serious” pipe smoker because we have a common interest. I love talking with others about their experience with a pipe. It doesn’t have to be about high end pipes, expensive lighter, top shelf tobacco, or haute topics. I simply enjoy learning what excites others and how they do things differently than myself.

 

bluto

Part of the Furniture Now

Aug 24, 2018

737

8

• Aug 26, 2018

• #4

This reminds me of the question , when are you a serious Star Trek fan . I once asked a girl if her boyfriend took Star Trek seriously , she pointed out to me, no , he does not , he only owns a couple of costumes.

 

mikethompson

Lifer

Jun 26, 2016

11,334

23,491

Near Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Aug 26, 2018

• #5

I'd say not having a sense of humour, or never smiling.

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,442

109,357

• Aug 26, 2018

• #6

A non smoker reading any thread on here would never assume any pipe smoker is serious. :mrgreen:

 

ashdigger

Lifer

Jul 30, 2016

11,382

70,079

60

Vegas Baby!!!

• Aug 26, 2018

• #7

Nothing.

 

timt

Lifer

Jul 19, 2018

2,844

22,730

• Aug 26, 2018

• #8

Great topic. Off the top of my head, I would say getting tremendous enjoyment out of the pipes and tobacco that I have and hope to have, while not apologizing for it. Also learning. Learning about how to improve the experience.

 

anthonyrosenthal74

Lifer

Jan 8, 2013

7,493

733

• Aug 26, 2018

• #9

This guy looks pretty serious...

 

cosmicfolklore

Lifer

Aug 9, 2013

33,998

75,753

Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC

• Aug 26, 2018

• #10

Someone whose primary tobacco consumption is with a pipe.

Click to expand...

+1 It would be hard to call a cigar smoker whom just pulls out a cob once a year a pipesmoker, much less a “serious” pipesmoker.

 

jaytex1969

Lifer

Jun 6, 2017

9,520

50,598

Here

• Aug 26, 2018

• #11

The successful merging of the clench with resting bitch face.
Jay

 

lordofthepiperings

Lifer

May 3, 2010

6,441

1,490

Las Vegas, NV

• Aug 26, 2018

• #12

I think there's two types of "serious" pipe smokers.
You have the serious pipe smoker who has a few Kaywoodies or Dr Grabows and smokes a few bowls of Captain Black or Carter Hall and that's it every day.
Then you have the serious pipe smoker who gets on forums, who goes to pipe shows to talk to other pipe people about pipes and blends. Typically collecting artisan carved pipes or higher grade Savinellis, Castellos etc.. Typically smoking a few different blends possibly of different styles. Probably has a cellar started to age those Va's and VaPers. Has a subscription to the NASPC newsletter and or Pipes and Tobacco Magazine.

 

cosmicfolklore

Lifer

Aug 9, 2013

33,998

75,753

Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC

• Aug 26, 2018

• #13

I don’t know... if a man just has one pipe, but he smokes Prince Albert in it all day, that sounds pretty damned serious to me. ::

I happen to be friends with a guy like that, and that was the type of pipesmoker I knew growing up. It was always in their clench.

 

bluto

Part of the Furniture Now

Aug 24, 2018

737

8

• Aug 26, 2018

• #14

he who has a negotiated and signed peace accord with swmbo , including a notwithstanding shoes and purses clause

 

warren

Lifer

Sep 13, 2013

11,729

16,325

Foothills of the Chugach Range, AK

• Aug 26, 2018

• #15

Define "serious" and you'll have your answer.

 

B

bigpond

Lifer

Oct 14, 2014

2,019

13

• Aug 26, 2018

• #16

An ascot and smoking jacket. Bonus points for pulling it off non-ironically.

 

bluto

Part of the Furniture Now

Aug 24, 2018

737

8

• Aug 26, 2018

• #17

I got my ascot in Montreal

 

bassbug

Lifer

Dec 29, 2016

1,112

906

• Aug 26, 2018

• #18

Define "serious"

Click to expand...

That's exactly what I'm trying to do

 

haparnold

Lifer

Aug 9, 2018

1,561

2,390

Colorado Springs, CO

• Aug 26, 2018

• #19

This is obviously a question that defies an open-and-shut answer, but for my money, a 'serious' pipe smoker is someone who goes about smoking in a thoughtful way. If it's about more than just nicotine, if you prioritize the experience over the 'fix' and think about what you're smoking (whether that's aged Balkan Sobranie in a $1000 Danish freehand or Walter Raleigh in a cob), then you're serious in my book.

 

seanv

Lifer

Mar 22, 2018

2,971

10,453

Canada

• Aug 26, 2018

• #20

A serious pipe smoker is someone who enjoys the hobby and doesn’t get wrapped up in the nonsense that can come with a hobby. They enjoy it because they enjoy it, not because it is a cool thing to do