YOUR BEST PIPE? NOT ALWAYS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ONE

jorgesoler · Dec 13, 2014

This is one of my best pipes. I know it does not look very nice (this is a estate pipe I got on EBay), but it smokes like a dream. How much? Just £35, which is roughly the same amount of money I spent the other day on a toy for Luna (my cat). Eye catching though it was, she turned her nose down on it like it was a cheep thing, but only to start playing with an onion peal she found in the kitchen. And let me tell you one thing: she was having a ball with it. This is a straight grain and all, no fillers, etc., but it is only 35 quid.

deuce26 · Dec 13, 2014

I love an estate Stanwell freehand I picked up recently.

nurseman · Dec 13, 2014

I have a $40 Aldo Velani that is in my top 5 - I smoke it as my Sunday morning EMP or Chelsea Morning treat ... it also travels well as it can be smoked daily without getting skunked.

huntertrw · Dec 13, 2014

My collection includes a number of tony English and Italian pipes, but two of my consistently best smokers are cheap bastards by comparison. One is an old Dr. Grabow Duke billiard, and the other is a Rogers prince. I can count on both to deliver satisfying results regardless of the tobacco I choose, and, as such, they have that rare quality of being "magic" pipes.

weezell · Dec 13, 2014

Being that 80% of my pipes are not very costly (ie: CHEAP), I have a Sav 320 Author that is unfinished that I LOVE and smokes like none other...

mso489 · Dec 13, 2014

Many good pipes on the low price end. To name only a few: Stanwell brushed black at P&C for $49.95;

Eriksen by Nording at about $50; a hand carved Mountain Laurel pot by my go-to carver for $48; and

three unfinished Savenelli no-filter pipes for under $50. Two of the Sav's are over 30 years old and going

strong. All these smoke like pipes costing much more. I enjoy and value fine pipes at the higher prices,

but there's no denying that much excellent smoking can be done in modestly priced pipes. You do have

to shop carefully with some knowledge of pipes, pipe makers, and some experience.

weezell · Dec 13, 2014

three unfinished Savenelli no-filter pipes for under $50.

They the Shit! A couple more on my list when available. Fills do not affect the smoke for me...

mustanggt · Dec 13, 2014

I can say for sure that my most expensive pipe is not my best smoker.

dottiewarden · Dec 14, 2014

One of my best smokers is a $26 King's Cross Featherweight 110 A Blast.
This was my first pipe and is still frequently smoked. I call it my wild card pipe as I'll put any blend through it without hestation. Being tiny she's super easy to keep clean as well. If I'm ever unsure of which pipe to bring along for the day my trusty KC Feather wins out everytime!

dwt63 · Dec 14, 2014

My Polinski POKER is my favorite. I like a pipe that sets upright without a stand. The thick walls make it comfortable and cool to hold. Paid around $70.00 for it.

crusader · Dec 14, 2014

A slight off topic. I have wondered why stems like the op pic do not seat all the way down. I mostly notice this on many Pete bent pipes, Tia.

drennan · Dec 14, 2014

A slight off topic. I have wondered why stems like the op pic do not seat all the way down. I mostly notice this on many Pete bent pipes, Tia.

I'm sure I read somewhere it's to allow for wear and tear, maybe somebody knows better? looks unfinished and half arsed to me.

dottiewarden · Dec 14, 2014

@drennan
My Chacom Samba 44 has a very slight gap and I read somewhere that it had something to do with the filter, but the gap on the pipe pictured is unacceptable in my view. I hope it's just a question of not having pushed the stem in far enough.

lordofthepiperings · Dec 14, 2014

Pretty sure Peterson just does that on the higher grade system pipes. I too have no idea why it's done though.

cutter · Dec 15, 2014

Just a side question for my education. How can you see "fills"? I'm assuming they look like bondo, but even that is designed to look invisible.
Also, my best smoking pipe is an estate London Ben Wade Standard. My best looking pipe is a five "C" Cavicchi Brandi.

mso489 · Dec 15, 2014

None of my Petersons fail to have the stem seat against the shank. It looks like some kind of

problem with the engineering on that pipe. If it smokes well, you can go with it, or have it

repaired to give it a better appearance.

geo3rge · Dec 15, 2014

Several of my pipes are estates, bought cheaply (cheapest was £5 from a junk shop) and are great smokers. And a couple that were brand new but cheap (£30 or so) are just as good. I have several that are more expensive, too, so a real mixture in my collection. One day I'll buy a high end pipe, but not yet. Right now I'm enjoying a great bowl that cost me no more than £32 and it gives a wonderful smoke. You never can tell. Enjoy your pipes.

Steve

natenice1 · Dec 15, 2014

My best has to be a no name Apple just marked Italy, I bought it at a local B&M in a bin 25 years ago for $15!

newbroom · Dec 15, 2014

I got really lucky with my first foray into Estate pipes on Ebay. Picked up a group of 4 briars that all smoke terrifically. For about $10.00 I got very lucky and still smoke each of em regularly. One is an old LHS lovat with what looks like a two piece wooden 'stinger'. I got a bent stemmed basket pipe made in Italy, a blasted apple billiard, made in Italy, and a tasty 4 panel with a square shank and a flat bottom so she sits very nicely when I want to set her down.

Unfortunately, I probably got a little carried away after that and my luck got more expensive.

I've purchased a couple or few clunkers since then, but all in all, it's been a lot of fun!
I will say that having all the positive feedback from these threads has been a big part of my enjoyment, and I want to thank you all for sharing your insights and experiences which have been informative, humorous, and ~~inspiring~~ enabling.

iamn8 · Dec 15, 2014

<p>I'm going to express the obviously unpopular opinion that my most expensive pipe is also my best smoker. Oh how I wish this were not the case

YOUR BEST PIPE? NOT ALWAYS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ONE

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