Title edited. "Her" omitted as "His" is also the impersonal.
I've read the recent satirical posts elsewhere on this delightful forum that only very expensive pipes are worthwhile.
I'm writing to share my experiences with higher end pipes.
Now a disclaimer--I'm not wealthy in material terms by most standards. And I owned only one expensive pipe for several decades--a Castello that we (a gift from my Dear Wife on our visit to Georgetown Tobacco in NW D.C.) bought new around 1980 for several decades that set us back a few hundred dollars ($300 back then). We were busy back then and sometimes "strapped," with respect to our household budget and income with rearing our only child who is one of our BEST treasures
The other few pipes I owned for most of the years were basket pipes or only slightly more expensive ($20-$40).
The last few years, I've bought and traded off to Smoking Pipe Estates several pipes in the higher end range--hundreds to very low thousands.
The progression in my personal taste for pipes reminds me of lyrics from two songs, "It Was a Very Good Year," and, "To All the Girls I've Loved Before." LOL
I loved my Petersons, old-and new, bent and straight, system and standard non-systems. I loved my Castellos--as with Pete's: old-and new, bent and straight, system and standard, etc. Same with several dozen Stanwells. You get the picture But as I experienced more, I became more picky in what I find most comfortable to smoke.
I've learned through this the following:
1. I have a limited range of preferences in size of pipes for personal ease and comfort of smoking.
2. While I do have a few bent pipes left in my rotation, I reach for straight pipes more often than bent--even though I clench.
3. I always am most comfortable with vulcanite, but I do have a few pipes with other stem materials--and oh, I can't get the hang of rubber stem tips nor friction tape (just has to be a naked stem for me LOL).
4. Last, I must admit my small number of pipes (about 2 dozen) that I find most comfortable and that I rotate between, cost in the several hundred dollar range to the very low thousands. For me, these higher dollar "artisan" pipes don't burn the tobacco better but just as important (for me)--they are far more pleasant in terms of smoking comfort and "mouthfeel" (these pipes are one that just feel best for me -- otherwise I get rid of them). If my Eltang's, Former's, Jess', and J. Alan's cost ten buck each--I think I'd like smoking them even more--It would sure be more fun buying them LOL!!)
I haven't ever had a cob that I've enjoyed smoking these past 46 years. Briar suits me best. Meers are so so for me. Of course, Meers won't survive my habitual dropping of pipes while clenching LOL!
kindly,
mike
p.s. Somewhere I read an older article I found online (forgot the source, sorry!) in which a big-wig back then in the collecting and smoking community talked about higher dollar pipes smoking better is actually rubbish. I have no reason to disagree. But I do find benefits in the comfort and pleasant "mouthfeel" of a well made stem in a well balanced and nicely drilled pipe, that is also in the size and weight range I require; and which for me, tend to be from the more costly artisans.
I've read the recent satirical posts elsewhere on this delightful forum that only very expensive pipes are worthwhile.
I'm writing to share my experiences with higher end pipes.
Now a disclaimer--I'm not wealthy in material terms by most standards. And I owned only one expensive pipe for several decades--a Castello that we (a gift from my Dear Wife on our visit to Georgetown Tobacco in NW D.C.) bought new around 1980 for several decades that set us back a few hundred dollars ($300 back then). We were busy back then and sometimes "strapped," with respect to our household budget and income with rearing our only child who is one of our BEST treasures
The other few pipes I owned for most of the years were basket pipes or only slightly more expensive ($20-$40).The last few years, I've bought and traded off to Smoking Pipe Estates several pipes in the higher end range--hundreds to very low thousands.
The progression in my personal taste for pipes reminds me of lyrics from two songs, "It Was a Very Good Year," and, "To All the Girls I've Loved Before." LOL
I loved my Petersons, old-and new, bent and straight, system and standard non-systems. I loved my Castellos--as with Pete's: old-and new, bent and straight, system and standard, etc. Same with several dozen Stanwells. You get the picture
But as I experienced more, I became more picky in what I find most comfortable to smoke.I've learned through this the following:
1. I have a limited range of preferences in size of pipes for personal ease and comfort of smoking.
2. While I do have a few bent pipes left in my rotation, I reach for straight pipes more often than bent--even though I clench.
3. I always am most comfortable with vulcanite, but I do have a few pipes with other stem materials--and oh, I can't get the hang of rubber stem tips nor friction tape (just has to be a naked stem for me LOL).
4. Last, I must admit my small number of pipes (about 2 dozen) that I find most comfortable and that I rotate between, cost in the several hundred dollar range to the very low thousands. For me, these higher dollar "artisan" pipes don't burn the tobacco better but just as important (for me)--they are far more pleasant in terms of smoking comfort and "mouthfeel" (these pipes are one that just feel best for me -- otherwise I get rid of them). If my Eltang's, Former's, Jess', and J. Alan's cost ten buck each--I think I'd like smoking them even more--It would sure be more fun buying them LOL!!
)I haven't ever had a cob that I've enjoyed smoking these past 46 years. Briar suits me best. Meers are so so for me. Of course, Meers won't survive my habitual dropping of pipes while clenching LOL!
kindly,
mike
p.s. Somewhere I read an older article I found online (forgot the source, sorry!) in which a big-wig back then in the collecting and smoking community talked about higher dollar pipes smoking better is actually rubbish. I have no reason to disagree. But I do find benefits in the comfort and pleasant "mouthfeel" of a well made stem in a well balanced and nicely drilled pipe, that is also in the size and weight range I require; and which for me, tend to be from the more costly artisans.
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