Ever Bought a Pipe Just as a Curiosity?

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OzPiper

Lifer
Nov 30, 2020
7,328
40,632
72
Sydney, Australia
I have often bought pipes OUT OF curiosity - an ivory pipe, a porcelain and several mortas, olive woods - you get the picture.
But never AS a curiosity.
All my pipes are bought with the intention of smoking them. I’m not interested in having pieces for display or to admire.
 
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Reactions: AroEnglish
Aug 1, 2012
4,927
5,799
USA
My most recent pipe is a Medico with the silver work on the bowl. Chances are I won't smoke it much if at all but the price was right and it looked interesting. Otherwise I generally buy pipes to smoke or sell. Others buy me the decorative ones and most of those go in a drawer.
 

runscott

Lifer
Jun 3, 2020
1,382
3,180
Washington State
If I'm not going to use it, I'm not going to buy it.
Sometimes you don't know. I bought my first Kalmasch as a curiosity, thinking I wouldn't smoke it, and, honestly - I believe it's my best smoking pipe. I now have around eight of similar style.

But...I have several that I couldn't resist but will likely never smoke. One I tried, knowing it was ridiculous, and it turned out to be ... ridiculous.
 

Old Smokey

Can't Leave
Feb 29, 2024
379
1,441
The Hollers of Kentucky in Appalachia
Sometimes you don't know. I bought my first Kalmasch as a curiosity, thinking I wouldn't smoke it, and, honestly - I believe it's my best smoking pipe. I now have around eight of similar style.

But...I have several that I couldn't resist but will likely never smoke. One I tried, knowing it was ridiculous, and it turned out to be ... ridiculous.
Oh I do. Again, if I'm not going to use it, it's a waste of money.
 

Wheels

Might Stick Around
Mar 19, 2024
79
195
Orange county, California
Maybe I should have mentioned that I have smoked each of these. They were all pretty bad, so it was only once. But, I didn't expect much. At the time I was collecting pipes. These were cheap, and I thought they looked neat. Most of my pipes were bought to smoke. Some people collect coins or stamps or pocket knifes. I collected pipes.
 
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Old Smokey

Can't Leave
Feb 29, 2024
379
1,441
The Hollers of Kentucky in Appalachia
Maybe I should have mentioned that I have smoked each of these. They were all pretty bad, so it was only once. But, I didn't expect much. At the time I was collecting pipes. These were cheap, and I thought they looked neat. Most of my pipes were bought to smoke. Some people collect coins or stamps or pocket knifes. I collected pipes.
I've never seen the point of collecting something you aren't going to use. Glad you got at least one use out of them. None are to my taste except that hunters pipe. I let my kids collect their things but I grew up dirt poor and was taught to be extremely frugal.
 
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Wheels

Might Stick Around
Mar 19, 2024
79
195
Orange county, California
I've never seen the point of collecting something you aren't going to use. Glad you got at least one use out of them. None are to my taste except that hunters pipe. I let my kids collect their things but I grew up dirt poor and was taught to be extremely frugal.
I wasn't raised dirt poor, but money was always tight. So, I know where you're coming from. I don't generally buy something I won't use either. A few pipes were an exception and my collecting days are long gone.
 

renfield

Unrepentant Philomath
Oct 16, 2011
5,461
46,212
Kansas
Once I bought a “meerschaum” at an antique place. I think it was $5. I knew from the weight it was not quality but I was intrigued. I ended up cutting it in half without even smoking it. It seemed like some kind of hard plaster. Definitely not meer. Would’ve made a good tack hammer.
 
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johnnyflake

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 29, 2023
210
420
83
Henderson, Nevada
I purchased this pipe about 30/35 years ago at a Chicago Pipe Show. I may have known when I bought it, but I do not remember where it's from or where it was made. I do not think it's clay, pretty sure it's wood of some kind.

If anyone has a thought's, I love to hear what you have to say.
 

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Reactions: pipenschmoeker123
Absolutely! I knew a member from a forum long ago that made stone pipes with bamboo stems. Bought one, smoked it a few times, but it got awful hot, as one would imagine. And it was heavy, as one would also surmise. But it looked cool, so i kept it on the table as a conversation piece for some time until my cousin showed interest while starting pipe smoking and he has been the proud owner for several years now.