In Praise of the Poker

[SmokingInTheWind]

I am attracted to standard shaped pipes like billiards, apples, Dublins etc. The poker shape never caught my eye, so I put off buying a poker until I recently bought this Ben Wade Brogue. I wish I hadn’t waited so long. I love this pipe. It is easily my best smoker. It feels good in the hand, but most of all it is so darn handy. Just set it down, no stand required. This is my new favorite in my small collection of pipes. Anyone else love pokers? Let’s see them!

 

[Shore]

I've never really liked pokers, blasts, or unfinished pipes but this one (having all three of those qualities) just spoke to me...These are the shots from the listing before I cleaned it up...A Peterson Burren. I passed on these in 2017/18 when they first came out, but I couldn't pass this one up...

 

[OzPiper]

Sad to say it’s a shape I don‘t have.
I agree it’s a practical shape, but they are somewhat clunky
The closest I have are these 2 - a corn cob and a Ropp cherry wood

 

[agnosticpipe]

This is the first pipe I ever bought back in 1982. A no name basket pipe simply stamped Italy. I liked the shape for some reason, but have bought very few poker shaped pipes over the years. I'm not sure why not, and I'm amazed I still have this pipe. Just a good smoking pipe.

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

I've never really liked pokers, blasts, or unfinished pipes but this one (having all three of those qualities) just spoke to me...These are the shots from the listing before I cleaned it up...A Peterson Burren. I passed on these in 2017/18 when they first came out, but I couldn't pass this one up...
View attachment 397720

View attachment 397721

That is a beautiful pipe. Love the blast!

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Sad to say it’s a shape I don‘t have.
I agree it’s a practical shape, but they are somewhat clunky
The closest I have are these 2 - a corn cob and a Ropp cherry wood
View attachment 397742
View attachment 397743

The Cherry Wood looks like it would be hard to tip over.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I've never really liked pokers, blasts, or unfinished pipes but this one (having all three of those qualities) just spoke to me...These are the shots from the listing before I cleaned it up...A Peterson Burren. I passed on these in 2017/18 when they first came out, but I couldn't pass this one up...
View attachment 397720

View attachment 397721

That’s very cool. I’ve got a 701, but that shape is much more what a tankard/poker should be.
Does it have a shape number that was available in any other lines?

 

[OzPiper]

The Cherry Wood looks like it would be hard to tip over.

Like cobs, cherry woods are really basic pipes.
The big, solid chunk of wood is so thick, it never gets hot.
Good smokers. If you can get past the look

 

[VDL_Piper]

Winslow is the only one I own unless you count my cobs.

 

[irishearl]

Like cobs, cherry woods are really basic pipes.
The big, solid chunk of wood is so thick, it never gets hot.
Good smokers. If you can get past the look

The Peterson Hopkins, which I have, is 1 of the few cherry woods I've seen which I like. My only poker is also a Peterson, which they call a tankard. It's a spigot done in 2019 for a Facebook group.

 

[Shore]

That’s very cool. I’ve got a 701, but that shape is much more what a tankard/poker should be.
Does it have a shape number that was available in any other lines?

I'm not too sure if it was ever a standard production shape. I do remember it was released in a couple of other special edition sets. I have a Mark Twain set as well like the one below, but it's not an army mount..

Here is the best reference I could find...

Peterson Tankard – Peterson Pipe Notes

petersonpipenotes.org

 

[PaulRVA]

Nice Poker,
I find Pokers are handy for smoking and sitting down while doing something else although I only have a couple.
A Randy Wiley

An IMP

 

[Briarcutter]

Probably my favorite shape.

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Probably my favorite shape.View attachment 397797

Very nice. Did you make that one for yourself?

 

[Briarcutter]

Very nice. Did you make that one for yourself?

Thank you! I realize it's a lousy photo indeed. I smoked the daylights out of that one, it's a natural finish believe it or not

 

[bootlegpipes]

Pokers were my first love and I've recently been attracted to them again. The only problem now is that I can't afford the one I want.

 

[Sig]

Poker???
I barely know her!!

But, I have one Poker and one....I guess, Cherrywood???
Both cheapo basket pipes, but great smokers. Both are dedicated Latakia pipes.

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Poker???
I barely know her!!

But, I have one Poker and one....I guess, Cherrywood???
Both cheapo basket pipes, but great smokers. Both are dedicated Latakia pipes.
View attachment 397883

Is that poker wearing a Danish bit made for a MM corn cob?

 

[Sig]

Is that poker wearing a Danish bit made for a MM corn cob?

Hey, don't be rude to this fine Italian pipe!!!

But yes, when I bought the pipe, it had no stem. It was NOS....no idea where it's stem went.
When I bought a Forever Stem for my MM 5th Avenue 15 years ago, I shoved the MM stem in this LaStrada Maestro stummel.

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Hey, don't be rude to this fine Italian pipe!!!

But yes, when I bought the pipe, it had no stem. It was NOS....no idea where it's stem went.
When I bought a Forever Stem for my MM 5th Avenue 15 years ago, I shoved the MM stem in this LaStrada Maestro stummel.

It was a compliment I love those bits. I find them to be the most comfortable for clenching. I bite down when clenching and they fit and feel good on my teeth. They hold up well with just minor tooth chatter. Those pipes look like some good workhorses.