Big call when there are so many good makers from all corners of the globe
American Pipes
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You know I might well be wrong. I am only going off my admittedly very limited knowledge.Big call when there are so many good makers from all corners of the globe
Everyone
I love old Britwoods which many may find staid and boring.
I also love pipes (factory and artisanal) made by the Danes and Japanese.
There are a few makers whose creations I find strange, and indeed downright ugly.
But they don’t have problems asking high prices for their creations.
Obviously there are many who don’t share my view
Just saying that with such a huge number of makers from so many countries today it is very subjective to say that American or Danish or Italians or Japanese make the finest pipes.
Liking different things is good.
Otherwise we would be all eyeing the same few pieces
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and what they deem beautiful.
I love old Britwoods which many may find staid and boring.
I also love pipes (factory and artisanal) made by the Danes and Japanese.
There are a few makers whose creations I find strange, and indeed downright ugly.
But they don’t have problems asking high prices for their creations.
Obviously there are many who don’t share my view
Just saying that with such a huge number of makers from so many countries today it is very subjective to say that American or Danish or Italians or Japanese make the finest pipes.
Liking different things is good.
Otherwise we would be all eyeing the same few pieces
When you're right, you're right. I guess it is because I just lazily look at Smoking Pipes website, where most of the makers seem to be American. I will have to cast the net a little further then.
I’ve not counted, but my impression is most of the makers listed are other than American. Fortunately, I cast the net very narrow, lol, to avoid temptation.
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The Danish Pipe Shop, Al Pascia, LePipe.it and Tabaccheria Corti are not America-centric in their offerings
SmokingPipes have a very international cast of makers, not just American.
But if your eyes are drawn towards American makers, there is nothing wrong with that.
They list new ones on their website every Monday night 7:30pm. I have a new one coming. It will be my first, but I've never heard any complaints about them and their prices are reasonable for artisan.
I have been pleased for the most part with J. Allen. His craft in carving is exceptional. I must say however that I prefer his earlier works. I purchased this, and sold this one about a year and a half ago. It was pleasing to look at but did not smoke well at all. Please note that J. Allen pipes can be quite pricey.
I read "American Pie". I prefer apple pie, but the movie was funny Tho, not sure I'll be in a mood for any pies after that.
For new or aspiring pipe smokers, American factory pipes like Dr. Grabow or Kaywoodie provide a solid start. No need to spend two or three hundred dollars to find out if pipe smoking is for you. I have some higher end pipes that I treasure, but I still savor some of the basic pipes turned out in a factory.
To get a step up without shooting the moon on price, many pipes in the standard brands like Savinelli, Peterson, Nording, and others, have modest prices and excellent smoking characteristics, I have always thought that French brands like Ropp, Chacom, BC, Genod, and others were well above their price points in quality. With French pipes, just check the specs to see if you are getting the size chamber you want. For whatever reason, the European pipe market has sustained its factory pipe manufacture better than the U.S. has.
For corncob pipes, you can't beat Missouri Meerschaum, made in Washington, Missouri right outside St. Louis. They also make hardwood/maple pipes that are good smokers at budget easy prices.
To get a step up without shooting the moon on price, many pipes in the standard brands like Savinelli, Peterson, Nording, and others, have modest prices and excellent smoking characteristics, I have always thought that French brands like Ropp, Chacom, BC, Genod, and others were well above their price points in quality. With French pipes, just check the specs to see if you are getting the size chamber you want. For whatever reason, the European pipe market has sustained its factory pipe manufacture better than the U.S. has.
For corncob pipes, you can't beat Missouri Meerschaum, made in Washington, Missouri right outside St. Louis. They also make hardwood/maple pipes that are good smokers at budget easy prices.
With all due respect.... We're both old time pipe smokers, but we are completely different in our likes and tastes. Just goes to show, "Each to their own taste, said the old lady as she kissed the cow."
I have to put a word in for an 80+ year old retired museum curator named David McLary of Indiana. I bought each of these 3 pipes from him on eBay in the $125 range. The fit and finish of each is incredible and the briars are enormous and smoke well with their custom acrylic stems. Check out these photos:
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If it's still in the OP's interest, I'd highly recommend Jerry Crawford, out of Oregon. He makes exceptional pipes, without having to spend an arm and a leg, though certainly not cheap. I believe he's most notably reached through his instagram page these days. Get in touch with him and I'd guarantee he would set you right. I absolutely love what he does with a ring-grained blast.