Any Issue with a Horn Stem?

[mikethompson]

So I'm looking at a few pipes to choose one for my next addition, and one in particular has a horn stem. I know this is not unusual material, but does anyone have some first hand reviews of a horn stem? Does it smoke the same as a plastic stem?

 

[npod]

I have one horn stem and one bone stem pipe each. They are fine. I don’t like the feel on my teeth, but each pipe weighs less than 25 grams so not a big deal. I don’t reach for them often. I was drawn to the nostalgia of the material in the past, now I’m kinda blah blah about it.

 

[olkofri]

Get one with a mammoth ivory stem.

 

[brooklynpiper]

Actually, huge fan. If it weren't for lack of selection, it would be the only stem I'd want. I'm sure I'm in the minority here.

 

[mikethompson]

Is it just for aesthetics?
Neal, I'm curious, does it have a different mouth feel? (Here comes my baking background again)

 

[winton]

Y'all should see the horn pipe that my nephew bought last year. It is cow horn. The maker put a bit at the small part and a briar bowl at the thick end. It is sorta like a gourd calabash, but with none of the dignity. It is definitely not a clencher. He loves it and often smokes it at our club meetings.

 

[npod]

Neal, I'm curious, does it have a different mouth feel? (Here comes my baking background again)

Yeah, different mouth feel and the bone/horn is more like acrylic. For my two pipes, both are older pieces from the 1950/60's and are straight. So if I try to clench they just feel weird to me. But if I hand hold them there is no problem at all.

 

[davet]

I have a Ropp Cutty with a horn stem, looks nice, feels more like acrylic. I like it but it did split lengthwise shortly after receiving it. I still smoke it as it hasn't affected the smoking properties that much.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have two horn stems, and one bone (but my guesstimate is that it is really antler). They are really in between vulcanite and acrylic. They don't have the rubberyness, but they aren't so hard as to click against the teeth like acrylic does. It has a little give to it. But, if you are a chewer, avoid them.
There isn't as much maintenance as vulcanite, as I have yet to anything at all to any of them, but wipe them down after smoking, given the obligatory pipecleaner.
I really like mine, and I would gladly add more to my collection.

 

[fishnbanjo]

Love them!

banjo

 

[cortezattic]

I had a Ropp back in the late 60's. I chewed-up the button pretty badly, but that probably wouldn't happen today as I rarely clench pipes with my teeth anymore. I think you should try one -- just for the novelty of it.

 

[crashthegrey]

You'll never know for sure if you don't just take the plunge. Experience is king!

 

[crashthegrey]

Just be sure it is not still attached to the animal.

 

[kokomanga]

Just be sure it is not still attached to the animal.

not sure. but this made me laugh :D

 

[jpmcwjr]

not sure. but this made me laugh :D

Welcome from the Central Coast of California!
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[mso489]

If the late great fish'n'banjo said horn was okay, it's okay with me. I've been suspicious of it for brittleness and being hard against the teeth, but the idea of something organic as a stem has appeal. But no horn stem pipes on my rack. Then there was the hornpipe, a dance done by square-rigger sailors, but that's a different subject.

 

[tkcolo]

I LOVE my Ropp cutty. My stem also split lengthwise, but it doesn't affect smoking. It is soft on my teeth, softer than vulcanite. It had darkened quite a bit, and my teeth have worn it down a little. So it feels little fuzzy for lack of a better term. Seems like it will not last 30 years with regular clenching, but who knows. I'd buy a replacement stem for future use if I could. It's one of my favorite pipes.

 

[kokomanga]

I LOVE my Ropp cutty. My stem also split lengthwise, but it doesn't affect smoking. It is soft on my teeth, softer than vulcanite. It had darkened quite a bit, and my teeth have worn it down a little. So it feels little fuzzy for lack of a better term. Seems like it will not last 30 years with regular clenching, but who knows. I'd buy a replacement stem for future use if I could. It's one of my favorite pipes.

I've been eyeing on the cutty, but I wasn't sure with the organic-grass-fed stem. Thanks for the info.

 

[cigrmaster]

I have two pipes with horn stems and they take a bit to get used to. Both of mine are from Trever Talbert. One is a Goblin, the other a Ligne Bretagne Collector. Both smoke just fine once you get used to them as they are not heavy pipes.
Here is the Goblin.

Here is the LB.

 

[BROBS]

I have two pipes with horn stems and they take a bit to get used to. Both of mine are from Trever Talbert. One is a Goblin, the other a Ligne Bretagne Collector. Both smoke just fine once you get used to them as they are not heavy pipes.
Here is the Goblin.

Here is the LB.

Is the tenon metal?