Any Magic Pioes?

[settersbrace]

I have read in the past (I believe in Dr. Fred Hanna's Perfect Smoke) about the elusive magic pipes, the one in a thousand that delivers the most flavorful, least troublesome smoking experience often without being dedicated to one type or style of pipe tobaccos. It's said that a collector would be considered fortunate to own more than just a couple pipes fitting that description and that ones chances of aquirring such a pipe are better if one sticks to buying high grade pipes as opposed to owning great numbers of low to mid grade models.

My own humble collection thus far holds mainly traditional shapes and it ranges from mid grade to a couple hand mades, one being a Radice and the other a Ferndown, the rest are a mix of old English and French estates as well as a few newer Italian factory pipes. The Ferndown is still being broke in but is an outstanding smoker and has the potential to become "magical" and only time will tell with that one. Out of all of them an unlikely contestant has emerged as having the attributes that could place it in the magic pipe catagory and it's a no name Italian billiard blast that has had a stem replacement along the way somewhere. I bought a few months back from Shantiques and it was a winner right out of the gate with no ghosting left from Dave's restoration. It smokes wonderfully and effortlessly and makes whatever I load it with just shine.

I'd like to hear about the pipes that some of you may have that seem to be "magical".

 

[dieseltech]

Well, I have a lower grade pipe that is a perfect smoker. It's a Calabresi, and it was the second pipe I bought back in 99. At the time I paid around $30 for it from a b&m. it has a couple of fills that stand out and that's part of what caused the lower price I'm sure. This thing is a 3/4 bent and it smokes amazingly! No matter what I smoke or how hard I puff, it's very seldom I have to relight a bowl and everything tastes great in it. I thought about smoking yard clippings to test the theory but decided I would stick to tobacco. But it's truly my go to pipe and my favorite out my all my pipes. I have a couple of higher end pipes that I wish would smoke as good as this pipe does.
Travis

 

[phred]

I don't yet have a truly "magic" pipe that qualifies under Dr. Hanna's criteria - but on the other hand, I'm a newcomer to smoking, so even if I had a "magic" pipe, I might not be using it correctly in order to allow its magical qualities to shine through...
I've had one "magical" smoke in a particular cob pipe, and while it's been good all of the other times I've smoked it, it's not consistent (which simply means that I'm not consistent, as I dedicated that pipe to a particular blend).
My Stanwell Zebrano is probably closest - I bought it to celebrate getting my current job, and so far have only smoked Va/Pers in it, and it's pretty reliable, though I've had a couple of really bad packing jobs that left it sputtering for a while until I stopped and repacked.
All of this leads me to believe that the "magic" is as much in the smoker as the pipe - once you've learned and mastered the basics, you're primed to find the "magic" when it happens, but you're not as likely to find it until then. IMHO, of course, and spoken as a n00b. :wink:

 

[numbersix]

Nice topic. All of my pipes are solid smokers, and some offer magical smokes from time to time but two standout as above average. These pipes never disappoint, even if I am rushing or do not take care when packing. Very forgiving pipes, always offer an enjoyable smoke and were not very expensive (in fact the Sav was an estate for $60).
Savinelli Chiara 502

Stanwell POY 2010 Bing

 

[mso489]

I have some pipes that have that extra aura to them. The most pronounced of that kind is a poker/pot/sitter

carved of Mountain Laurel by a the N.C. carver Jerry Perry. It's slightly asymmetrical and kind of zen like. It's

not showy or particularly artistic, but you know it didn't come out of any factory and you won't find a zippy

web site offering a similar item. The pipe has a kind of presence. You go commune with it.

 

[ravkesef]

Mine is a Comoy Tradition bulldog, acquired sometime in the 1960s.

 

[cortezattic]

Like numbersix, after years of "natural selection" nearly all of the pipes that have survived my occasional thinning of the herd are solid smokers; but this Radice Underwood, which I purchased mainly for its appearance, is a virtual ecstasy machine.

 

[numbersix]

numbersix, that Stannie POY is gorgeous

Thanks a lot Sparks. I am really very surprised at just how well it smokes. The bowl isn't very thick and the pencil shank I would have expected to be troublesome. And yet it never disappoints!
BTW, once I learned that the pipe existed I also searched high and low and it was not easy to find. I found mine here about 2 years ago:
http://www.bisgaard-pipes.com/
It was unsmoked and cost around $190. Paid about $220 with shipping. And even though I may have overpaid - the pipe was worth every penny and more (and it was still cheaper than other places I had found). I also found one at another dealer:
http://www.pfeifenkonsulat.at/shop/index.php?s=3&lang=ger
Pipes and Cigars had some only a month or two ago - for less than $100! You may wish to contact them and see if they have any more.

 

[settersbrace]

Mods: is it possible for you to correct my spelling in the title? Pipes not pios please, I goofed.