Are Expensive Cobs Better?

[ziv]

I only own 3 pipes so far, all of them being MM corn cobs, and the one I like the most is the most expensive out of the 3 - the Country Gentleman.
Now, MM sell corn cobs for up to $50, but would it make sense to buy one that's more expensive than the CG? I know some people say they love the Charles Towne Cobbler or the Cobbit series, but what's the difference - is it just the stem material?
Thanks!

 

[Chasing Embers]

No

is it just the stem material?

Yes

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Nope.

The Legend is just fine.

They're really pushing the upper limits of what you can charge for a cob.

 

[Swiss Army Knife]

The cob itself is always just a cob.
You're paying more for acrylic stems instead of the horrible propionate plastic, nickel, silver or other precious metal bands rather than simple plastic ones and finally the weirder shapes.

Frankly I think the mid $30 range those pipes sit at is fair. You'd be spending close to that doing it secondhand through Vermont Freehand anyway.

 

[ziv]

The cob itself is always just a cob.
You're paying more for acrylic stems instead of the horrible propionate plastic, nickel, silver or other precious metal bands rather than simple plastic ones and finally the weirder shapes.

Frankly I think the mid $30 range those pipes sit at is fair. You'd be spending close to that doing it secondhand through Vermont Freehand anyway.

Yeah, I have looked at Forever Stems.
Do you think acrylic stem vs plastic makes a big difference?

 

[proteus]

If you mean more expensive within the brand then yes. Missouri Meerschaum used acrylic stems and more esthetics in the higher price points. But that's less than $50 in most cases. But that's only for esthetic reasons. Great MM pipes can be had under 10 to 20. The cob comes from a special corn plant they grow specific for cob pipes as I understand. Do other makers use such a plant or do they have the experience of decades behind them in making cobs? I don't know. But I do know every MM pipe I have is exceptional.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Those plastic stems are cheap, and they'll last a long time.

Plus, I find them to be pretty damn comfortable.

 

[ziv]

If you mean more expensive within the brand then yes. Missouri Meerschaum used acrylic stems and more esthetics in the higher price points. But that's less than $50 in most cases. But that's only for esthetic reasons. Great MM pipes can be had under 10 to 20. The cob comes from a special corn plant they grow specific for cob pipes as I understand. Do other makers use such a plant or do they have the experience of decades behind them in making cobs? I don't know. But I do know every MM pipe I have is exceptional.

Yeah, I wasn't considering other brands of corn cobs, I think MM is great.
Was just wondering if it makes sense to pay say $35 for a higher tier corn cob vs a CG which can be had for $16.

 

[Chasing Embers]

They've pushed the $50 cob for a while. The 2015 and 2018 reverse calabash pipes were $50.

 

[Pipke]

Was just wondering if it makes sense to pay say $35 for a higher tier corn cob vs a CG which can be had for $16.

I noticed that when you jump up into the $35 range, many of the MM pipes have corn cob stems. I like the look of that, so I'll pay the $35.

I also look at bowl size. I will not get a Dwarf Cobbit because it has a pretty small bowl. Others are sized like the CG, which has a "standard" size bowl. I'd choose those.

Opinions only...

 

[kcghost]

As @Chasing Embers said the answers, in order, are "No" and then "Yes".

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Those plastic stems are cheap, and they'll last a long time.

Plus, I find them to be pretty damn comfortable.

I find the plastic bits to be very comfortable for clenching. I prefer the Danish bits. They are only a few dollars a piece and they fit me a little better.

I have Forever stems but I am reverting back to the stock plastic bits or the Danish bits. These bits fit me better and feel softer. The only cob left with a Forever stem is a fifth avenue diplomat with a semi- churchwarden stem. I don’t clench that pipe. It took getting used to the wide open draw with the plastic bits but now I prefer it. It took some trial and error to figure it all out.

 

[Briar Lee]

I only own 3 pipes so far, all of them being MM corn cobs, and the one I like the most is the most expensive out of the 3 - the Country Gentleman.
Now, MM sell corn cobs for up to $50, but would it make sense to buy one that's more expensive than the CG? I know some people say they love the Charles Towne Cobbler or the Cobbit series, but what's the difference - is it just the stem material?
Thanks!

I’ve visited the MM factory and personally seen the aged two years cobs funneled down a chute to the factory floor, where my fellow Missourians using ancient machines make each usable cob into a pipe.

The man who can’t be proud of Missouri after touring the factory at Washington might as well become an Arkansawyer or Jayhawker and leave!.

There was one model of pipe, the Freehand, that is made from an extra large, oversized, specially selected cob on one machine, over in the corner, by one worker. Otherwise it’s a craft based mass production process using stations.

More expensive pipes use extra large cobs, and have better stems, and are plastered more, and stained, and have wooden dowels in the bottom.

But every cob is raised by Missouri Meerschaum on their farm and picked using antique corn pickers, using their own patented hybrid seed, and shelled and aged at least two years in the attic.

They are all the same quality, just some fancier and larger than others.

 

[didimauw]

Yeah, I have looked at Forever Stems.
Do you think acrylic stem vs plastic makes a big difference?

I personally don't like the forever stems. I have 2 originals with brass dots, and I have 1 from Vermont freehand, before they took over forever stems. I feel the draw is too restricted on the FS and I get gurgle every time. They are made well, good looking, smooth buttons, but gurgle from the tight draw.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I prefer the Danish bits

Those were always my favorite.

 

[ziv]

I’ve visited the MM factory and personally seen the aged two years cobs funneled down a chute to the factory floor, where my fellow Missourians using ancient machines make each usable cob into a pipe.

The man who can’t be proud of Missouri after touring the factory at Washington might as well become an Arkansawyer or Jayhawker and leave!.

There was one model of pipe, the Freehand, that is made from an extra large, oversized, specially selected cob on one machine, over in the corner, by one worker. Otherwise it’s a craft based mass production process using stations.

More expensive pipes use extra large cobs, and have better stems, and are plastered more, and stained, and have wooden dowels in the bottom.

But every cob is raised by Missouri Meerschaum on their farm and picked using antique corn pickers, using their own patented hybrid seed, and shelled and aged at least two years in the attic.

They are all the same quality, just some fancier and larger than others.

Thanks! The Freehand looks enormous to me, I probably don't need a bowl that large.

 

[Briar Lee]

Thanks! The Freehand looks enormous to me, I probably don't need a bowl that large.

The cost of the raw materials used to make a MM pipe has to be negligible.

They’ve paid off the factory and the machinery and their 90 acres of land well over a century ago. When I visited every worker in the factory except the head office secretary was paid minimum wage, and zero benefits.

They have an effective monopoly on quality corn cob pipes all over the world.

When there are other competitors they’ll buy them up. They’ve done that for over a hundred years.

You and me might buy a few pipes from their website but the vast and overwhelming amount of their sales are to wholesalers and retailers for resale.

The biggest threat to Missouri Meerschaum is the proximity of Washington to good paying jobs in St Louis, with benefits.

If they had to pay full market rates for labor in the St Louis metro area the price we’d pay for pipes would be much higher, and they’d sell far fewer.

They take the cobs that are a by product of corn production and make a useful product.

 

[DesertDan]

I like cobs very much and have many, but I won't pay over $30 for one.

 

[bullet08]

It's a corn cob. If Huckleberry Finn can make a cob pipe.. MM cob internal is all about the same. Cored cob and shank with spoon. Expensive or not, there isn't much to it. Tom had no problem smoking Huck's pipe.

 

[Briar Lee]

It's a corn cob. If Huckleberry Finn can make a cob pipe.. MM cob internal is all about the same. Cored cob and shank with spoon. Expensive or not, there isn't much to it. Tom had no problem smoking Huck's pipe.

I grew up being able to see Big Tussle (Home of the Clampett family before Jed struck oil) from my bedroom window.

Vance Randolf and Walkin’ Preacher of the Ozarks Guy Howard and Laura Engels Wilder’s daughter visited my grandmother and I can remember them.

The business of profiting from hillbilly culture I’ve been exposed to all my life.

The real deal, bona fide, actual old time hillbillies of sixty or so years ago DID NOT SMOKE CORN COB PIPES where others could see them look like hillbillies.

I have never seen a man in public smoke a corn cob pipe on the street. Not ever one time.

When I was at college, I was leaving to go home to Humansville one Friday afternoon smoking a cob (for effect) and a well meaning, cheerful kid from St Louis saw me and said

Are yew a goin’ home to Hooterville with your corn cob pipe with your hillbillies?

And some girls he was with laughed

God forgive me, I grabbed that boy by his collar and said

My mother has supper waiting for me

Or I would mop this floor with you

And tears came in his eyes, he meant no harm, and I felt bad about embarrassing him

After that I only smoke a cob around other hillbillies like me, you know?