Are Savinelli pipes really that great?

[jpmcwjr]

... but I read that cherry wood was once the defacto material among pipe makers, until they discovered superior absorption in briar root (that briar wood is actually a root, and roots grow for the absorption of moisture). It may have also been more economical to use during this changeover period as well.

Do you have a link to the article? Or a time frame of when cherrywood was preferred? I've been under the impression that briar root was sturdier than just about any other material.
Absorption of moisture isn't much of a concern if the tobacco is dry and the smoking technique within bounds.

 

[fitzy]

I've got more Savinelli's than any other brand pipe. I personally would buy a Sav over the same priced Peterson any day of the week and at their low end price point I personally don't believe there's a better pipe.
As for your filter question. I don't believe it has anything to do with the quality of the briar. More like a way for them to try and distinguish themselves a bit more.
The ones I have that take the 6mm filter also come with an adapter to smoke it without the filter but to be honest it's not like a regular filter like in some of the 9mm or the cobs. I can't tell the difference with or without the filter so I generally leave them in.
I have had 0 issues with any of my Sav's and they smoke like a dream. One of my favorite's is a Gais author. As for the aligator I'm not crazy about that finish but that's just personal preference.

 

[cigrmaster]

Savs are great starter pipes, compared to Peterterson they are spectacular.

 

[jackswilling]

I think it unfair to characterize them as "starter pipes" as they are enjoyed by smokers who are beginners as well as those puffing away for decades with the experience to appreciate what constitutes a good smoking pipe. I believe for the majority, Savinelli pipes are deemed to be good/great smokers and not "starter pipes."

 

[aldecaker]

I don't get it. A great starter pipe for starting what? If you're looking for something perfectly adequate for smoking tobacco in, wouldn't a Sav be the starter and the finisher?

 

[andrew]

I'm totally unbiased and I would say savinelli pipes are the greatest pipes that have ever existed since pipes have been created.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I think people call them starters because they are great smokers, and won't break the bank when first getting into pipe smoking.

 

[jackswilling]

^^^^ Makes sense

 

[puffndave]

jpmcwjr

Do you have a link to the article? Or a time frame of when cherrywood was preferred? I've been under the impression that briar root was sturdier than just about any other material.

zhttp://www.tobaccopipes.com/difference-between-briar-and-cherry-wood/

 

[puffndave]

Well folks, I decided to order that alligator-finished 320KS - picked it up at smokingpipes.com on sale, which is also a site which carries what I love, Cornell & Diehl Chopped Cigar Leaf at @ $26.74/lbs. P&C doesn't want to stock that, so it's their loss. The pipe, with some fresh 'baccy should arrive tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

 

[htmn246]

I have and smoke several Savs all are great

 

[Chasing Embers]

There ya go! Definitely let us know what you think! Here's a shot of my 904.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I am probably an outlier on this issue, because I have not had a tremendous amount of luck with Savinelli pipes. A year or so ago I picked up my first two Savinelli pipes. I was looking for a couple of lower end pipes for travel and thought they would work well. To be honest, I was a little surprised at the drilling, which was a little off, and on one of the two pipes (a bent billiard) the draw is really constricted through the upper part of the stem to the point that it takes a fair amount of effort to take a regular sized pipe cleaner. Now, in fairness, these were lower end Savinellis and the pipes were only around $100 each new. I think my expectations were just too high. Both pipes smoke just ok, but no where near as well as my Castellos, for example.

 

[seagullplayer]

The one I have is a fine pipe, but so is the Peterson I have.
That gator skin is a great looking pipe in my option, I hope you like it.
Folks can say otherwise but when it gets down to the root of it, we buy a pipe because

it appeals to us. Not because we need a better pipe. :wink:
There are people on here that have owned hundreds of pipes, you can't convince me that the

last pipe they bought was hundreds of times better than the one they started with.
"Starter pipe"; the first pipe you smoked.
Every pipe after that is the one you wanted to try next...

 

[ben88]

...only around $100 each new. I think my expectations were just too high...

Shouldn't $100 buy you more than a subpar pipe?

 

[clickklick]

Are Savinellis really that great?!
For a factory machine made pipe, they are hands down the best.

 

[tmb152]

It has been my experience that there are good and bad in all lines. I don't buy a pipe to impress anyone but myself. I see some lines waxed poetic on this forum over and over while others never mentioned. I have seen names dissed here that I have a great pipe from. I have some fabulous pipes that don't even have a name on them but were probably made by a famous house. I have several estate pipes I bought at auction that cost in the TEENS and some of those included the shipping as well! Some were clean, some required a lot of work, but are beautiful pipes and smoke great.
Spending a lot of money is no guarantee of anything other than going broke, and for those beginners out there, you don't need to pay a lot to get a good pipe. I've seen people buy pipes off the wall at the local drug store and get a good smoker, just not a work of art. I generally stay away from crazy designs and have found the simple basic pipe to more often than not be a pretty safe bet. To me, rather than buying by name, I look at each pipe as an individual and look for good briar, good design and good execution. And if it is an estate pipe in good shape but well smoked, I have to figure that it probably smoked well for someone to smoke it for years and years on end. But the beauty of pipes (at least up to now) is that there are more than ample choices to fit every taste, budget and need!

 

[tschiraldi]

I love the old Sav Nonpareils (I have four), but as for the newer ones... I hate them. I hate the balsa filters as they always seem to reach their saturation point while I am driving in my car. This leaves me with two choices; try to pull the pipe apart while driving and risk my life trying to change the filter, or set the pipe down unsmoked until I get home. Neither is a workable option for me. The adapter is just okay and smoking without either is like smoking through a wind tunnel!

 

[mso489]

Folks, if the Sav filter is the problem, remember they make some lines and specific pipes without filters. The entire Oscar Lucite series has no filter. The Sav churchwarden 601 pictured at left in my avatar has no filter. Many of the Rossi pipes, now a sub-brand of Sav, have no filters. And a number of other Sav series, like the extra large bowl Hercules and their Sav unfinished pipes have no filters. So if you like Savinelli otherwise, but don't like their filters, nor adaptors, nor smoking their filter pipes with no filter or adaptor, be of good cheer; they make many pipes without filters.

 

[michaelmirza]

I love Savinelli's. Great quality for a great price. I think the more open drawn when you take out the filter is actually a perk, though it can take a little getting used to to make sure you don't scorch your tobacco. I'm bidding on a 614 on Ebay as we speak.