Are Savinelli pipes really that great?

[tschiraldi]

I, too, like an open draw like those on my Castellos and Ascortis, but smoking a Savinelli, which was designed for a filter, without one is just too much. I feel the engineering gets messed up. Maybe I can use them in place of my CPAP machine!

 

[mackeson]

Yesyesyes

I currently own 3 of their filter pipes and 3 non. I've had a few more that I've gifted to friends to start their pipe journey. All are/have been great smokers. They are more than great pipes for the money, they are actually an amazing value for the quality you get for the price. I'm biased toward Italian pipes, but even so..

Sometimes I use filters in the ones designed for them, sometimes not. Always good smokes.

Many of the Rossi pipes, now a sub-brand of Sav, have no filters

I also have 2 of these in the Lucca line (no filter) . They are huge, very inexpensive, and smoke great

 

[puffndave]

My 320KS arrived, I'm smoking it now, and it's a fine pipe.
It looks exactly like the photo.
For such a voluminous job, it doesn't weigh a lot, and I'm surprised just how easy it is to clench with that stem.
I'm breaking it in with PS Luxury Bullseye Flake, which seems to be the most neutral 'baccy I have on hand right now. It smokes good, although with the balsa filter in the draw is open, enough that I may have to work very hard to overpack this pipe without it. Hopefully not too hard just to get a good draw.

 

[bigriggers01]

Just got the one Savinelli, a Roma pot, but its easily my favourite pipe. I had the chance to visit their shop in Milan a few months ago and that was full of what I regarded as really beautiful pipes.

 

[rfernand]

Their Authors (320) are very good. Even their seconds (Rossi). It's hard to go wrong with them.
I'm one of the mostly-Peterson folks here who has never had an issue. You ought to try their System pipes.

 

[beefeater33]

No, No they are not. A vintage Stanwell will outperform any day of the week, in my opinion..................

Sav's are good, but Stanwells are GREAT for the $$................ ::

 

[newbroom]

I've got only one Sav, and it's a treasure, because it was a gift from a forum member, not because it smokes good or looks good.

It was so lightly smoked that it seemed it required a little break in to show its true colors. I'm not sure, it could have been my techniques have improved or both.

I would never have purchased this pipe, a Freehand Autograph smooth straight grained "O" grade is way over my budget.

The draft hole is SO close to the bottom of this conical chamber that it takes some attention on my part to keep it clear, when packing and tamping....a light touch with the tamp and also that first pinch of tobacco.

For its size it is an amazingly comfortable clencher. Its appearance is flawless.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Note, nowadys the say Stanwells are Italy made-

 

[spanishkarl]

I've only been smoking a pipe on and off for about a year, and only have four pipes. Two of these are Savinelli 111KS's and Iove them. I don't like my smaller Stanwell and Parker ones as much.

 

[professorwheezy]

I have 2 Estate Savs. Both are "Extra" Series an 811KS and a 602KS. They were the largest pipes in my collection until very recently and are both great smokers. The stem on these dwarfed my other pipes (mainly Grabows) and as KS pipes (King Size) they have sizable bowls as well. But YES my Savs really are that great. For the Lower end of the mid range pipe market I would recommend them I even over Petersons.

 

[andvary]

My only Savinelli is the black rusticated Churchwarden. I posted the photo in another thread, sorry.

I think the model No. is 901, but I may be wrong (the texture on mine looks different). Bought it used, the stem-to-stummel connection was a little loose. I fixed it pretty easily, seems to be holding on fine. Can't see any fault in the construction. Wish I could smoke it more often, but the shape has its limitations.

Will I buy another - absolutely.