ArmyMount Pipes And Their Origin

[Celius]

I really like army mounts and have a Peterson Army 69 myself.
Recently I stumbled upon this very interesting set on Smokingpipes, that dates from 1898:

English Estates Antique Barling Four Pipe Presentation Set with Silver (1898) | Buy English Estates Tobacco Pipes at Smokingpipes.com

Smokingpipes.com is your one stop shop for English Estates Antique Barling Four Pipe Presentation Set with Silver (1898) Tobacco Pipes and all your tobacco smoking needs. From new tobacco pipes and estate tobacco pipes to tin pipe tobacco and bulk pipe tobacco, we have everything you need

www.smokingpipes.com

Part of the set is an army mount pipe.
So the myth that the army mounts were a WW1 soldier invention is not true it seems, since they clearly existed alredy 1898.

This said, do you like this kind of pipes?
What good non estate army mount pipes are currently out there, that are worth getting?
I am thinking of buying a Chacom army pipe.

 

[haparnold]

Peterson are probably the kings of army mount pipes in the modern era. I don't think many people gave a lot of credence to the idea that they were invented in the trenches, but it's certainly a handy feature, no matter where it came from. I'm indifferent about the aesthetic of army mounts, but I love the functionality.

 

[condorlover1]

I always thought that army mounts came about because someone broke their pipe and came up with a 'jerry rigged' solution using a .303 cartridge or is that the 'spigot' arrangement. I always get confused by the whole subject although my Uncle Charles used to make a wicked trench candle holder out of a Krupps shell case!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I've always heard it was in the Crimean War, not WW1. But, regardless, there is always a thread of truth to myths. I'm sure that in the trenches, men fixed their own pipes... but, they may have learned the trick from watching their dads fix their own pipes while out hunting... or, a pipemaker could have marketed the style to the military. I'm not really sure.

 

[Celius]

I've always heard it was in the Crimean War, not WW1. But, regardless, there is always a thread of truth to myths. I'm sure that in the trenches, men fixed their own pipes... but, they may have learned the trick from watching their dads fix their own pipes while out hunting... or, a pipemaker could have marketed the style to the military. I'm not really sure.

Yes, Crimean war makes more sense.

 

[Chasing Embers]

This said, do you like this kind of pipes?

They're okay. I aquired these while still buying just to add to my yachtsman collection.

 

[Elric]

The version of the story I heard involved the cavalry soldiers tucking them into their belts and then summarily breaking them when riding.

 

[Ctbill]

I'm a fan, and mostly for function. Quick breakdown after a smoke, clean it up, and back on the rack. No waiting for it to cool, or worrying about the tenon/mortise swell. They pack & travel well broken down. No fuss stem removal mid-smoke on the bents (especially system pipes) to run a pipe cleaner if it gets "gurgly" (if that's a real word).
I have 6 various sizes/shapes from Peterson of modern pedigree (303, 03(x2), 86, 230, 999)

 

[Chasing Embers]

Quick breakdown after a smoke, clean it up, and back on the rack. No waiting for it to cool, or worrying about the tenon/mortise swell.

I do that with all of my pipes.

 

[mso489]

I'm not sure the rapid-breakdown story is fact or myth, but another part of it is that the original examples were crafted in the trenches by soldiers out of cartridges/shells. Another aspect is that they were repairs on standard briar pipes that had broken. Possibly it was just another modification on pipe construction that was mythologized during one war or another. The issue about whether it is unwise to remove the stem of a pipe while it is still warm lives on. Many do this with no problem, while others observe the old taboo. Since I have a number of pipes, I let them cool, but it isn't a religion with me. I don't think the history is provable, so we can choose among our favorite stories.

 

[Ctbill]

I do that with all of my pipes.

Fair enough.
I should have added - I have mostly (but not always) adopted the "hot water rinse" lately (when available), so I have a bit more moisture to deal with. I still do this on regular stems, but wait until dry to reassemble...

 

[Chasing Embers]

I have mostly (but not always) adopted the "hot water rinse" lately

Something I'll never do but have had no issue breaking down a warm pipe.

 

[jojoc]

I have a Peterson Spigot that I really like, both the look and function. I also have a Becker & Musico Army Mount which again is a beautiful pipe. Although I have never had a stim or shank break due to taking a pipe apart while still warm, I do like the function of the Army Mount.