Interesting note about using it for reviews. I have a Viking pipe I bought as a lightly used estate pipe. The notes about it call it a bent apple, but it is basically an author now that I’ve learned more about pipe shapes. It may be smaller than the Savinelli 320, but I’ll have to actually buy one of those to know for sure. And it is a serious consideration because I simply love the size of the bowl (wider and shallower) and the feel of it in my hand is simply perfect. A true comfort pipe!
The author and apple are two of my favorite pipe shapes in great part to the reason you gave in your last two sentences. Also, the looks of them appeal to me greatly.
I should note that my "bent apple" Viking aligns more to the 321 than the 320, but that's still an author:
www.smokingpipes.com
I am hoping you provide your experience with the Hercules and a comparison if you also have the KS size.
I absolutely will, but unfortunately this is the only author shape so far for me. Hoping it arrives soon, been really looking forward to it, as I dont buy myself new pipes very often.
I hope to make a quick visit to a local tobaconist this weekend to check out their Savenilli and Peterson pipes. I am torn between the two brands and since I have two author types, the Peterson may give me a different experience.
I can give a bit of my experiences between the 2 brands if you care at all. I have 3 new Petersons, and 2 new Savinellis(hopefully that 3rd arrives soon). As well as 3 Old Petes and 1 Old Sav. The difference between the Old vs New Savinellis is minor, All smoke perfect, nice clean smooth draw, fit and finish is top notch.
Thank you for your generous appraisal. Perhaps if I am patient I can find an old Peterson. Presently I am happy with the $50 used pipes I've found and it probably makes little practical sense to pay three times that amount or more for a chance on trouble.
Savinelli made a smaller version of the 320, I can't recall the shape number.
It's like anything else subjective, for some it does, for others not at all, but like the bulldog and rhodesian shapes, an author won't be a part of my collection.
I believe that you are referring to the Savinelli 321. It is similar but a little smaller.
Dealers choice really, Lots of people out there that are very happy with new Petes, and you might end up being one of them. But yeah, prices of new pipes are just ludicrous these days, most of the pipes I buy are estates. Get better pipes at better prices that way, only time I buy new is If I cant get what I want used.
The only pipe I've bought brand-spanking-new-in-the-box (so, not counting unsmoked estate pipes from SP.com) is a Peterson Kinsale XL14 rusticated, just 3 years ago and I absolutely love the way that thing smokes: and the quality can be felt just by holding it. Maybe I lucked out, but I feel that I can stand by the quality compared to my other pipes, which are an assortment of unsmoked and refurbished estate pipes, include a Stanwell, a BriarWorks, a Randy Wiley, a Viking and an HS Studio.
