My first non-cob was a Czech basket pipe that I bought for $30. It smoked great, and continues to smoke great, 20 years later, despite the low cost. It's a nice quarter bent brandy that felt nice to hold, and can pass a cleaner well. I really would advise getting something you like to hold, and then practice your cadence and drying and loading methods in the same pipe so that you can establish a baseline of "when I do this, my pipe does this; when I do that my pipe does that" and so on. I'm not a huge cob fan, other than for quick smokes and loaners.
Beginner Pipe Styles
- Thread starter frigidlollipop
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If you're thinking of briar check out the pipes on Marty Pulvers site, the proceeds of which are being donated to a pipe maker Rolando Negoita who had brain surgery. Marty has really been posting great prices on all the pipes, including those less expensive. Cobs are great, and I never picked up on the "nasty corn flavor." You can't get more value than the bag of MM seconds.
Cosmic, thank you for posting your thoughts! I'm wondering if I shouldn't go with at least one other pipe if I do go the way of the cob; I don't mind throwing a solid 100 if it means making sure I've got some quality starters.
elpfeife, when you say a bit of mileage to obtain it, about how long is that? I've been struck with a fear of cheap plastic and cob scent that I didn't know I had, hah!
jgriff, thanks, I'm gonna look into those brands, too, and paulfg, thanks for answering my question!
9mmpuffer, I don't know much about filters. Now I have more reading to do!
davek, at least you're honest about being a cob thug I guess! I'm not completely out on the cob thing, but I'm entertaining other ideas now. I know it sounds stupid and probably shouldn't be a factor, but cobs are really ugly to me, I'm sorry!
mso489, I've had Dr. Grabow recommended to me before. I believe the one mentioned was called the "bulldog?" Any experience or opinions on it?
mikefu, thanks for posting your experience! and saltedplug, thank you for yours as well!
elpfeife, when you say a bit of mileage to obtain it, about how long is that? I've been struck with a fear of cheap plastic and cob scent that I didn't know I had, hah!
jgriff, thanks, I'm gonna look into those brands, too, and paulfg, thanks for answering my question!
9mmpuffer, I don't know much about filters. Now I have more reading to do!
davek, at least you're honest about being a cob thug I guess! I'm not completely out on the cob thing, but I'm entertaining other ideas now. I know it sounds stupid and probably shouldn't be a factor, but cobs are really ugly to me, I'm sorry!
mso489, I've had Dr. Grabow recommended to me before. I believe the one mentioned was called the "bulldog?" Any experience or opinions on it?
mikefu, thanks for posting your experience! and saltedplug, thank you for yours as well!
If you are ready to drop 100, get a Dr. Grabow briar or an estate for $30-$40 and a cob for $5-$6. I get Legends at a local store for $4. I'm a cob thug 
but I'm currently smoking a blend which is better in a Briar and smoking them almost exclusively. Even before that, I just felt like a briar sometimes.
but I'm currently smoking a blend which is better in a Briar and smoking them almost exclusively. Even before that, I just felt like a briar sometimes.
I've found a Dr Grabow Freehand pipe that I really like for a little over $40, and also a couple of MM that I'd like to try. The MM are all out of stock though, and I'm hoping they'll be back by the end of the week. Might just grab that Grabow while I wait, though.
You can order MM cobs from their own website, lollipop
Here's the link. https://corncobpipe.com/
As you can see, we are all different in our likes. You definitely need one of each to satisfy your own preferences. You can get a Grabow or similar briar, a cob and a tin of tobacco or two for under $100 on P&C and get free shipping. Don't forget some pipe cleaners, a pipe tool or "nail" and maybe a lighter.
Get a cob and a briar and smoke the same tobacco from both until you've given yourself a good idea of the differences. Each will impart its own flavor, especially during break in.
I enjoy my briars at home and pipe club, mostly. I toss the cob into my bag when out and about. If I lose or destroy it, I'd not care so much.
Main thing is, enjoy yourself. There is no wrong choice at this point. Happy hunting and welcome!
Get a cob and a briar and smoke the same tobacco from both until you've given yourself a good idea of the differences. Each will impart its own flavor, especially during break in.
I enjoy my briars at home and pipe club, mostly. I toss the cob into my bag when out and about. If I lose or destroy it, I'd not care so much.
Main thing is, enjoy yourself. There is no wrong choice at this point. Happy hunting and welcome!
You've asked a question to which there are only very subjective answers. It's neither a good nor bad idea The cob is very distinctive from a the briar, as the meerschaum is different from the other two. Most people start with briar. I consider cobs to be disposable pipes, for fishing and mowing the lawn. They do smoke differently, different tastes, etc. than briars and some make the cob the pipe of choice.
You can find a decent quality Savinelli estate on eBay for less than $100. Not sure why one would consider a Dr Granite when they could have a Savinelli. I mostly agree with cosmic about the cobs. If you'd take a first date to McDonald's, maybe a cob is best for you though.
You can also mosey over to smokingpipes.com and try using their "pipe locator" tool at the bottom of their webpage to get a good idea of what is available for a reasonable price.
jaytex969, thanks for the reminder on the supplies. I would hate to place an order and forget those things; I live where I'm unsure how easy it would be to mosey into town and pick them up.
warren, I didn't consider that some pipes were "disposable" compared to others before visiting this forum, so I learned something at least. I was pretty set on only buying one originally until hearing everyone's experiences.
hoosierpipeguy, thank you for your post. I really don't know what the hell I'd be looking for estate-wise besides "that looks cool", and thus feel I may not be able to fully appreciate what I get if I go that route. I have no idea how easy or possible it is to "ruin" a great pipe through inexperience, that's all. Puts me off the idea a bit.
upnorth1, thanks, I'll take a look.
warren, I didn't consider that some pipes were "disposable" compared to others before visiting this forum, so I learned something at least. I was pretty set on only buying one originally until hearing everyone's experiences.
hoosierpipeguy, thank you for your post. I really don't know what the hell I'd be looking for estate-wise besides "that looks cool", and thus feel I may not be able to fully appreciate what I get if I go that route. I have no idea how easy or possible it is to "ruin" a great pipe through inexperience, that's all. Puts me off the idea a bit.
upnorth1, thanks, I'll take a look.
Welp, turns out I'm full of crap. I ended up with a Savinelli Porto Cervo Rusticated and a Country Gentleman Bent, as well as a few of the blends of tobacco you guys mentioned throughout this thread. I'll try to snap some pictures for you guys if you're interested! Thanks for all your help, I figured I'd better just take the plunge and get something I like! :wink:
I dunno if I qualify under Cosmic's definition of "cob thug" , but it's true I do like & recommend them. Not as a sole choice for one's first few pipes, though. Picking up a couple or three good pipe shop briar seconds, or estates from a reliable source***, is "part of a nutritious breakfast." Depends on how much you smoke; conventional wisdom generally is that a briar shouldn't be oversmoked (especially when new), thus if you were to limit to briars & one/two bowls a day you'd need at least half a dozen to be able to rotate properly.
*** -- When I say "reliable" I mean "NOT eBay." You can find some really good bargains & reputable dealers there, but you really really REALLY have to know both what you're doing **&** know who the shady sellers are. Not that easy to master until you've picked up a good deal of personal experience *&* been able to take advantage of the collective body of wisdom from folks here & elsewhere.
, but it's true I do like & recommend them. Not as a sole choice for one's first few pipes, though. Picking up a couple or three good pipe shop briar seconds, or estates from a reliable source***, is "part of a nutritious breakfast." Depends on how much you smoke; conventional wisdom generally is that a briar shouldn't be oversmoked (especially when new), thus if you were to limit to briars & one/two bowls a day you'd need at least half a dozen to be able to rotate properly.*** -- When I say "reliable" I mean "NOT eBay." You can find some really good bargains & reputable dealers there, but you really really REALLY have to know both what you're doing **&** know who the shady sellers are. Not that easy to master until you've picked up a good deal of personal experience *&* been able to take advantage of the collective body of wisdom from folks here & elsewhere.
bnichols23, I am really excited for my cob, but found myself really excited about that estate savinelli when I saw it. I got both from SmokingPipes, my friend who is further along in his pipe journey said it should be fine when I asked.
Of pipes I have that I have currently of the sub $20 to over $100 range, this pipe smoker (that has returned after a 20yr hiatus), would say estate Savinellis are the best value.
A $40 Roma line estate pipe (from Smokingnpipes) is my best smoker and I am finding that my MM pipes last 2-3 months before they are toast.
Sure, they are fine for awhile, and everyone should be familiar w them, but briar is where it’s at.
For new Morgan Bones pipes are somewhere between the two in quality but equal in longevity to briar
A $40 Roma line estate pipe (from Smokingnpipes) is my best smoker and I am finding that my MM pipes last 2-3 months before they are toast.
Sure, they are fine for awhile, and everyone should be familiar w them, but briar is where it’s at.
For new Morgan Bones pipes are somewhere between the two in quality but equal in longevity to briar
8O
Wow, what are you doing to them? I have one over 10 years old that is still in great condition.
Follow you complete, lollipop. I always had at LEAST 4-5 Savinellis in my collection. For my coins one of the best brands out there for a "drug of choice" pipe.
My first pipe was a Savinelli and I am damned glad it was. It gave me a frame of reference as to how a good pipe should smoke so when I bought a bad one, I knew it right away.
Cobs are a horrible place to start in my opinion. As stated above they are cheap and the stems are shit. If you cannot afford to spend 75-100 for a new pipe, you may not want to even start pipe smoking. While it is a cheap way to smoke great tobacco, buying all kinds of blends to find out what you like does take some money.
Cobs are a horrible place to start in my opinion. As stated above they are cheap and the stems are shit. If you cannot afford to spend 75-100 for a new pipe, you may not want to even start pipe smoking. While it is a cheap way to smoke great tobacco, buying all kinds of blends to find out what you like does take some money.
KWYM on cobs, Harris; the only reason I suggest them for new smokers is that they're easier to get, whereas a B&M with a selection of decent seconds or barrel pipes isn't always readily available for a lot of people, worse luck. BITWonderfulD (i.e., late 60s-80s) they were a lot more numerous. -sigh-
I do agree, though, that it's an easy trap to get turned off pipes completely if you get a cob & then smoke blazes out of it without proper guidance. The very reason I always emphasize to people that if they're at all serious at first, get *A* cob, but don't get *FIVE* & rely just on them. Gotta have briar. Gotta. [I will now hunker down & wait for the explosions re clays, cherrywood (which I happen to like, BTW), olive, & associated inexpensive hardwoods. :P ]
Bill
I do agree, though, that it's an easy trap to get turned off pipes completely if you get a cob & then smoke blazes out of it without proper guidance. The very reason I always emphasize to people that if they're at all serious at first, get *A* cob, but don't get *FIVE* & rely just on them. Gotta have briar. Gotta. [I will now hunker down & wait for the explosions re clays, cherrywood (which I happen to like, BTW), olive, & associated inexpensive hardwoods. :P ]
Bill
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