Around 10 years ago I began to buy more pipes. I only had a half dozen at that time, but felt compelled to buy more. After all, growing up in the U.S. means being bombarded with messages that more is better. Consumerism. So I slowly began collecting pipes, though I didn’t think of it as collecting at the time. Just more willing to piss away money on things I didn’t need, but wanted. Desire. The lure of pipes and tobacco is sorta mysterious. For me, beyond the taste of the tobacco, it links to a tradition. Coming from a splintered family, that is psychologically grounding. Esthetics also play a big part. Just as I consider esthetics when buying a car, a pipe or any other object has an esthetic dimension. Of course this is entirely subjective, but it does enter into the smoking experience. For me, not everyone I suppose. Other factors : I used to sit with my grandfather as he smoked ; if it weren’t for that maybe I never would have started with pipes.
Anyway as I began growing my pipes, I pestered Marty Pulvers for info on how to discern quality. With certain other consumer goods, cars for example, it is easier to sort out what accounts for differences in price. Finally (in exasperation ?) he said “Nobody knows anything”. I’m sure what he meant by that was that pipe quality cannot be easily related to price or brand. And so began my trial and error collection. Usually I buy estates averaging around $200 to $300, though occasionally much less. I’m constantly weeding out, sending pipes to SP for credit, sacrificing a lot each year in a constant pursuit of a better smoke.
A few “interesting” estate pipes:
A Dunhill Shell circa 1966. That model highly recommended by a certain M.P. Tasted really strange, and I don’t think it was a ghost. Got rid of it.
A vintage Barling, $325 ?, just never smoked worth a damn.
A GBD with unusual lines, gorgeous pipe. Had a replacement stem. Smoked it once. Never had a pipe smoke So hot and So wet, got rid of it immediately.
A Cavicchi bent brandy, without question the most beautiful pipe I’ve ever owned, with striking straight grain all around. Could have won some kind of design award. Had a bite, a really sharp taste. Thought maybe if I smoke it twenty times this will go away, but lost patience and got rid of it. I don’t feel like wasting 20 smokes.
A GBD Dublin, one with the gold ellipse, a somewhat rare find I think. Asked the vendor to make sure it would pass a pipe cleaner. She did, and mailed it. Turned out she tested it apart, not together (brilliant). That pipe would not pass a pipe cleaner no way, no how, bend the tip and twirl, say a mantra, Nothing worked. Returned for refund. The only pipe I’ve ever encountered with that problem. Maybe an easy repair ? Don’t know.
A recent purchase, an Oldenkott for $60, the grain is unremarkable but in every other way is just outstanding. Great smoker. Go figure.
So in the end, what’s my point ? Not every pipe you buy is going to please, regardless of price. And there are mysterious factors that cause some pipes to taste “off”, at least in my experience. You may know some reasons for this in a general way, but each pipe is different.
I have a couple pipes – a GBD Canadian and a DonCarlos ring grain billiard – that from the first two draws taste outstanding. Why ? Beats me.
