Blue Stem Blues

[mso489]

I keep trying to buy into blue pipe stems, but so far no luck. Like many, I have mostly the default black stems, but I do have a number of colored stems -- a beautiful Vulcanite Cumberland, a tortoise shell or two, some cream/ivory, even an orange swirly for one of my cob Forever stems and a swirly amber and white on my Sav Prince of Wales long-stem prince. But the Sav Oceana pipes, and others with blue stems still look unseemly to me. Explain to me the appeal, or why you don't care for them either. The blue just looks out of place on a pipe to me, so far.

 

[JMcQ]

I'm a fan of adding color to pipes. I think it adds to a pipe's personality.

 

[scloyd]

I like colored stems even though I only own two, a black & white swirly and a Chacom with a transluscent yellow stem. As for blue, if I wanted an Savinelli Oceana, I would have no problem with the blue stem.

We have a forum member, I don't remember who, that had a Scottie Piersel commission with a pink stem for Breast Cancer Awareness (if I remember the story correctly). It looked great. Maybe he will pipe in with a photo.

 

[mso489]

Color is pretty subjective. For example, I don't think I'd have any trouble with a green stem, the way I don't with the green stain on two of my pipes. It may also be that I haven't seen the blue stems on any pipes that might particularly suit them. However, I can't imagine it looking good on a cob, for example. Maybe some of those rusticated or black blast stummels that can look so stark could be picked up with a nice blue stem. I'd have to see it. Maybe on a bent billiard. Hmmm. Conceptually, I think a blue stem should look good on some pipe(s); I just don't see it yet.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I think they look great on morta pipes.

 

[BROBS]

I think they look great on morta pipes.

Right. Or a black sandblast.

On natural pipes I do not like blue.
I was looking at a Tom Spanu and while I really like the pipe, I couldn’t get past the blue stem.

I have a Fabrizio Romeo with a green and black stem that looks great IMO. I think it’s all about selecting the correct color and finish combo.

 

[BROBS]

 

[mso489]

Matching blue with a finish and shape is likely the key. On some of the pipes, it just looks stuck on. With the right match, it should be striking -- just "pop" as they say. I do like BROB's green stem, and the one on the special edition MM cob in acrylic. That darker blue on the Rhodesian looks pretty good. I'll keep an open mind.

 

[BrokenRecord]

Explain to me the appeal, or why you don't care for them either. The blue just looks out of place on a pipe to me, so far.

I think it looks great paired with a black pipe. Here is an Askwith rusticated Dublin.

 

[mso489]

Yeah!

 

[canucklehead]

How about a blue stem on a blue pipe? This is a pic from Brian Orton's Instagram, he uses a lot of colourful stems.

 

[BROBS]

How about a blue stem on a blue pipe? This is a pic from Brian Orton's Instagram, he uses a lot of colourful stems.

View attachment 37305

I like the pipe but why does it have a butt hole?

 

[canucklehead]

I like the pipe but why does it have a butt hole?

 

[BROBS]

View attachment 37306

Ohhh now I see it. I probably would have left that off.

 

[litup]

I do like blue stems on pipes and I own several. The first is an Ardor with a lighter blue, almost turquoise stem with black swirls in it. The natural finish of the briar has darkened quite a bit since this picture was taken but I still like the color combination.




This is a pipe made by Sam Adebayo with a light blue stem.


And this is a Savinelli Eleganza shape 320 that I like a lot.

 

[Sonorisis]

Got this from Walker right before their exit.

 

[Briar Baron]

I bought a Savinelli Eleganza shape 320, the same as above, and I also like it a lot.

 

[jonasclark]

I think a cobalt-blue stem would be beautiful on the right pipe. I can imagine that on a heavily-rusticated, jet black oom-paul, or full-bent egg, same finish.

 

[tobefrank]

I think Manduela does really nice pipes with blue stems such as the pipes below.

 

[kola]

Colors ( esp blue) look great on cobs, IMO. I had this one made, fits a variety of MM cobs.