Briar Stem

[verporchting]

Just saw Genod is offering older style pipes with briar stems. Interesting idea, does anyone have any experience with this?

Thoughts re: cleaning, chatter, flavor, comfort clenching, other?

 

[jaingorenard]

I really like the look of them, and have been tempted.

I have one old all-briar pipe. Cleaning - easy. Chatter - a bit of a problem, honestly, but if you just let it rest in your teeth it's fine. Flavour - yes, you can taste the wood I think. Comfort - think lolly pop stick.

All in all, I think there are good reasons it's not a common stem material.

 

[didimauw]

Yeah my first initial thought is chewing right through them. But I like the look of some of them. I'm more of a hanger these days, so I don't think it would really matter.

 

[mso489]

If you have quite a few pipes, however you define that,, it would probably last a long time. Any regular or intense use would probably have it gnawed away soon. If you try one, let us know how it works out.

 

[georged]

If wood made a good stem material, pipes would be one piece today because they would have always been one piece.

But... the PipeWorld has seen vulcanite, amber, Bakelite, horn, bone, polyester, nylon, Juma, and endless formulations of acrylic.

You do the math.

 

[AroEnglish]

I’ve heard they’re not fun to clench but I still want one

 

[Humblepipe]

My good friend @TheIronMonkey has a Kaywoodie All Briar... He may have some info about the experiance with a briar stem.

 

[yanoJL]

Just posting a link (to one of the shapes) here for anyone who's interested...

Genod: Millesime Smooth Billiard with Briar Stem (577B) Tobacco Pipe

 

[huckleberry]

I think any briar stem I would stick in my pie hole, would eventually get chewed on, to some extent. I habitually chew on toothpicks while busy doing whatever.

With the temptation of briar in my mouth, it would be just a matter of time…

Maybe I was a dog in a previous life with a stick chewing habit….LoL

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I generally don’t clench my pipes, so can’t report on how the clenching feels. I have a few pipes with wood stems and a common factor is they have a kind of astringent quality—I guess the wood absorbs some moisture from your mouth and for me it’s noticeable; it’s a different sensation in the mouth than vulcanite, acrylic, or nylon ... maybe some similarities to horn, but not completely similar.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Pity it seems they only have taper stems or I'd give one a go.

 

[Searock Fan]

If briar stems were a good idea, we would see more of them.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have never left clench marks on a pipe stem, but that said I still have no attraction for a briar stem. I think they are more a novelty.

 

[Chasing Embers]

My 50th birthday is quickly approaching. I may commission one with an amethyst band, a silver pisces, and a briar stem.

 

[tobakenist]

Briar is brittle, if you gentle clench briar it would crumble, that's a fact.

 

[verporchting]

It’s an interesting idea but I think I agree with the consensus that it’s more of a novelty and especially with the notion that if it were a great idea all stems would be briar.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Briar is brittle, if you gentle clench briar it would crumble, that's a fact.

Old Kaywoodie Allbriars show up from time to time with heavy cake and little damage to the stem.

 

[tobakenist]

Old Kaywoodie Allbriars show up from time to time with heavy cake and little damage to the stem.

Not in the UK, if you want a Briar stem, go for it,

 

[sablebrush52]

Both Kaywoodie and Barling made pipes with briar stems, in Barling's case one pieces, and they're not the only ones to do that.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I have some pipes with briar stems/all briars. I like them. As said above they are most similar in feel to a horn stem pipe. I clench mine with no issues, granted I also clench my pipes with amber stems. I find a small amount of vinyl tape helps.

Edit: just looked at the listings. Yeah I wouldn’t pay for a new one. Go antique/NOS.