Budget Pipes?

[jetcap77]

I had seen someone put a link up for www.pipesandcigars.com This is a great place to start and they have deals all the time. To be honest I have a few "basket" pipes from my local shop (under $25) and a couple of Baraccinis I purchased from Pipes and Cigars. They have ended up being my go-to pipes and ones I enjoy more than my name brand expensive ones. Every pipe shop I have walked in to has the bargain pipes. The Baraccini (for being a cheap pipe) actually looks nice and I love the way they are weighted and feel when hanging hands-free from my mouth. The one's I purchased tend to have more stain than pre-carbon in them and leave a bitter aftertaste for the first few smokes. Otherwise that is the only downside.
I have a few Dr. Grabows also. I noticed a few other people mentioned them as well. Generally they are under $30. They are a little smaller than what feels comfortable to me but smoke really well. Well enough I have purchased a few others.
A third place is eBay. I have made lots of purchases there and received some very nice pipes and great deals. You can definitely find some new and very good estate pipes

 

[lucky695]

+1 @flintlock Country Gentleman!

 

[hierophant]

If you have a local B&M tobacconist, don't neglect the no name briars they probably have for $30 or less. My local B&M offers no name briars, made in Italy and stamped with the store's name. They keep them in a basket on the counter They aren't the most beautiful examples of the pipe carver's art, but the ones I've purchased have all been good smokers.

 

[melvinsunsmokedcastello]

Can't beat cobs in bang for the buck. Basket pipes can sometimes turn out wonderful as well. When I first started smoking I bought a no name basket pipe with beautiful grain but lots of fills. The guy said they were factory rejects but didn't know where they came from. Wish I would have bought a few more of them way back then because that no-named unmarked basket pipe is one of my best smokers and remains in my rotation to this very day I have paid a lot more for pipes that smoke a lot worse! It cost me all of 15 bucks...

 

[judcole]

Most definitely go for the MM cobs rather than a cheap briar. Then, save some money on the side to see how it goes and opt for a decent price briar.

I'll second that,and also agree on the MM Country Gent. Or,better yet, else save your money so you can blow $50-$60, and get an estate briar. ::

 

[lordmegatron]

definitely get a cob, grabows a pretty alright as well

 

[captainsousie]

I'm a bit late to the party but a nicely restored estate is always a good option. Here are a few that would most likely be good smokers
A Wally Frank.

And another Wally Frank

Or a Pipe Lane LTD.

This place usually has a few knockout deals.
Just a few more options for the budget-minded piper.

 

[unholy1]

If I were looking for a $30 pipe, I'd probably look on the estate market. They're already broken in, usually have wonderful patina, and are relatively inexpensive. Obviously, price depends on vintage and mark. My first pipe was a MM. It smoked decent, but I could never get it to smoke "right". I picked up a basket briar and was off to the races. For some reason, it was easier for me to learn the briar than the MM. I have no issues smoking the MM now, it just took me some time. Everyone's different, though.

 

[elpfeife]

For a good smoking low cost estate pipe I recommend hooking up with Tim West's ebay offerings. Tim takes what seem to be run of the mill estates redrills, cleans, etc and puts out quality smokers. They usually go for under $40 and often for under $20.

 

[mso489]

It really intrigues me that a pipe carver like Tim West can manage to spend additional time restoring estate pipes and have it pay.

For some reason, recycling tobacco pipes has become not only acceptable but uniquely desirable, and I say 'for some reason' only

because so many products in our culture are never repaired or restored but only used up and thrown out. No one incorporates

restoring toasters, TVs, or other products for re-use in their business model. It's kind of wonderful that pipes have become, if not

immortal, at least uniquely long-lived, spanning decades, generations, and in some cases centuries. Automobiles, firearms, and

houses are a few of the few human constructs that also get restored.

 

[saltedplug]

Cobs. Great pipes for their cost.

 

[Wellington]

Cobs, Missouri Meerschaum are the only cobs i've used and they're always great. Dr. Grabow and Medico are decent cheap pipes.

 

[lordofthepiperings]

I'd search smokingpipes.com for estates. You can usually find some Savinelli or Stanwell for around $40-$60 that originally were twice that price. SP does a great job restoring their estate pipes. It'll be a lot better experience than a cheap basket pipe.

 

[darwin]

As always you get what you pay for but in the case of pipes it's hardly a linear ratio. I have a $550 Walt Cannoy and a $25 Grabow. The Cannoy is absolutely gorgeous and it smokes better by a big margin but it would be fair to say it doesn't smoke twenty-two times better. And it sure as heck doesn't smoke 110 times better than a five dollar cob. Easy to see how maddening, and meaningless, it is to obsessively sweat a cost-effectiveness mentality in the pipe world

 

[lucky695]

+1 Darwin. just depends on what your goal is. have a nice smoke or have a nice smoke AND look good doing it... hard not to look good with a $500 pipe.

 

[lostandfound]

I would save your pennies for a short period of time, and get yourself a Savinelli. They make a substantial number of pipes that cost less that $100.00.
I would also recommend a Dr. Grabow, though I'll have to disagree with Mr. Plainview's statement that they will last a lifetime. The stummel, yes, but all of my Dr. Grabow's that I've smoked heavily, have ended up with chipped, cracked, or split stems, and I don't clench that tightly.