Hey guys and gals I am a male in my mid 20's who is starting this hobby. I have picked out a pipe to buy which is the. Savinelli Aligator brown 614 6mm, it costs about 120$ but I love the way it looks and it is something I'd like to pass down. What do you guys and gals think?
Buying My First Life-Time Pipe
- Thread starter gandalfspiper
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Without pictures we can't really tell you anything about the quality of the pipe. Always remember a pipe isn't a status symbols it's for enjoyment, doesn't really matter what we think do you like it?
You can't go wrong with a Savanelli. I have a couple.
Like most things in life you get what you pay for.
You should also avoid the OTC/Codger blends.
If you are going to purchase from a local Brick & Mortar pipe shoppe, you invest in a variety of bulk blends.
I definitely recommend that you pick some Lane Limited 1Q. There is a good reason it is the biggest seller.
Stick your nose in some jars and select some blends that appeal to you, and try to avoid the overly sweet smelling blends. They will tend to be very moist and you may have some difficulty drying or keeping them lit.
Another suggestion I have is to view the videos and articles located (quite a ways down) in the left column of the Magazine and Forum pages. Under the "Featured Articles". There is a lot of good information on packing, lighting, and other aspects of our hobby that you not have considered.
Welcome aboard!
:
:
Like most things in life you get what you pay for.
You should also avoid the OTC/Codger blends.
If you are going to purchase from a local Brick & Mortar pipe shoppe, you invest in a variety of bulk blends.
I definitely recommend that you pick some Lane Limited 1Q. There is a good reason it is the biggest seller.
Stick your nose in some jars and select some blends that appeal to you, and try to avoid the overly sweet smelling blends. They will tend to be very moist and you may have some difficulty drying or keeping them lit.
Another suggestion I have is to view the videos and articles located (quite a ways down) in the left column of the Magazine and Forum pages. Under the "Featured Articles". There is a lot of good information on packing, lighting, and other aspects of our hobby that you not have considered.
Welcome aboard!
:
:
I like the sand blast on that pipe. I don't know if you noticed but that picture was taken from smokingpipes.com which happens to be one of this sites sponsors. You might want to try www.smokingpipes.com to see if you can find that pipe.
First off, welcome to the forum!
Yes, that is a quality pipe! Savinellis are some of the best pipes, for the money, that you can get. I have several of them in my collection ( including a 614) and they are all great smokers! You won't be disappointed, and if you take good care of it, it will last a lifetime!
Yes, that is a quality pipe! Savinellis are some of the best pipes, for the money, that you can get. I have several of them in my collection ( including a 614) and they are all great smokers! You won't be disappointed, and if you take good care of it, it will last a lifetime!
Gandalf:
It's a good looking burner and it's a Sav. But being a new smoker, you probably overspent.
What happens when you spend that coin and decide tobacco smoking isn't for you? You're out a buck twenty with no hope of recouping your original investment.
I just wish you'd come here earlier and said, "I'm new and I wanna' smoke a pipe."
At the pipesmagazine.com/forums/ folks here would've steered you to a corncob pipe and Lane 1Q. (You've also got 20 bucks invested at this point.)
Best of luck, pal.
Fnord
It's a good looking burner and it's a Sav. But being a new smoker, you probably overspent.
What happens when you spend that coin and decide tobacco smoking isn't for you? You're out a buck twenty with no hope of recouping your original investment.
I just wish you'd come here earlier and said, "I'm new and I wanna' smoke a pipe."
At the pipesmagazine.com/forums/ folks here would've steered you to a corncob pipe and Lane 1Q. (You've also got 20 bucks invested at this point.)
Best of luck, pal.
Fnord
He didn't say he had purchased it yet fnord, only that he had picked one out to buy. But I would agree with Fnord pick up a $4-$9 Missouri Meerschaum pipe from a local B&M if they don't sell Missouri Meerschaum pipes, Walgreens does. After a couple smokes in the cob then decide if you want to buy a more expensive pipe. There are a lot of little things you have to do to get the perfect smoke, starting with a cob helps you learn them and if you screw something up your only out $10. But as far as the Sav goes, I was actually considering picking one up but I just didn't like the rustication.
Obviously, we spend alot of time going back and forth about different pipes here but I would tell any new smoker to focus their money on the tobacco first. If I put a nasty tasting aromatic in a Dunhill, then it still won't taste good. On the other hand, St. James Flake (my favorite) will still taste great in a Missouri Meerschaum corncob.
Past that, when you decide to buy a pipe, then the only thing that really matters is whether you like it. I'd advise you not to look at as an investment since the closest analogy is a new car. You probably will lose half it's value upon the first time you smoke it. (There is a big exception for estate pipes and restoring them but that's a different topic). Do your research to make sure their aren't any major issues for you (Examples may be a lacquer finish, filters, won't pass a pipe cleaner, etc.) and the brand has a good reputation (Savinelli has a great one).
A number of people around here may have a treasured heirloom pipe but it usually isn't an expensive Dunhill but rather a bargain pipe like a Grabow or Kaywoodie but it's treasured because it belonged to Granddad or whoever. Don't worry about posterity to much, enjoy it for what it is. If you do that enough, then the treasured status will follow on it's own.
Past that, when you decide to buy a pipe, then the only thing that really matters is whether you like it. I'd advise you not to look at as an investment since the closest analogy is a new car. You probably will lose half it's value upon the first time you smoke it. (There is a big exception for estate pipes and restoring them but that's a different topic). Do your research to make sure their aren't any major issues for you (Examples may be a lacquer finish, filters, won't pass a pipe cleaner, etc.) and the brand has a good reputation (Savinelli has a great one).
A number of people around here may have a treasured heirloom pipe but it usually isn't an expensive Dunhill but rather a bargain pipe like a Grabow or Kaywoodie but it's treasured because it belonged to Granddad or whoever. Don't worry about posterity to much, enjoy it for what it is. If you do that enough, then the treasured status will follow on it's own.
The thing about Savinellis (and Petersons and Stanwells and other big factory pipes) is that they have such a wide range of prices. Yes, the higher end pieces are quite nice; I think Savinelli Autographs are phenomenal pipes and are currently EXTREMELY under valued. But the lower end models are just cheap pipes. Low price, low quality, you get what you pay for, etc. So I'm not sure I agree with statements like "you can't go wrong with Savinelli", because at the lower end it's quite easy to go very wrong.
As for the Alligator pipe you showed, if you like it, then go for it. But if you're like me (and a lot of other guys), you're going to go through a lot of pipes (and a TON of tobacco) before you really know what you like. Lucite vs vulcanite, filters vs no filters, straight vs bent, etc. My advice is to find out what you like and to get good at smoking and caring for a pipe before worrying about what you're going to "pass down".
But let us know how it goes.
As for the Alligator pipe you showed, if you like it, then go for it. But if you're like me (and a lot of other guys), you're going to go through a lot of pipes (and a TON of tobacco) before you really know what you like. Lucite vs vulcanite, filters vs no filters, straight vs bent, etc. My advice is to find out what you like and to get good at smoking and caring for a pipe before worrying about what you're going to "pass down".
But let us know how it goes.
That is a nice pipe. Here is a link to it from one of our sponsors at $106.
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=137281
There are several schools of thought on a first pipe. First set a budget. Sorry for using a 4 letter word. Obviously a lawyer charging $250 per hour can spend more than someone washing dishes. Several have already suggested the cheap route of a cob. I own two. Part of pipe smoking is enjoying the craftsmanship of the pipe. I lose that when I use a cob. Do some research on the internet. Look at lots of pipe and decide what shapes really appeal to you. Your tastes will change over the years. Once you narrow it down, do some price comparison. There will be lots of sales coming up in the next week or so. Finally, consider buying a gift set that includes a pipe, tamper, pipe cleaners, lighter, and several blends of tobacco. Lots of vendors have these sets. Here is a link to another sponsor.
http://pipesandcigars.com/pipes.html
Enjoy! I always tell new smokers that as long as you are not setting your beard on fire, you are smoking OK. Of course some methods give better results than others.
Winton
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=137281
There are several schools of thought on a first pipe. First set a budget. Sorry for using a 4 letter word. Obviously a lawyer charging $250 per hour can spend more than someone washing dishes. Several have already suggested the cheap route of a cob. I own two. Part of pipe smoking is enjoying the craftsmanship of the pipe. I lose that when I use a cob. Do some research on the internet. Look at lots of pipe and decide what shapes really appeal to you. Your tastes will change over the years. Once you narrow it down, do some price comparison. There will be lots of sales coming up in the next week or so. Finally, consider buying a gift set that includes a pipe, tamper, pipe cleaners, lighter, and several blends of tobacco. Lots of vendors have these sets. Here is a link to another sponsor.
http://pipesandcigars.com/pipes.html
Enjoy! I always tell new smokers that as long as you are not setting your beard on fire, you are smoking OK. Of course some methods give better results than others.
Winton
Welcome gandalfspiper!
I am curious if this is your first pipe ever, or your first quality pipe...
If it's your first pipe ever, I would agree with the others and spend a fraction of the money on a MM cob just to try out pipe smoking. Once you're sure you're going to stick with it, then I think that's a fine pipe to go with. Savinelli's have a good reputation.
Keep us posted on what you decide.
I am curious if this is your first pipe ever, or your first quality pipe...
If it's your first pipe ever, I would agree with the others and spend a fraction of the money on a MM cob just to try out pipe smoking. Once you're sure you're going to stick with it, then I think that's a fine pipe to go with. Savinelli's have a good reputation.
Keep us posted on what you decide.
gandalfspiper, welcome to the site. My first pipe was a Savinelli Linea Piu 5 that retailed for around 150.00. It is a quality pipe and it helped me to appreciate the tobacco I chose to smoke. I believe that getting a quality first pipe gives you a much better shot at sticking with this hobby than buying a 25 dollar piece of junk that will do nothing to make your tobacco taste good. If you pick a pipe that smokes hot and gurgles, chances of you sticking with pipe smoking are lessened than if you buy something of quality. If the Alligator design is something you really like, I would go for something not quite as bent as the one you are looking at. I think for a new smoker a full bent pipe could smoke wet for you and think something with less of a bend might work better for you. Something perhaps like this.
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=136168
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=136168
People have different opinions. My sense is this: If you have already bought the pipe, I don't think it's a problem. I started out
with a full-bent pipe that is still great, 40 years later. If you haven't bought it yet, keep it on your list, at least for later, while you try
some mild tobacco in cobs. Savenelli has an incredible record for quality and reliability. Their quality control is really good. My first
pipe was from the chain Tinder Box and was made by one of the French pipe makers. I still have it and it still smokes great. Happy
piping.
with a full-bent pipe that is still great, 40 years later. If you haven't bought it yet, keep it on your list, at least for later, while you try
some mild tobacco in cobs. Savenelli has an incredible record for quality and reliability. Their quality control is really good. My first
pipe was from the chain Tinder Box and was made by one of the French pipe makers. I still have it and it still smokes great. Happy
piping.
If you have never smoked a pipe before, then the suggestion to start with a cob and some various tobaccos is an excellent one. Before investing significant dinero, make sure that this is something that you find enjoyable.
I can't comment on you particular choice since I don't own any Savinellis, but they do garner a lot of praise from their owners.
I can't comment on you particular choice since I don't own any Savinellis, but they do garner a lot of praise from their owners.
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