Canadian vs. Churchwarden

[bulletsnbriars]

I've always been enthralled by churchwardens. I blame the LOTR movies... But they look so nice and I only hear good things about how they smoke. Once I get a pipe for each major blend type, I plan on getting one to add to my collection.
Or at least I did. My old love is corroding as I've seen a new beauty. Canadian pipes, with those long shanks that go alllll the way up. Same idea, long distance from bowl for cool smoke, two very different executions. What do you guys think? I'm torn between two loves. Which do you prefer and why?

 

[dottiewarden]

For me it's Canadian all the way: it's all that briar. I just can't get enough of it!
I currently own a Chacom Salsa 297 Smooth Canadian and I have a Savinelli 812 Ontario version of the Canadian in the mail. The 812 has the same long oval shank but with a very slight bend in the tip and a slightly angled bowl, my foray into the bents.
Canadian - oval shank w/ fishtail bit

Lumberman - oval shank w/ saddle bit

Liver pool - round shank w/ fishtail bit

Lovat - round shank w/ saddle bit
I do prefer the fishtails over the saddle, but that's just personal taste.
The Churches look great, but I just wouldn'd be comfortable with all that drama, better left to movie characters.

 

[hawke]

My favorite cool smoker is a KBB Clover Yellow Bole Imperial Canadian.

The jury is still out on my Homemade Churchwarden. I have a thick potted Kaywoodie Bulldog thats shorter compared to the above but smokes pretty cool. I think the bowl thickness comes into play maybe. One of my Kaywoodie Bulldogs was chipped at the top and inside so I bored it out some. The extra baccy or the thinner bowl has made it less heat resistant.
Curious to see what the veterans have to say.

 

[andrew]

Yes for some reason Churchwardens don't appeal to me, it seems like it's too much of a pipe you really can't do anything while you're smoking. Plus it seems like I'd probably break the stem.

 

[bulletsnbriars]

But that's the point! IMO, there are work clenching pipes like my trusty MM cob that you can move about and work with, and then there's the churchwarden for chilling out at the end of the day, a total relaxation pipe when you don't WANT to move around. :D

 

[dottiewarden]

If you like the Churchwarden, go for it. It only stands to reason it would smoke cool. I'll peronally be picking up a number of other shapes, like a Dublin or two, a half-bent Apple, maybe some more Billiards, even a Bulldog or two, a Liverpool, the list goes on ....
Just go for it!

 

[bulletsnbriars]

Fair enough Mr. Dottie, I wasn't tryna convert ya, just making discussion is all. When it comes to briars, one size does not fit all, that's for sure!

 

[judcole]

I have a churchwarden that was given to me. I don't smoke it much, for the simple reason that it is too unwieldy. I also own a Canadian, and a Lovat. Personally, I think I prefer the round shank to the oval, but that's just me.
Dunno why it has to be one or the other - get one of each.

 

[latbomber]

I'd say Canadian, CW seems more like a novelty.

 

[simnettpratt]

I can't tell what you should like, only what I like. Smoke what you like. Agree, get both! For me, Canadian all the way. One of my favorite pipes is a British Albany Canadian. I have a couple of churchwardens, but haven't smoked either; they just feel cumbersome and make smoking harder. This is not what I personally am looking for. I suspect the appeal for most folks is based on the movies.
It's like knives. One may appreciate the idea and looks of a 9" Bowie, but you find the plain 3" drop point much easier to use.
Bottome line is get one of each, so you can figure out which you prefer. Bet it's the Canadian, though; simply easier to use.
@dottie: Thanks for that perfect explanation of the differences between Canadians, Liverpools, Lovats and Lumbermans

 

[harlockfan]

Personally, I would go with the churchwarden. It forces you to sit there and relax. After a hard day at work, it is exactly what I need.

 

[dread]

I'm with Jud on this one, I don't see why it has to be one over the other. If they both interest you, get both. I have a Canadian Radice and really like it, and I'd like a churchwarden simply because wizards smoke it and I'm that kind of nerd.
There, I said it.

 

[harlockfan]

@purplemotoman...with a churchwarden, you can't clench the pipe and hold it with your teeth. You just have to sit there and hold the pipe. Which forces me to slow down since I am really a go go type person. With my other pipes, I can clench and still do other activities.

 

[northernneil]

I have both a Canadian and a Churchwarden. They are both too big to take out and about, but they each have a time and place. Personally, I find the Churchwarden requires a different technique than most other pipes, but it is a good pipe to have in the collection.

 

[harlockfan]

@purplemotoman....Hopefully I will be able to get there and just sit there with my pipes. That is my goal. Chill? haha....so far this heat makes me want to wish for winter's return! But my wife only lets me smoke outdoors so the heat will have to do!

 

[Strike Anywhere]

By this point I'm echoing other sentiments, but at that risk...
To me, the best thing about churchwardens are the novelty. I started smoking a few years before the LotR movies came out and you rarely saw churchwardens. Now Savinelli has several lines, there's those all wooden MacQueens or whatever, etc. I actually had a churchwarden meerschaum. I wasn't crazy about the idea of a churchwarden but I thought I should at least try it before I bash it. I also figured if it's a sit and do nothing but smoke pipe (but let's be honest, when I'm smoking a pipe or cigar, that usually all I'm doing anyway...smoking. I might be watching a movie or ballgame, but I'm not one of these guys raking the yard and pushing the mower with a pipe clenched between my teeth. Now if I had a riding mower...) I should get a meerschaum. Anyway, I found an IMP meer churchwarden. Smoked a handful of bowls through it, didn't love it, and sold it. To me, it was all novelty. I didn't think it smoked all that well. I think there is a point of dimensioning returns as it relates to length. Similar to coffee, smoke can't be too hot, but if you let it get too cool, it's also not enjoyable.
Overall, I felt the flavor wasn't that great, it was more difficult to clean, and it just felt cumbersome. Also, I just felt weird smoking that pipe...like I was trying to be a hobbit or a wizard or something, which definitely wasn't the case.