Chacom Hate?

[telescopes]

Chacom made a ton of low grade pipes for B&M shops who would then stamp their names on the stems. Made them seem like hacks.

Many companies have done this. Are they hacks as well?

 

[mso489]

I interpret house pipes differently. I think the brick and mortar shops and other businesses that put their stamps on house pipes want to source quality pipes and sell them at moderate costs to cultivate pipe smokers and increase repeat business. This is certainly true of Iwan Ries and Tinder Box. There have probably been low quality house pipes, but that's not the market advantage of offering them. They're supposed to entice the pleased owners into buying other pipes and tobaccos over coming years.

That was certainly the intent and results for me of buying Algerian oil-cured briar pipes from Iwan Ries years ago. These were sourced from Edwards Benton, cost very little, and still look and smoke great.

 

[Alejo R.]

I meet a lot of pipers that really don’t like Chacom, or assume that they have issues.
I have purchased a few Chacoms, I have a couple of 297 Canadians that are incredible smokers and I also own some smaller prince and billiard shapes that I love for quick smokes. I like their pipe proportions and respect the company’s heritage.

My question is, what’s the reason for the hate? Was there a point in time when Chacom couldn’t get it right? Is it anti French Bigotry ? They seem to be fine now.
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For some time in the 90s and 2000s they gave their pipes a shine by means of a varnish that, shortly after the pipe was smoked, caused horrible blisters. The shapes were classic. But the quality of the pipes they make today is far superior.

 

[Alejo R.]

French pipes are the underdog of the pipe world. I have a special affection for French pipes, especially for BC and Jeantet.

 

[seanv]

I love my Chacom pipes. I have 7 of them and smoke all but one of them often. The unsmoked one is a Churchill smooth pot that is huge. I may sell it or I may smoke it eventually. I am not sure yet.

 

[mso489]

Huge pipes are good for intermittent smoking over a day or two. You don't have to smoke a huge bowl all at once. And sometimes it is convenient not to have to pack or clean a pipe continually. Still keep it good and clean, but use its size to your advantage.

 

[logs]

Many companies have done this. Are they hacks as well?

You're right. Chacom isn't doing anything others don't do... but they do seem to get more shit for it on forums. Incidentally, I have several Chacom pipes I like just fine. I have no grudge against their work; I'd rather bitch about Castello but that's a different story.

 

[telescopes]

You're right. Chacom isn't doing anything others don't do... but they do seem to get more shit for it on forums. Incidentally, I have several Chacom pipes I like just fine. I have no grudge against their work; I'd rather bitch about Castello but that's a different story.

My Castello Sea Rock is amazing. No issues and worth every penny, if indeed a penny is still worth something.

 

[canucklehead]

My Castello Sea Rock is amazing. No issues and worth every penny, if indeed a penny is still worth something.

As of last month Canada hasn't used pennies for a decade, and there has been talk of a 5-dollar coin for quit a while. I still have some pennies in a jar somewhere, cellaring them I guess.

 

[rmbittner]

You're right. Chacom isn't doing anything others don't do... but they do seem to get more shit for it on forums.

Unless you know who is commenting—and on what they’re basing their “opinions”—this is essentially meaningless noise. The ones who will know the pipes the best, and be best equipped to comment on them, are the people who have bought and smoked Chacom pipes for years. Not the ones who have never smoked one because they read on a forum that they’re inferior.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

I don't hate em, but I won't buy another for two reasons. A) They're not my style alot of the time. And B) I had a great looking military mount billiard, it was small and beautiful. But the airway was like sucking on a coffee straw. This deterred me from new Chacoms.
I do own an older chubby billiard that actually smokes great, so I can't bash the company. I just won't buy from them. For a little more money, I can get a pipe I know I'll enjoy more.

They do put out some nice looking budget friendly pipes though. I'll give em that

 

[bullet08]

I don't hate any pipes. Just don't see any reason to smoke anything other than Peterson.

 

[shermnatman]

Gentlemen, the identity of OP @Mantis_Shankman 's so-called Group of Chacom Haters has been solved; and, here they appear together in this photo:


So, consider the source. - Sherm Natman

 

[Hillcrest]

The Comoy family has been making pipes since 1825. Briar was discovered in 1846.
In 1922, after the First World War, the association COMOY and CHAPUIS was realised. The Saint-Claude factory became CHAPUIS COMOY & Cie. Henri COMOY died in 1924. His sons Paul and Adrien assumed the direction of the factories in Saint-Claude and London, assisted by their cousins Emile and Louis Chapuis.
By 1928 in London they were able to produce their own pipes. In order to develop the Saint-Claude factory, the brand CHACOM was created. The first three letters of the COMOY and CHAPUIS families were galvanised to create the brand name. Until 1939, CHACOM was exclusive to the French market.

Distinguished historical family of pipe makers in Saint-Claude and London.

 

[LeafErikson]

The French pipes in general seem to not be as collectible (especially on this forum). Maybe it’s because of they’re made in factories and are mass production? Maybe it’s because of their use of cheaper vulcanite? Either way I haven’t seen anyone too vociferous in their opposition of Chacom. I see quite a few people who champion the Ropp brand on the forum, myself included. In fact, I own three Ropp pipes, which happens to be more than any other brand.