Chinese v MM Cobs

[SunriseBoy]

I poste a review about Chinese v MM cobs recently and it ended up being a bit troublesome.
I apologised to the mod for the awkwardness of the result.
I only started smoking a pipe back in 1967, so migh be regarded as a beginner by the more experienced pipers.
However, I have only owned about three dozen cobs, but feel that I have got a fairly good handle on how they smoke.
Recently, Chinese cobs were brought to my attention and bought three of them. One was a flashy looking bent billard style, and the other two were 'typical' cobs, a la Missouri Pride.
Well, the bad news is, they smoke extremely well.
Admittedly, like so much of Chinese produce, they had to have some 'adjustments', a la Canerod Piper pipe mud, and some shrinking of the draft hole. But it has to be said they smoke exceptionally well.
But don't get me wrong here, you can't go past the CG and the Mark Twain's and the Diplomat 5th Avenue, no way. But for a total expenditure of about $25 Oz money (posted) for the three of them, they are fairly good value.

 

[JOHN72]

I prefer to buy at SP europe and MM of EE.UU. ?? We already have enough of a shadow economy in Spain with this Chinese giant.............But it is your right to decide about your home economy, of course.

 

[SunriseBoy]

Will you be so kind as to tell me what EEUU is please?
And these three cobs "from you know where" are the last time I'll be buying them!

 

[JOHN72]

Will you be so kind as to tell me what EEUU is please?
And these three cobs "from you know where" are the last time I'll be buying them!

All my cobs are from Smokingpipes and Missoury Meerschaum&......................

 

[anantaandroscoggin]

I bought a Fujima (Chinese) cob from a local small neighborhood grocer a couple of years back when they were having a going-out-of-business sale. The finish wasn't all that great, and the shank came loose from the cob the first time I smoked it. Outside of that, it smokes OK, but nothing to write home about.

I had previously seen a board of Fujima pipes elsewhere once, and many of them still had twisty-chips poking out from boring the chambers, that were still attached at the inside ends. That didn't give me much confidence about the care of the manufacturer for their product and their customers.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I find it hard to believe Missouri Meerschaum Cobs wouldn't be worth importing no matter where you are.
If a Savinelli costs twice as much that's one thing, even paying double for a Cob is relatively trivial, and there is no replacement for the design of the Missouri Meerschaum plastic stem.

Quite frankly, if you've got enough tools handy you'd be best off importing just the stems from Missouri Meerschaum and re-drilling the shanks on other pipes to fit those stems.

 

[mikethompson]

This again?

I would be weary of a Chinese cob, just as I would a Chinese 'real wood' pipe.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

This again?

I would be weary of a Chinese cob, just as I would a Chinese 'real wood' pipe.

View attachment 115526

It's not hard to tell what's made of plastic and what's not: AliExpress Gem: Shao Lan Reverse Calabash. :: Pipe Talk - https://www.pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/aliexpress-gem-shao-lan-reverse-calabash.86681/

Ultimately the problem with pipes from China is they cost the same (or more) as pipes from Italy, and most people prefer Italian companies.
Some of the Chinese upstarts are making worthwhile pipes though, I'm particularly fond of my Bamboo shank pipes to represent the region.

 

[OzPiper]

I can see the attraction of low prices and (often) free postage from China.
Postage from the U.S. can and do add substantially to the total cost - I have on a couple of occasions paid more for postage than the actual item !

However I am severely challenged when it involves handiwork of any kind. Nor do I have the necessary tools for the job of bringing those cheaper pipes up to an acceptable smoking quality.

This is an instance where I'd pay a couple more bucks for the tried and true McCoys.

 

[mikethompson]

Certainly there are Chinese artisans just like everywhere else. There was actually a video of one such carver making the rounds on here a while ago. The passion that he had for his craft was incredible.

But for most pipes coming out of China, I'd wager the one I pictured is pretty standard - especially factoring in the inexpensive factor.

I've had a passing experience with a certain Chinese pipe manufacturer whom I will not mention, but some may have an Idea. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable using that either.

While some Chinese made pipes look incredible, for cheap pipes I would look elsewhere.

 

[mso489]

MM is a real piece of Americana, even to the fact that it was founded by a Dutch immigrant who made the first pipes as side projects to his full time work. It is, I believe, the highest volume tobacco pipe producer in the U.S. I'm especially fond of the special editions that come with acrylic stems, since I was refitting mine with acrylic stems anyway. Besides which, it is a sheltered workshop that supports its community in Washington, Mo., just outside St. Louis. I'm loyal to them for these various reasons, and have come to regard the pipes as permanent items, not disposables, that smoke among the best. The Chinese cobs are interesting, but I know and am loyal to the MM brand, and take a quiet pride in it being a truly U.S./American brand.

 

[username]

Only ones I knew about where crap with a stucco like substance in the bottom instead of a wood plug that could easily be poked thru. So after that I just stick to MM.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

Just buy MM

 

[kcghost]

Don't reward your enemies is not a bad way to live.

 

[SunriseBoy]

This again?

I would be weary of a Chinese cob, just as I would a Chinese 'real wood' pipe.

View attachment 115526

I hear ya, brother. That 'real wood' burns really well, doesn't it. I won't be getting any more of those Chinese cobs, it was more out of curiousity just to see how they would fly so to speak. They are not my style, really.

 

[Winterreise]

I prefer giving my money to US business all the way ?? , I’m pretty sure those chinese cob are made to smoke opioids

 

[SunriseBoy]

Ease up! Don't get too extreme brother. The MM cobs could and probably are used for the same thing.
As I said, I've got plenty of MM cobs, but just wanted to see what the Chinese stuff is like.
But hold the 'opioid' stuff, big fella...it's not as though the US is exactly free of that stuff!?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I’m pretty sure those chinese cob are made to smoke opioids

The MM cobs could and probably are used for the same thing.

MM does have the Cornabis line.

 

[Chasing Embers]

@Morrison Jeremiah

Cornabis Archives - CornCobPipe.com

corncobpipe.com

 

[SunriseBoy]

Thanks for that CE. I've never had weed, but I've got a cancer issue that I'd like to have a crack at that stuff to deal with pain issues.