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telescopes

Pipe Dreamer and Star Gazer
Looking at those Churchwarden prices at Stanwell H.C. Andersen Black Sandblast - https://www.pipesandcigars.com/product/stanwell-hc-andersen-black-sandblast/PSWHCA-BS-PF.html.

That is an even better price than I imagined. I never have had an issue in decades with P&C - some have - but regardless, had I not already owned that pipe - which goes for much more than the listed price on the site today, I would order it now. That particular model is one of the true classic Stanwell shapes for a Churchwarden and is recognizable by pipe sellers where ever I smoked it around the globe in various shops and pipe museums. It is a truly great shape. I might just order another one as a gift for either my brother or dad. Or maybe both.
 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
46,151
123,921
Well, I guess I should know this, but @Chasing Embers, what on earth did P & C do to cause them to fall from grace in your estimation?
During the 2017 IPSD sale I was double charged for an order that I never received nor was reimbursed for.

Even prior to that, their customer service was near nonexistent and they lacked any packaging skills.
 

LeafErikson

Lifer
Dec 7, 2021
2,525
22,578
Oregon
Well, I guess I should know this, but @Chasing Embers, what on earth did P & C do to cause them to fall from grace in your estimation?
I returned a pipe to P&C and after months of off and on email correspondence, I finally gave them a call. After a bunch of time on hold, I was gruffly told that they would complete my return and return my money right away. A few months after that phone call (meaning not right away whatsoever) I finally received my refund. The entire process took about a year.
 

K.E. Powell

Part of the Furniture Now
Aug 20, 2022
634
2,374
38
West Virginia
I highly recommend Stanwell’s HCA churchwardens. They come with two stems and allow you to smoke either with a full sized stem or a shorter stem.
Seconded. And right now, Pipes and Cigars are selling their Stanwells for cheap. I just got a 2023 POTY and 25th Anniversary pipe and each were below the $70 mark. When it comes to good quality factory-made briar pipes that don't break the bank, Stanwell is tough to beat. The Hans Christian Anderson pipes give the best of both worlds, look good, smoke well, and should fit your price range.

edit: Just saw the OP already ordered a Ropp. They're also a fine choice!
 
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rectifythis

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 3, 2024
111
1,533
Arizona
I have one of these (apple), currently 50 bucks at P and C:


The stem is vulcanite, but for 50 bucks, I have been perfectly fine with this pipe. The apple has decent thickness walls and isn't too small.

Admittedly I am not a big fan of P&C but if I have a good reason, I will buy from them.
 

NookersTheCat

Can't Leave
Sep 10, 2020
406
1,684
NEPA
I returned a pipe to P&C and after months of off and on email correspondence, I finally gave them a call. After a bunch of time on hold, I was gruffly told that they would complete my return and return my money right away. A few months after that phone call (meaning not right away whatsoever) I finally received my refund. The entire process took about a year.
This exact same thing happened to me, over almost 3 years til I finally decided to threaten BBB contact they said they would send a check in the mail $150 for a nording hunter series... never saw it. I've basically written it off at this point because (un)fortunately I'm getting to the point in my life where my time is actually becoming worth enough to not wasting it on such fruitless ventures. Still super pissed with them tho lol
 

NookersTheCat

Can't Leave
Sep 10, 2020
406
1,684
NEPA
As for the original question.. Churchwardens are my pipe of choice and I hands down recommend MacQueens of Canada. Many of their models can be had in cherry bowls for under $100 especially if you catch a sale, there's nothing like a wooden stemmed warden to tame even the harshest smoke. I have several, awesome pipes.

Honorable mention: I also have followed flogglewerks for years, heard great things even from friends and have been meaning to give him lots of my money but never got around to it and now see his site is down again :/
Not the first time but I hope he comes back again...

Cadillac/Aspirational: Vauen Auenland series. Almost 3-4x your budget but again, I have a couple and they are truly a german feat of superior engineering.. the pinnacle of the churchwarden.
 
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Sigmund

Lifer
Sep 17, 2023
3,743
37,295
France
Those Ropps are a good deal and Ropp generally makes a better pipe than their cost. No, they dont use the most pretty briar but they are blasted anyway.
 

gord

Lifer
May 1, 2024
1,013
10,037
Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
I started off with churchwardens, and have about 16 of them in my collection 7 miniatures and 9 medium or large bowls, all but 3 are McQueen wooden stems. I got a bunch at gift prices when a company here went out of pipes.

I smoke them all the time (I have other regular pipes too of course) and would recommend any smoker have one or two of them - they smoke great and are an excellent conversation piece. They demand a bit of care because of those long wooden stems, but so do many other pipes. Here's a link to McQueen:


and a photo of a couple of them from my recent postings:



IMGP5442opt um.JPG


Pipes for Guest Tobacco.JPG


I have a couple of regular chruch wardens with composite stems, and they're fine too. Other forum members have given you sufficient advice above so I won't chip in.

Have fun - that's part of the cult, eh?
 
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condorlover1

Lifer
Dec 22, 2013
8,700
31,382
New York
I have a bunch of them which are in essence very long stemmed cutty pipes known back in the day as London Straws. They are a royal pain in the arse to clean and not exactly portable. I used to cut them down and make them into 6’ cutty pipes.
 

Brad H

Part of the Furniture Now
Dec 17, 2024
677
4,964
While not being a true churchwarden, I do like/suggest a Peterson tavern. Catch them on sale and you can sometimes get them about 70$
I have a few Paycok church wardens for under 100$ that I just swear up and down by.