Churchwardens?
- Thread starter SSGT.
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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.
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.
I saw the price on the HC Andersen’s and had to get two just because.
If they weren't so small, I'd own more. I only have two.
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.
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.
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!
I have one of these (apple), currently 50 bucks at P and C:
www.pipesandcigars.com
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.
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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.
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
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.
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.
I'm a big fan of the Savinelli Churchwardens because of the acrylic stem (virtually every other Churchwarden on the market has a cheap Vulcanite stem).
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:
www.macqueenpipes.com
and a photo of a couple of them from my recent postings:
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?
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:
MacQueen Pipes
MacQueen Pipes is a proud family owned and operated manufacturing company devoted to creative design and fresh innovation. Using a vast array of the highest quality exotic woods and materials from around the world. Inspired by Lord of the Rings. Wizard pipes, Ranger pipes, and so much more! Come...
www.macqueenpipes.com
and a photo of a couple of them from my recent postings:
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?
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.