Is Missouri Pride Corn Cob a good option to dive into Pipe Smoking hobby? What other Missouri Meerschaum Cobs to look upon as a beginner Pipe Smoker?
IMHO, any corn cob pipe made by Missouri Meerschaum is a fantastic choice. They smoke cooler and drier than most wooden pipes.
I own several Missouri Prides (about 10) and dozens of other corn cobs. They are all great smokers. There are a few things to take into consideration when choosing one, though.
*Bowl size - The Missouri Pride has a full-size bowl, though far from being the biggest they offer. As a beginner, it may be easier to start with a smaller, and especially shallower, bowl. Starting out, it can be difficult to smoke a bowl most or all of the way down. A smaller, shallower bowl helps prevent tobacco waste. But remember not to force yourself to smoke to the bottom. You can always dry the dottle out and smoke it later.
*Stem/bit length - A longer stem and bit will smoke cooler, since the smoke travels further before reaching your mouth. The Pride has a decent length stem on it. I would avoid getting a really short 'nosewarmer' type pipe.
Filter - the Pride accepts 6mm filters if you would like to use them. I smoke mine without them just fine.
Finish - You probably noticed that Missouri Meerschaum offers both raw and filled/finished corn cobs. There are aesthetic AND functional differences. Personally, I prefer the feel of a finished cob, but I don't clench. If you clench the pipe, raw cobs are considerably lighter and better for this purpose. Raw cobs also smoke cooler and drier, in my experience, than finished ones. I have heard that finished cobs have a greater longevity, but have never had a burnout in any of them. Just don't use a torch lighter and you'll be okay.
Since the Pride is raw, expect a nice, cool, dry smoke out of a lightweight pipe with a rough natural texture on the bowl. You can clean the outside of the cob up gently with a wire brush to smooth it out.
As for my personal recommendation, I would suggest trying their Morgan model, but with a long non-filter bit, instead of the short bit. You can get the Morgan either in raw or finished, smoke it with a short or long bit, and it has a wide, but shallower bowl chamber (same diameter inside as the Pride, but shorter).
Another one I like is the Eaton. The bowl on the Eaton is the opposite - narrower in diameter, but the same depth as the Pride. The Eaton also uses a non-filter slim bit and comes in a finished version (called the Pony Express). Also, the Eaton can be purchased for only $3.
It might be a good idea to buy a larger pipe like the Missouri Pride, as well as a smaller one.
If you have any more questions, let me know. I'm obsessed with corn cob pipes and know their models pretty well.
*Edit for spelling.
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