Corncob Pipe Bowls

[xoran]

I enjoy corncobs but recently (the last 2 or 3 years) the bowls have been way too small when I bought them at the only place in my town where they are sold. I'm speaking about MM cobs. I learned on the internetz that because of the drought in Missouri the cobs were small. I still have a couple of cobs I bought 6 or 8 years ago that have the right-sized bowl, but they are getting pretty close to splitting--you know, down the sides of the bowls.

So, my question is: Is the drought over and the MM cobs back up to the normal size? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks, xoran.
P.S. I have many briars and meers too, but I really like a cob.

 

[Wellington]

Interesting, I was unaware of a drought there and hadn't ever really thought about the effect it would have on the size of the bowls.

 

[mp31guitar]

Yep, the bowls are getting bigger. I ordered a new one from the factory and it had a nice big bowl. I know this is only one pipe but I also read that the bowls are getting bigger. I think it takes a year or two for them to come from the field to a pipe bowl. Not sure if this is accurate but I think I read it here recently. I'm sure someone else here knows for sure.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Yes it is, and you should be able to get normal size cobs again. For a while it was hard to find Generals, MacArthur's, Country Gentleman's and Diplomats. The last cobs I got were all good sized with my General being the biggest General I've ever seen.
Depending on where you shop they might still have some of the smaller cobs, but if you go to Aristocob.com you can get any shape cob at the size they should be.

 

[05venturer]

Country Gentleman and General Missouri Meerschaums have a nice big bowl, they are a couple of my favorites.

And I did see a video that the corn crop is back after the drought they had a year or so ago and everything good. Also the Hardwoods that they started producing during the shortage are great smokers IMO.

 

[xoran]

Thank you for the positive information, y'all. I feel ready to buy some new ones now. I've gotten to where

I really like a corncob bowl or two of burley every morning with coffee. But the small bowls just didn't last

long enough and they tended to heat up a bit toward the bottom.
Thanks again,
xoran

 

[philip]

Yup. The cobs used to be bigger.

 

[tamer291]

Yup. The cobs used to be bigger.

:rofl:

 

[jkenp]

The drought may be right but I think the real problem is that most corn is processed with a mechanical picker that removes the grain without regards to the cob. So, where they can obtain cobs is the limiting and real problem they face. To get the cobs, the corn must be picked, stored, and process with very old equipment along with extra labor.

 

[bludgeoningdeath]

I bought a MM from a local place. A decent smoke for the price but I do have a question for you all. Do you feel like the stems in all of them are cheap/too soft? Mine has the clear yellow stem and it feels about chewed up on the end from just holding it in my mouth.

 

[scrapyardape]

Do you feel like the stems in all of them are cheap/too soft?

Indeed they are. I always order three or four with every pipe because of this. (they're cheap, so it's not a big add-on to the bill) There are also several sources for more durable bits out there, but I have yet to try one.

 

[philip]

Do you feel like the stems in all of them are cheap/too soft?

Yes.
I bought Forever Stems for all my cobs. I think they are well worth the 19 to 24 dollars. They have made my cobs among may favorite carry-around pipes.

 

[xoran]

"Yup. The cobs used to be bigger."
LOL

 

[zekest]

I would love a cob with the dried corn left in place.

 

[shayde]

They didn't seem any smaller when I bought mine a few months back.

 

[mso489]

No questiion, the cobs showed up larger in my local pipe shop in the last year. I would say the standard

item two or three years ago was a Group 3 or very small 4, and now the standard is a good sized Group 4,

with Generals and other big pipes going Group 5, some larger. The drought pipes were good quality, though.

I have several, and they do well. Maybe the drought cobs were tough. I bought Walker Briar Works Forever

stems for my three MM's, and they are excellent.