Do Expensive Pipes Really Smoke Better?
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In my experience, higher priced pipes have a greater chance of smoking well, but you reach a point of rapidly diminishing returns after about $100, new. I have excellent smoking pipes across a spectrum of prices, materials, and designs.
When I see guys talking about the differences in pipes, or how a pipe makes for a sucky smoke, it always sounds similar to guys you hear in the club house that blame their clubs for their terrible game. Then you look up to see pictures of the clubs that were used just 60+ years ago, practically limbs off trees with a wide spot at the bottom. Then think of those pipes that made smoking famous, carved pipestone, with a long reed attached.
That guy on the 17th hole bashing his club against a tree, cussing furiously into the woods at his lost ball. How much is skill; how much is the "thing?" Does the guy who enjoys the hell out of a rattly $25 bucket pipe, have more skill that the guy who pulls a gurgle out of a Dunhill? At what point does spending hundreds of dollars make up for lack of smoking skills?
Then there are those guys on the bike trails riding multi-thousand dollar carbon graphite frames and state-of-the-art mechanics, getting smoked on the trail by a teenager on a clunker mountain bike from WalMart.
Who is the stud? The putz on an expensive piece of gear, doing a mediocre job? Or, the teen busting ass on a cheap WalMart bike? I know who I root for.
I mean, I enjoy my nice pipes. But, I also enjoy my cheap pipes just as well. I enjoy all of my pipes. They all have their purpose. But, money can't buy skills, and money can't buy joy. And, you are just as likely to have just as much fun smoking a $25 bucket pipe, as a $2000 Eltang. And, that's just the way of it.
That guy on the 17th hole bashing his club against a tree, cussing furiously into the woods at his lost ball. How much is skill; how much is the "thing?" Does the guy who enjoys the hell out of a rattly $25 bucket pipe, have more skill that the guy who pulls a gurgle out of a Dunhill? At what point does spending hundreds of dollars make up for lack of smoking skills?
Then there are those guys on the bike trails riding multi-thousand dollar carbon graphite frames and state-of-the-art mechanics, getting smoked on the trail by a teenager on a clunker mountain bike from WalMart.
Who is the stud? The putz on an expensive piece of gear, doing a mediocre job? Or, the teen busting ass on a cheap WalMart bike? I know who I root for.
I mean, I enjoy my nice pipes. But, I also enjoy my cheap pipes just as well. I enjoy all of my pipes. They all have their purpose. But, money can't buy skills, and money can't buy joy. And, you are just as likely to have just as much fun smoking a $25 bucket pipe, as a $2000 Eltang. And, that's just the way of it.
Yes, No, Maybe....If you are paying a higher price for better quality, yes, the pipe will more than likely smoke better. If you are paying strictly based on a name and not so much on the actual pipe your going to smoke, chances are you stand a higher rate of being disappointed. Can some basket pipes smoke as well as a Dunhill? Maybe.
I have a few Grabow's that smoke as well as the Ashtons and Dunhills that are in my rotation. But they didn't start out that way. It took time for them to break in and deliver a great smoke.
I think Cosmic nailed it, it's really more about the skills. Once the smoking skills are there, everything seems to fall into place.
I have a few Grabow's that smoke as well as the Ashtons and Dunhills that are in my rotation. But they didn't start out that way. It took time for them to break in and deliver a great smoke.
I think Cosmic nailed it, it's really more about the skills. Once the smoking skills are there, everything seems to fall into place.
I think there is no proving an opinion. But, I think if there was a scientific approach, I like Sable's. 25% or so percent the tool, and 75% the skills. So a skilled smoker may get more joy from a Grabow, whereas a clutz with an Eltang might just end up in a ditch with their theirs.
Just for giggles, I have been putting this to a test. For the past 5 days, I've been smoking 2 grams of Dunhill My Mixture 965 in a selection of my pipes. So far I've used a Dunhill Inner Tube 151, Rinaldo Triade YYY 1, Stanwell HCA, Stefano Santambrogio bent, Savinelli Dry System 2622, an unnamed bent pipe stamp Christmas 1988, a Borkum Riff pipe that came as a package deal with some bulk and a Linkeman Hollycourt Special 7023.
The Borkum Riff was the worse of the 8 pipes and only lasted 43 minutes with 3 relights and a lot of dottle. The Dunhill, Rinaldo, Savinelli and Santambrogio were all about the same. The Dunhill lasted 71 minutes and the Santambrogio for 67 minutes.
I have two old Kaywoodies and a Royal Sovereign still to test.
The Borkum Riff was the worse of the 8 pipes and only lasted 43 minutes with 3 relights and a lot of dottle. The Dunhill, Rinaldo, Savinelli and Santambrogio were all about the same. The Dunhill lasted 71 minutes and the Santambrogio for 67 minutes.
I have two old Kaywoodies and a Royal Sovereign still to test.
Good test, Pappy. One thing that came to mind, is the audience of the thread. Are we talking to a newbie or a seasoned smoker?
I think that we can all agree that giving a 16 year old a Maserati to learn to drive in is insane, when they can just as well learn the skills in a beater '82 Chevette with the body texture of a well used paper bag.
So, if we are talking to a newbie with a bucket pipe who is struggling with not liking flavors of the tobacco, that is immediately tossed aside to a tobacco issue. However, if it is tongue bite, gurgle, hot pipe, or just keeping it lit, suggesting a better pipe may not be to the benefit of the newbie.
However, if a seasoned smoker is doing well and loving flavors and is just curious about what more money on a pipe will do, then yeh, a custom pipe by a master is going to give you a much better "feel" on the bit, and maybe even some improvement on all other categories.
But, a newbie who doesn't develop their skills is still going to have issues, no matter what pipe they use.
Like a baseball player who can get a homerun on an old wooden bat just might get more control with a better designed bat. But, if you can't make contact with the ball, then get back in the cage with that raty old wooden bat. Right?
I think that we can all agree that giving a 16 year old a Maserati to learn to drive in is insane, when they can just as well learn the skills in a beater '82 Chevette with the body texture of a well used paper bag.
So, if we are talking to a newbie with a bucket pipe who is struggling with not liking flavors of the tobacco, that is immediately tossed aside to a tobacco issue. However, if it is tongue bite, gurgle, hot pipe, or just keeping it lit, suggesting a better pipe may not be to the benefit of the newbie.
However, if a seasoned smoker is doing well and loving flavors and is just curious about what more money on a pipe will do, then yeh, a custom pipe by a master is going to give you a much better "feel" on the bit, and maybe even some improvement on all other categories.
But, a newbie who doesn't develop their skills is still going to have issues, no matter what pipe they use.
Like a baseball player who can get a homerun on an old wooden bat just might get more control with a better designed bat. But, if you can't make contact with the ball, then get back in the cage with that raty old wooden bat. Right?
I started thinking about this a few minutes ago when posting on the "What Are You Smoking" thread. btwes7 was smoking Dunhill Dark Flake in a Country Gent, and was smoking Brown Clunee in an Imp meer. I'm pretty sure my smoke is delivering a better experience (for me), but no way could it be over 50 times better. I wouldn't even know how to measure that.
Cosmic, I am keeping an open mind while doing this test and really trying to concentrate on each pipe. From what I've learned so far, the answer is that its far too subjective to be a yes and no answer. I also readily admit that I've never smoked a high end artisan pipe or pipes made by someone like Tom Eltang.
My theory is a large portion of the smoking quality of a pipe is related to the quality of the briar used. Even a perfectly drilled piece of briar will turn into a so-so or bad smoker if the briar has hidden defects.
I have the opinion that the more money and effort put into producing a pipe, the greater the chance that it's going to be a great smoking pipe. Conversely, there is the old saying that "even a blind squirrel occasionally finds an acorn." By that I mean even carvers/manufacturers on the lower end of the scale can and do occasionally find and produce a pipe worth more than what the end user pays.
Here's my theory. The higher priced pipes are made by carvers or manufacturers who can afford to source best briar blocks available. I'm sure that the sources of the briar examine each piece as it's cut, boiled, dried and age and are able to grade the briar. The highest graded briar goes to the highest paying pipe carvers/manufacturers
Then there are the high end artisan pipes that retail for over $1,000. I don't see myself ever being able to afford one, but the biggest names out there are producing pipes that are works of art from an appearance and from a pipe smoking standpoint. I can't see a Former, Chonowitsch or Ivarsson that is not perfect in every way seeing the light of day for example.
My theory is a large portion of the smoking quality of a pipe is related to the quality of the briar used. Even a perfectly drilled piece of briar will turn into a so-so or bad smoker if the briar has hidden defects.
I have the opinion that the more money and effort put into producing a pipe, the greater the chance that it's going to be a great smoking pipe. Conversely, there is the old saying that "even a blind squirrel occasionally finds an acorn." By that I mean even carvers/manufacturers on the lower end of the scale can and do occasionally find and produce a pipe worth more than what the end user pays.
Here's my theory. The higher priced pipes are made by carvers or manufacturers who can afford to source best briar blocks available. I'm sure that the sources of the briar examine each piece as it's cut, boiled, dried and age and are able to grade the briar. The highest graded briar goes to the highest paying pipe carvers/manufacturers
Then there are the high end artisan pipes that retail for over $1,000. I don't see myself ever being able to afford one, but the biggest names out there are producing pipes that are works of art from an appearance and from a pipe smoking standpoint. I can't see a Former, Chonowitsch or Ivarsson that is not perfect in every way seeing the light of day for example.
I totally agree with you, Pappy as well as what cgrmaster had originally posted before it got eaten by an alligator. The only difference that I was poorly making was that if you don’t have the skills yet those subtle nuances are wasted on the smoker. It boils down to who is reading the thread as to what the correct answer is. If you’re just learning how to get your pack and cadence right, just stick to your old wooden bat, or not... depends on their means. Not my call. But, if you are an experienced smoker, then yes, to a degree. I would suggest to a man of means that if he has only ever smoked basket pipes, then why not have a custom pipe made, or pick up one by a master carver that has nice bits and stemwork. I enjoy my Beckers, but I also enjoy my Savinellis, Nordings, seconds bulldogs, all of my pipes really. But, if I am in a “mood” I’ll crack open a tin of something old and grab my well cared for Becker and hit the porch for the evening. But, a man shouldn’t feel like he isn’t getting a 100% smoking pleasure if he enjoys his cheap pipe, and doesn’t have the means to drop $200, $300, or $600+ on a pipe. If you enjoy what you’re doing, then you’re doing it right.
Indeed. And the view of what is better isn't really settled, either.
So, Peck, tune in next year to find out..... that the discussion continues. Though I like "sometimes they do, often they don't smoke 'better.'"
Admittedly, this is highly subjective and I can only offer my own personal opinion based on my own personal experiences, but my answer is... usually, yes! While I have been lucky to find the occasional cheaper pipe that smokes well, I have found a great many more that didn't. I strongly disagree that the difference declines over $100, or even $200, with a few rare exceptions. I started, this time around, with 3 Guardesana HIS Italy pipes ($40) then progressed to Peterson, Savinelli, Invicta, and Stanwell pipes ($100-$250). The difference was very noticeable. However, there were still unacceptable (To me) deficiencies in that range, with the exception of Stanwell (I still like Stanwell pipes). Savinellis Balsa garbage made me swear off of them forever. The current production ones, anyway. Peterson's lack of quality control (poor drilling, dip staining, bubbling finish) has me avoiding them like the plague! I decided it was time to "pony up" and try a higher priced, and, hopefully better quality, pipe. Enter Castello, Caminetto, Ascorti, Mark Tinsky, Jesse Jones, Craig Cooper, and Regina Scarlatta. Wow! What a difference! Spot-on drilling, great Briar, comfortable bits, smooth airways, quality finishes, etc.! Do I LIKE spending more money for pipes? Of course not! Is it worth every penny for the pleasure and lack of issues? Absolutely! Again just my own 2 pennies from my own limited experience. To each their own.
tschiraldi - I agree with most of what your wrote. Personally, I've never had a blemish on the pipe finish ever affect the smoking quality of the pipe. But that's just me. I don't have any of the new Savinellis which take the balsa filter. The one I have is old and I don't put the balsa in it.
Where I am in agreement with you is that the high end pipes are less likely to have engineering problems and more likely to have better quality briar.
Where I am in agreement with you is that the high end pipes are less likely to have engineering problems and more likely to have better quality briar.
It does make me think, how well some of the cost-nothing factory pipes, for example my Kaywoodie Ruff-Tone with a stinger no less ... how well this and various other basement priced pipes, along with cobs, smoke. It doesn't tarnish the glory of some of the extra nice pipes I enjoy for their superb looks, draw and finish. It's just worth noting. Good that a person with just a few bucks to spend can get lucky with a great pipe that doesn't cost much. A credit to pipes.
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