Do I Really Need A Cob?

[scrooge]

NO!

 

[tennsmoker]

Oldsalt, you will be glad you got a cob. Take from someone who owns several cobs, they are great smokers. I use them to try out new tobaccos, or an aro that might ghost one of my briars.
I think the cob deserves more respect than it gets. They are durable. They smoke wonderfully well. They are not called meerschaums for nothing. The older and more beat up they become, the better they seem to smoke. At least for me.
You gonna love them.

 

[northernneil]

I think the cob deserves more respect than it gets.

Hahaha, reading this thread, it sounds like cobs get nothing but respect.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

The older and more beat up they become, the better they seem to smoke. At least for me

Mark Twain would agree. Here's an except from an interview in 1892:
"Oh, no," he answered, "I never smoke a new corn-cob pipe. A new pipe irritates the throat. No corn-cob pipe is fit for anything until it has been used at least a fortnight."
"How do you manage then?" I asked. "Do you follow the example of the man with the tight boots;--wear them a couple of weeks before they can be put on?"
"No," said Mark Twain, "I always hire a cheap man--a man who doesn't amount to much, anyhow--who would be as well--or better--dead, and let him break in the pipe for me. I get him to smoke the pipe for a couple of weeks, then put in a new stem, and continue operations as long as the pipe holds together."

 

[okiebrad]

Interesting thread because I purchased 7 more cobs this week. I love smoking my cobs.

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

I keep three cobs in rotation, but have to admit, that I wouldn't smoke them nearly as much without their forever stems. I slimmed down, narrowed out, and opened up a number of the vulcanite nosewarmer stems, making them the most comfortable pipes I own. Additionally, they are great smokers and it's in my opinion that everyone should, if nothing else, have at least one cob for his/her Carter Hall.

 

[pappymac]

General Douglas MacArthur smoked a cob. Channel him instead of Huck.

 

[cobguy]

::

 

[buster]

I picked up a cob one day because I grabbed my pouch and didn't realize there was no pipe in it. I took it out to rest and forgot to put another in it. So I picked up a cob on my lunch break. Figured it was so cheap it was disposable? Fell in love with it now I have unsmoked cobs as back ups because I can't think of not having a cob handy. As others have said they are great for out door activities like fishing, yard work.

 

[sparrowhawk]

I had the same problem with Coast but decided to try one anyhow just for the experience. I got a Country Gentleman and was surprised at how well it's smoked. Eventually I would get a couple of extra Country Gentleman plus a shire and an elf both of which I smoke quite an awful lot in my rotation. Do try a cob, you don't have anything to lose.

 

[gordebak]

Hopefully I can answer this question tomorrow, since I'm getting my first cob. See, these guys can be very convincing.

 

[indianafrank]

Try one. You might like it. I have 8 pipes. Four are cobs.

 

[cigrmaster]

Since you have been smoking a while and love your meers and briars you certainly don't need to buy one. I would however suggest you do try one as every smoker needs to try a cob at least once in their smoking careers. You might find you can find a purpose for it in your rotation.

 

[sparrowhawk]

You'll love It!

 

[mackeson]

Yes, yes, yes....Yes!

For the price (coffee & a couple donuts), it would be wrong not to try one.

Personally I prefer the ones with hardwood bottoms, and those are a bit pricier--but still under $20 for a great smoking pipe!

 

[stranger]

Like an idiot I brought my nice briar to work today and as I was juggling 10 different things while trying to put the pipe back in the canvas case I made I dropped it on the damn asphalt. Put a nice friggen gouge in the wood. After a loud profanity my second thought was about this thread and how badly I wanted to have a cob land on the ground instead of my briar!

 

[crashthegrey]

No, no you don't. Smoke what you want, but buy one if you really want to know. I have tried and tried to like cobs. I don't. Yes, they smoke fine and are quite affordable. But so are many briar pipes. I just enjoy my smoke from my briar better than the cob, the clay, etc. Happy smokes.

 

[jdhayes]

@stranger: I dropped my country gent on concrete, survived without a scratch. Those cobs are tuff!
Also the stems are pretty much universal on them, they are easy to replace when you wear one out. Get you some Carter Hall and a cup of strong black coffee, its great. I am really enjoying H&H Classic Burley Kake in my cobs right now too.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

I should start a "do I really need a briar" thread.
I have a couple, and I think I'd say yes. Even as affordable as my Savinelli is, there's something different about it.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Need? No.

Want? My guess is yes.