Do Sterling Pipes Offer the Same Benefit as Army-Mount?

[puff]

Nah, moisture doesn't bother me (except that one time I got the brilliant idea to smoke lying down, gwarthr!!) No, the reason I am looking for a pipe that will withstand the hot disassembly is for transport.. I travel a fair bit with work. I take my time smoking, but as a result sometimes I need to get a move on, once I'm done. I've tried a few things, at first I just got myself a bunch of cheap pipes to throw away, when they break or whatever, but I was always missing the joy of smoking my dear pipes at home. So I was hoping to find myself a pipe that I might enjoy as much as the ones at home, but that I can take apart safely, even when I need to pack it away quickly.
And I hear you asking, "but why do you have to take your pipe apart?", well, I have had multiple break in transport -- luckily only the cheapies, but still.. I'd hate to have that happen to one of my good pipes.

 

[jpmcwjr]

The army mount pre dates WWI. So the whole idea of it being created to tear it down for combat is false. Peterson had a contract to supply the army with pipes during WWI which probably started the nomenclature of "army mount" or "military mount".

There were dozens of wars before the "great War". And I like the notion that spent casings were used to reinforce the shank. But it could be an old doughboy's tale.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Yep, but a full spigot lines the interior of the mortise with sterling as well as lining the end of the stem with sterling. A half spigot has the spigot shape without the sterling lining of the mortise and is no different than an army mount except for the shape. A sterling mount is merely a band around the end of the shank and doesn't line the mortise.

Damn. Just checked the last three "spigots" I got, and none have the interior of the mortise lined; it's just briar. One was a Pete, one Dunhill, and gasp, one Barling!
It would seem to me that breaking down the pipe doesn't lesson the chances for breaking or dropping. For compact storage, or mailing, yes.

 

[mso489]

I can think of one or two other Forums members who say they remove the stem from the shank while the pipe is still hot and have never had a problem. Still, since I have never found myself in need of doing that, I just let the pipe cool completely. I don't want to be the guy who cracked the pipe and started the superstition. If I ever have to pull the pipe apart hot, I'll find out how I do.

 

[npod]

Horn shank pipes generally can be safely dismantled quickly when warm.