I do not. I picked up a 1983 unsmoked Dunhill Christmas pipe last year with the intention of smoking it, and I did a few times. Though I only will smoke it from time to time, I’ll definitely continue to do so.
Do You have a Pipe You can’t Bring Yourself to Smoke?
- Thread starter BigEd
- Start date
Do you know why you can't bring yourself to smoke it? Of course no judgement with your decision; I just find it interesting as I would've thought that some with one of their dad's pipes would love to smoke it and think of him.
Yes, I have a new pipe I haven't been able to bring myself to smoke. It's one of the last of the pipes to come out of Smio Satou's workshop. In fact, before I lit it up for the first time, I learned of Mr. Satou's death. Since then, I haven't been able to smoke it. It's like I am keeping it as a memorial to him. Here's the pic. 
You make an excellent point and I wish I had a good, clear cut answer. I have actually waffled back and forth on the matter and thought about lighting it up and knowing that he was the last to smoke it.... then I decide to back away from it and not steal that last smoke from him.
I can tell you one thing...... if I ever do decide to light it up, I know what I will pack the bowl with. Sir Walter Raleigh regular will be the blend. That is all I ever saw him smoke.
Yeah I understand. It sounds like part of it is just that it probably just has to feel like that special time. Sounds like that time has come close but not quite arrived. Please do share with us if/when that time comes! And hopefully you've got some SWR ready in case the time catches you by surprise.
Thanks for that reply. It was well worded and very touching.
I bought this Sasieni "Natural" Four-Dot Ashton unsmoked. I told myself that I would smoke it on some momentous life event. My first grandchild was born in 2016, and I smoked it on the patio at their home the day she was born. She's still my favorite human being, but lives 1000 miles away. I don't smoke it a lot, but when I do, I'm reminded of that day and the joy she has brought to my life.
I have a Genod panel that I kept for years without smoking it because it's such a lovely and well-made piece and I didn't want to char the rim. I always really wanted to smoke it, but couldn't bring myself to do so.
Eventually I came to the conclusion that life is too short not to enjoy the pipe as it was intended to be enjoyed, rather than keeping it as a display piece. It's an excellent smoker and I've managed not to char the rim as of yet.
Eventually I came to the conclusion that life is too short not to enjoy the pipe as it was intended to be enjoyed, rather than keeping it as a display piece. It's an excellent smoker and I've managed not to char the rim as of yet.
I have two but can't bring myself to smoke for other reasons. I have one Savinelli Poker that my parents got me for my 18th birthday ten years ago and one Peterson system pipe my parents got for me two Christmas' ago. The first I cannot smoke because of how sentimental it is for me and simply enjoy looking at it. The latter however, has this horrible taste that is akin to the taste of fake blood capsules (if you have ever trick-or-treated as a vampire or done a school film, you'll know the awful rancid peanut/chemical taste they have) that will not dissipate no matter how much I smoke it. It is however, a piece I remember my parents by and cannot ever bring myself to part with.
Well, I don't have a clue as to what fake blood tastes like but it sounds putrid........... Do you reckon there's anyway you could treat the bowl with something to purge that taste??
It really is. I’ve been meaning to try and treat it with honey or whisky but haven’t got around to it. Maybe now is my sign!
Have you tried removing that bowl coating ?
Taking it back to wood with sandpaper then doing a cotton ball and alcohol soak will most likely get rid of that horrid taste
I've gotten them from online sites that were new but slightly oxidized. Hold the stem under bright light or full sun to see if it's brown.
An unsmoked Jim Cooke Oom Paul from 1994, too big too take a first puff.
Same for a Nachwalter straight grain....
Same for a Nachwalter straight grain....
I had a couple of unsmoked pipes I couldn’t seem to bring myself to break in, with different reasons for each pipe. I finally sold them both and bought pipes I wanted to smoke with the money.
I don’t mind collecting things, but I just preferred to roll that money into the pipe/tobacco budget.
I don’t mind collecting things, but I just preferred to roll that money into the pipe/tobacco budget.
Does the other side of the bowl have similar grain on the Nachwalter? It’s a very nice looking pipe, the grain fits the shape so well.
My Dad's meerschaum. It's about 90 years old and the last couple of times I smoked it tiny slivers of amber came off in my mouth. I guess the amber has dried and become brittle with age. So, she's been retired for about 20 years. 
