Do You have a Pipe You can’t Bring Yourself to Smoke?

[Durhamshire]

Northern Briars is a British Pipemaker. The fabulous and genuine Ian Walker is that company. Lovely, lovely guy. Have been lucky to meet/speak a few times. 2018 was Northern Briars 60th Anniversary (Ian's Dad started it all). He did a special pipe. Limited to 60, with certificate of authenticity. I bought No.50 (I was 50 in 2018). I have a few Northern Briars, (lost a great one too), but just can't smoke this one. It's too special. Am I a nutterooni??

 

[LongIslandPiper]

I have about a dozen or so I have not smoked yet, mostly high grade pipes such as Castellos. But they will all be smoked by me eventually.

I’ve said it here before: the saddest listing on eBay is one for “Unsmoked Estate Pipe” made by some decedent‘s long-lost nephew who inherited it and promptly sold it. Also, if I buy a new Castello for $650 and hide it away for 20 years, chances are it’s probably out of style and not even worth the original $650. Better to have smoked it and let my sons sell it for $300 twenty years from now. Hopefully, I raised them in a manner that they also prefer I enjoyed it now.

These Castellos will hopefully feel the flame before I do:

(Tap on image to enlarge)

That middle Castello, is it a paneled bullcap? If so, I've never seen them make one of those. So cool

 

[Sobrbiker]

I’ve got one new pipe that was gifted me, and a few of my dad’s that I don’t smoke.
My reasoning isn’t collecting or sentimental, they just have chambers way larger than I lie to smoke currently.
Perhaps someday if I start smoking inside, I shall enjoy them but until then…

 

[recoilrob]

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.

It does,

 

[Mike N]

That middle Castello, is it a paneled bullcap? If so, I've never seen them make one of those. So cool

Tho Ancoretta series has two panels, one on each side of the bowl.

Here are two other Castello panels I’ve yet to smoke.

 

[Pipeoff]

I would turn the question around. Pipe that I should not have smoked. I bought this Caminetto as kind of an investment, smoked it a few times, not to my liking. The pipe over the years has now become a collector and increased in value more so when unsmoked.

 

[renfield]

Years ago I bought a Baglan Santa meer. Beautifully carved and I knew when I bought it that I wouldn’t smoke it. It was always going to be enjoyed just as a sculpture.

 

[RudyG]

Here's a Vollmer & Nilsson I can't bring myself to light up. Maybe one day.

 

[denholrl]

Nice story

I do have an unsmoked pipe - a cased 1912 BBB bent billiard.
One of the earliest old Britwood in the pile, and bought from a fellow Aussie

View attachment 282045

I fully intend to smoke it - just waiting for the right occasion

I inherited this patent Dunhill Shell poker from my wife's uncle . . . bowl only. It was in rough shape. I sent it to George Debos who made a period-accurate stem and restored the bowl to perfection. A few chips were repaired and fit in invisibly with the blast. George made twenty a step-by-step videos of the process which you can see on Youtube. I'm not going to smoke this beauty.

 

[denholrl]

I'm primarily a pipe smoker, not a pipe collector. That said, I do own a few pipes that I'm satisfied to keep in their unsmoked condition and have no interest in smoking, such as this unsmoked Barling companion set from 1907:

And this unsmoked Lindbergh pipe commemorating his transatlantic flight:

As well as a few others.

They're like little time machines. Once they're smoked , they're just another old pipe, and I have plenty of those.

Those Barlings are fantastic!!

 

[denholrl]

Nice story

I do have an unsmoked pipe - a cased 1912 BBB bent billiard.
One of the earliest old Britwood in the pile, and bought from a fellow Aussie

View attachment 282045

I fully intend to smoke it - just waiting for the right occasion

Gorgeous pipe!

 

[runscott]

This pipe is the reason I no longer buy unsmoked pipes unless I plan on smoking them - 1950's unsmoked 'Straight Grain' 80S. At some point I will have an 'unsmoked Peterson' sale and get rid of a few like this one:

 

[sablebrush52]

Bumping another buried thread.

Lots more threads buried by the thoughtless member still buried.

 

[runscott]

Bumping an-
other buried thread.
Lots more threads buried by the... - thoughtless member still buried

A couple more unsmoked Petersons that I'll never smoke. Case on top pipe is not original, but is period-correct and a perfect fit.

 

[proteus]

Yes. I have a replica MacArthur from MM. It sits next to my Bourbon collection as a reminder of the American greatness it represents to me. Very inspiring to me.

 

[Uruss]

This is my wedding pipe from Grant Batson. I still haven't smoked it. The adornment matches the wedding band he made for me. Perfect execution of my idea. I just haven't brought myself to light it up since I got it in 2017. Here's the vid of the process :

 

[Choatecav]

A couple more unsmoked Petersons that I'll never smoke. Case on top pipe is not original, but is period-correct and a perfect fit.

I can't blame you for not smoking those. They are beautiful.....

 

[AJL67]

Cant say i have any special pipes, super old, rare or have deep meaning to me, I buy to smoke them so i have no conundrum!

 

[FalconForever]

Not really a conundrum. It's your pipe. I'm assuming you have numerous other pipes to smoke. No reason to have any anxiety over your decision. If you to save it in pristine condition, do so. If you feel like smoking it, smoke it. I wouldn't consider making any recommendations other than that as the situation and emotions are unique to you. There's no wrong or right, just your feelings. Go with your feelings and then be happy with whatever you do.

Here's the one thing I can think of. Say you really like smoking it, love it in fact. So you decide to smoke it every day. It is inevitable you will drop it at some point. Maybe multiple times if you smoke it enough. And say one of those drops dings it. If that will be devastating, I'd say don't smoke it.

This.

 

[FalconForever]

I have some unused Falcons I don't smoke and another that has been used before but I don't use, which is quite old I think late 60s.

I like the idea that they've survived this long in unused / unabused condition and I have plenty of Falcons to choose from to smoke....