I was sitting on my porch having a smoke from a rather ordinary Chacom billiard, one that I like with moderately interesting grain, and I got to thinking. I know that at this point there's probably trouble brewing, if I'm thinking about something.
I was wondering why so many smokers like straight grain pipes. My first experience with a straight grain pipe goes back to about 1983, not long after I started smoking a pipe. My only information was through the local B&M shops around, and I learned that straight grain pipes were almost alway high grade pipes and much sought after. About that time I was at a local weekly swap meet (I was in Southern CA at the time) and I came across some pipes for sale. I recognized a couple of names, but some were unfamiliar to me as I was fairly new at this. There were about 5 pipes on the table, and the seller wanted $25 for all of them. I didn't know if this was a good deal or not, but one of them looked nice and had a straight grain. I asked if they would sell them individually, and she said sure. I pointed to the small billiard pipe and asked how much for that one. She said it was $4. I wasn't familiar with the brand stamp, but part of it said May Co., a fairly upscale dept. store in SoCal at the time. It had a nice straight grain so I figured it must be a good pipe. It was a Charatan Supreme, evidently sold by May Co. I took it to my local B&M where I had been buying most of my pipes and tobacco at the time and asked if it was a good pipe. He looked surprised, and told me that it was about a $300 pipe! I was floored! I just couldn't believe that this little billiard was worth that much, especially as it was sold at a dept. store. He said that May Co. had years ago sold some high grade pipes and accessories.
He was good enough to clean it up for me, although it didn't need much, and I smoked it for a few months. It smoked ok. I didn't see much difference than my other pipes at that time, and I was really into Savinellis anyway. I ended up selling it about 10 years later for $80 and was pleased to get that much.
For some reason, I could never see the greatness of a straight grain pipe. I mean the grain always seemed kind of boring, compared to say flame grain, or birdseye. I know it's rarer to find straight grain briar, but I just don't find myself attracted to it that much. I can't see myself paying more for it or seeking it out. Some pipe designs look very nice with it, but I would like the same grain if it was sandblasted because it seems more interesting to me.
I've probably opened up a can of worms here, but I'm interested in hearing what some of you think of the straight grain lure.
I was wondering why so many smokers like straight grain pipes. My first experience with a straight grain pipe goes back to about 1983, not long after I started smoking a pipe. My only information was through the local B&M shops around, and I learned that straight grain pipes were almost alway high grade pipes and much sought after. About that time I was at a local weekly swap meet (I was in Southern CA at the time) and I came across some pipes for sale. I recognized a couple of names, but some were unfamiliar to me as I was fairly new at this. There were about 5 pipes on the table, and the seller wanted $25 for all of them. I didn't know if this was a good deal or not, but one of them looked nice and had a straight grain. I asked if they would sell them individually, and she said sure. I pointed to the small billiard pipe and asked how much for that one. She said it was $4. I wasn't familiar with the brand stamp, but part of it said May Co., a fairly upscale dept. store in SoCal at the time. It had a nice straight grain so I figured it must be a good pipe. It was a Charatan Supreme, evidently sold by May Co. I took it to my local B&M where I had been buying most of my pipes and tobacco at the time and asked if it was a good pipe. He looked surprised, and told me that it was about a $300 pipe! I was floored! I just couldn't believe that this little billiard was worth that much, especially as it was sold at a dept. store. He said that May Co. had years ago sold some high grade pipes and accessories.
He was good enough to clean it up for me, although it didn't need much, and I smoked it for a few months. It smoked ok. I didn't see much difference than my other pipes at that time, and I was really into Savinellis anyway. I ended up selling it about 10 years later for $80 and was pleased to get that much.
For some reason, I could never see the greatness of a straight grain pipe. I mean the grain always seemed kind of boring, compared to say flame grain, or birdseye. I know it's rarer to find straight grain briar, but I just don't find myself attracted to it that much. I can't see myself paying more for it or seeking it out. Some pipe designs look very nice with it, but I would like the same grain if it was sandblasted because it seems more interesting to me.
I've probably opened up a can of worms here, but I'm interested in hearing what some of you think of the straight grain lure.
