Do You Prefer to Buy Unsmoked or Pre-Smoked Pipes?

[Davy Jones]

I know, kind of a grey zone question as not everyone prefers one over the other. However, by looking back in time to each invidual's purchases, there might be a trend emerging.
One's interests can also clearly define which one it is if one is specifically after an historical aspect when buying a pipe.
Surprisingly, I have only bought new, unsmoked pipes. I never did buy an estate/pre-smoked.
Why? Not sure but I guess I find that with an unsmoked pipe, I get a true sense of how the pipe performs and what it's worth (smoking wise, not cost wise) and if it was worth paying the cost. Also, I like starting a new pipe from scratch and see how it evolves over time.
Please discuss.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I have no issue buying estate pipes. However, most of my present collection are Artisan pipes and have mostly been unsmoked when I purchased them.

 

[Peter Turbo]

Either if fine, as long as the estate pipe doesn't need a ton of work put into it, I'm into smoking - not cleaning. Id say I have around 15 pipes and half are estate.

 

[daveinlax]

I could never have built any of my collections just buying unsmoked pipes. One, I couldn’t afford them and two, they don’t make many of them anymore.

 

[Grangerous]

I have many estates but all were purchased after professional restoration. I have no real preference for smoking. As I said, I’ve never obtained a nasty pipe. However, I do enjoy smoking a brand new pipe. I’m smoking one now that I purchased on International Pipe Day. Once it’s had its first bowl, it’s an estate like all the others.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I buy both unsmoked and pre-smoked pipes. Getting the latter takes away any of the torture I might go through as a collector not wanting to destroy the pristine condition of a pipe that has kept its virginity for over fifty years. I'm a sucker for original packaging and preserving it when it comes to toys and first edition books—pipes are no different if it's something special or unusual. In many cases, it's easy enough to get a common pipe that is used/pre-smoked—why ruin an example that has survived unsullied for many decades?

 

[Hillcrest]

I recently bought two estate pipes; one pre-owned unsmoked and one hand made and smoked which required reeming and salt cleaning. All 13 others were purchased new many years ago when i was young and foolish and thought knew what I wanted.

 

[bullet08]

I'm not against estate pipes. I just haven't seen one that I want yet.

 

[scloyd]

The only estates I've purchased have been from antique shops or ebay for cheap and they usually needed some work, sometimes a lot of work. I do have a few estates that have been gifted to me.

If I'm shopping for a new pipe to add to the collection and I find an estate and a new pipe of the same model...I'll spend the extra money for the new pipe. I like being the first smoker of a pipe.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I love good estate pipes (the more common term here), and find they have added immensely to my pile o' pipes. They loose no value upon the first smoke!

Also love to break in a fine new pipe.

HTH
--
"Baldrick, you wouldn't recognize a subtle plan if it painted itself purple and danced naked on top of a harpsichord singing 'Subtle Plans Are Here Again'."
-- Blackadder

 

[LotusEater]

My preference is for estate pipes. There are so many cool older pipes available and I think you get more pipe for your money buying estates. Also, I don’t want something that I have to baby. I try to take good care of my pipes but they are going to get used and knocked around a bit. There are a lot of artisan pipes I’m interested in but if I spent a few hundred dollars on a pipe I would probably suffer buyers remorse and I’d feel terrible once it got marred in some way.

 

[mso489]

Mostly my pipes have been bought new or unsmoked. I don't build cake, so i don't like to struggle with someone else's cake, and residual flavors and smells. My estate pipes have been pretty clean, so still fill the bill. Most of my pipes are moderately priced, so buying them new isn't usually a hurdle.

 

[Hampshire Pipes & Cigars]

I couldn’t possibly smoke a pipe that has already been in someone else's mouth. Yuck!

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Love estates! Cheaper, broken in, sometimes I’d keep the patina. Not against paying for an Artisanal commission or anything. However, lately I’ve been enjoying my MM ?s & Meers.

Also, I simply can’t justify me paying for a pipe that costs 3 & 4 X as much as seasoned estate that smokes equally as well IMHO. After all…it’s really bout da ? anyway. ?️

 

[warren]

No preference at all! I simply do not consider or, even seek out, used/cast offs. I don't buy used cars, underwear,
furniture, or other cast offs. Such simply is against my nature. Not a health concern, just a matter of why? I won't sell my less than stellar pipes, I trash 'em. I can not think of a reason for buying a discarded anything. I might, if the provenance is there and correct, purchase a pipe with historical significance. A Clarkson owned Defender might entice me also. I couldn't possibly articulate why though.

Mind you, I'm not denigrating those who collect certain pipes for whatever reason they consider valid.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

Never had an estate pipe that I liked, no matter how well restored.
A complete waste of time and money ever bothering in the first place.
No more.

 

[paulfg]

As my preferance is for old Britwood most of my pipes are estate ones.
There are not many pre republic Petersons or family era Barlings about unsmoked.
Although they do come up very rarely,they are then above my limit cost wise

 

[DanWil84]

In my less than 1 year journey I have bought some new and some estates. If a pipe has the right bowl size for what I intend to smoke in it and looks attract my attention I don't care if its a new or estate one.

For pipes I have been on a made-to-order/artisinal shopping spree and that might be my route from now.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

Either work fine for me.

 

[Laurent]

All of the above