Does Anything Really Smoke Better Than A Cob?
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Ladies and gentlemen,
I'm afraid that the era of cobsnobbery is upon us.
In a pipe smoking/collecting community where members have bent over backward to be inclusive of each other, no matter what your choice of tobacco or smoking instrument, it is the cobsnobs who have begun to separate themselves from this brotherly fellowship by turning their nose up at the choices of others; Belittling those who would spend more than $6.50 on something to simply smoke out of.
In spite of its shabby-chic, bush-crafted appearance, the cob remains the most mass produced pipe in the industry. Ironic that it has become the symbol and rallying point of this rebellion within our community. "I am a cob smoker! I do not follow the crowd! I am an individual!" I am reminded of the infamous counter-culture icon, the iPhone.
Cob enthusiasts, my Brothers of the Briar and I have loved you and accepted you unconditionally as equal partakers in this fine hobby. I am saddened to see our acceptance rewarded with this cobsnobbery.
I'm afraid that the era of cobsnobbery is upon us.
In a pipe smoking/collecting community where members have bent over backward to be inclusive of each other, no matter what your choice of tobacco or smoking instrument, it is the cobsnobs who have begun to separate themselves from this brotherly fellowship by turning their nose up at the choices of others; Belittling those who would spend more than $6.50 on something to simply smoke out of.
In spite of its shabby-chic, bush-crafted appearance, the cob remains the most mass produced pipe in the industry. Ironic that it has become the symbol and rallying point of this rebellion within our community. "I am a cob smoker! I do not follow the crowd! I am an individual!" I am reminded of the infamous counter-culture icon, the iPhone.
Cob enthusiasts, my Brothers of the Briar and I have loved you and accepted you unconditionally as equal partakers in this fine hobby. I am saddened to see our acceptance rewarded with this cobsnobbery.
@WaltCannoy- I'm sorry that you feel that way. I haven't seen this "cobsnobbery" you're talking about; mostly I've seen people like me who say a cob is better in some applications, a briar or meer in others. You certainly are right about members bending over backwards to be inclusive of each other, though. It's one of the best things about this forum, IMHO.
I have an F-150 and ML350. Both serve in specifics areas. The cob is the same. To me anyway. It's a disposable item which serves a very specific purpose. Further, if a person finds a cob serves their needs and provides a smoke that satisfies them, more power to them. If member doesn't like cobs why take the time to comment? Some of the members, really like stirring the pot now and then I'm afraid.
Walt is right. The snobbery cuts both ways. There are members who, through how they write , are obviously a bit "nose in the air" when discussing cobs. We have members who detest Petes. Some members are aghast that people would spend hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for a pipe. We have members very quick to disparage certain blends or groups of blends. One should never take umbrage with the narrow minded.
Such superiority is usually, in my mind, an indicator of a lack of self-confidence and quite likely, more than a little bit of jealousy. They have to reassure themselves that their choices are correct and unassailable and seek support for their position. And, they must do this over and over. Numerous threads on this forum attest to this.
It's akin to asking "Does anything beat a cob?" The answer is: "Of course." The law of averages insures that even for the unknowing and uncertain that there must be at least one pipe out there that will smoke better than one's best cob. We are talking millions of briars, meerschaums, and what have yous. There has to be one that will out shine a cob.
Walt is right. The snobbery cuts both ways. There are members who, through how they write , are obviously a bit "nose in the air" when discussing cobs. We have members who detest Petes. Some members are aghast that people would spend hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for a pipe. We have members very quick to disparage certain blends or groups of blends. One should never take umbrage with the narrow minded.
Such superiority is usually, in my mind, an indicator of a lack of self-confidence and quite likely, more than a little bit of jealousy. They have to reassure themselves that their choices are correct and unassailable and seek support for their position. And, they must do this over and over. Numerous threads on this forum attest to this.
It's akin to asking "Does anything beat a cob?" The answer is: "Of course." The law of averages insures that even for the unknowing and uncertain that there must be at least one pipe out there that will smoke better than one's best cob. We are talking millions of briars, meerschaums, and what have yous. There has to be one that will out shine a cob.
I think the best way to summarize this thread would be: "If Rad Davis were to make a Cob, Harris would smoke it."
Which puts the attention squarely where it should be, on the person making the pipe, and not what the pipe is made of.
Which puts the attention squarely where it should be, on the person making the pipe, and not what the pipe is made of.
The person who would never consider a cob is as short sighted as the person that would consider nothing else.
Alot of excellent points made and zack24 touched on the biggest negative I have with a cob. The open draw once the filter is removed. I love my cobs and feel they smoke wonderful with a slight modification. After seeing a pic of a Dunhill innertube pipe it dawned on me the same can be done with a cob. This is now how I mod all of my cobs that are filter models.
Hmmm... well, when I started to write my post above, I had intended for it to be more lighthearted, a bit sarcastic... "in jest", if you will. Looking back at it this morning, I see that it came out more serious sounding than I wanted it to.
Those who know me personally could read the first two lines of my post above and totally see the humor in it. I'm sorry that the rest of the post quickly took on a more serious tone than I had intended. Maybe I should have added some smileys and winks...
Do I honestly think that cob enthusiasts are attacking briar lovers? No. Every once in a while, someone makes a statement that feels like they are attacking briar lovers... but, no, I don't honestly think an attack is going on.
Those who know me personally could read the first two lines of my post above and totally see the humor in it. I'm sorry that the rest of the post quickly took on a more serious tone than I had intended. Maybe I should have added some smileys and winks...
Do I honestly think that cob enthusiasts are attacking briar lovers? No. Every once in a while, someone makes a statement that feels like they are attacking briar lovers... but, no, I don't honestly think an attack is going on.
I'll throw gasoline on that torch you're wielding... :
: Pipe smoking, for me, is an extravagance. It is something I do to spoil myself, and to relax. It is meditative, contemplative, occasionally social, and generally one of the few things I do to treat myself. As a direct result my pipe buying reflects those inputs, and from a purely aesthetic perspective I would, "never consider a cob."
I have made a considered decision to have a couple different cobs in my rotation for smoking while canoeing, or camping in the rain, and to use for sampling new tobaccos which might otherwise ghost my briar pipes. I like cobs for this reason and have Missouri Meerschaum cobs and Old Dominion cobs on my racks.
I admire the hell out of the ownership of both those companies, and think that what Phil Morgan and company are doing over at MM is wonderful for the pipe smoking community at large. I am also really enjoying watching Bill and Bob get the wheels going under Old Dominion and wish them all luck.
But when it comes to adding a new pipe to my "most wanted" list, those pipes are never cob pipes. I like the weight of briar. Briar pipes are substantial, cobs are ephemeral. Briar pipes have the weight of years and can outlast their smokers; cobs will not. Briar speaks to me in the grain, the stain, the patina and the shaping; cobs just don't.
For me, cobs are a purposeful smoke, and they perform the tasks I ask of them well: let me smoke in conditions which might put my precious pipes at risk without fear; let me smoke tobaccos which might cause undue ghosting without risk; let me smoke a pipe which allows me to be proud of American history and ingenuity.
Let me smoke a pipe which is beautiful, has gravitas, and speaks to my soul? I'll choose briar.
I think this dialogue has moved, uncharacteristically, away from the "YMMV" (your mileage may very) consideration we as a community tend to give each other. Which is interesting.
I'll hearken back to an earlier post to end this... Smoke what you like. Like what you smoke.
-- Pat
I'm with weezell on the cheap MM stems...I like ebonite too, but usually when I'm cobbin it, I'm hanging it out of my mouth...unless it's my Freehand...I've got a removable plate augmenting some of my bottom teeth and two permanent bridges for most of my uppers...a lucite stem is fine, but clenching a soft plastic stem is quite more comfortable...so, it depends upon the situation and application...when I eventually close the end of a plastic stem...I heat it and open it back up...granted, they look like crap...but they still work great.
Back when I started I thought to modify the shank portion of my filter cobs with plaster of paris and then drilling out a 5/32 or so...haven't tried that yet...leacha's idea looks like an even better one...
what's the tubing used? I didn't see that detail ? I guess any tube will do with the right inside diameter and the right drill bit....so...never mind.
Back when I started I thought to modify the shank portion of my filter cobs with plaster of paris and then drilling out a 5/32 or so...haven't tried that yet...leacha's idea looks like an even better one...
what's the tubing used? I didn't see that detail ? I guess any tube will do with the right inside diameter and the right drill bit....so...never mind.
Aldecaker...take a joke ol'boy!
Walt..were you bitten by a cob as a boy?
Walt..were you bitten by a cob as a boy?
Totally agree. I started off with a cob and couldn't get rid of it fast enough. The aroma of burnt wood, the joy-robbing stems and the "cornification" of whatever goes in the bowl really took the shine off for me.
No... but between getting corn stuck in your teeth, and the fact that it comes out not fully digested...
I mean, seriously, who can trust the stuff?
I only have one briar, a Luciano I purchased second hand here. I usually smoke my Saturday evening bowl from it. I have a bunch of cobs, my favorite being my Country Gentleman, and find them to be fantastic smokers. I'd like to build a rotation of briars, but am not in a position to do so right now. I spend my money on tobacco at this point. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I like both.
LOL ... love 'em or hate 'em they always at least provide extensive threads! 
Some curse the stems and call them cheap while others have learned to appreciate the soft clench-feel, ease of repair and wide open draw.
For many, the taste imparted by a new cob is not appealing while others throw some Burley in there to break it in and enjoy the added sweetness. Also, if you properly break in a cob, that flavor is completely gone in no time.
The worst excuse ever for not giving cobs a try is aesthetics ... get over yourself because you're missing out on some enjoyable smokes!
That being said, I'm smoking from a 1930's KBB right now and enjoying the heck out of it. ::
Some curse the stems and call them cheap while others have learned to appreciate the soft clench-feel, ease of repair and wide open draw.
For many, the taste imparted by a new cob is not appealing while others throw some Burley in there to break it in and enjoy the added sweetness. Also, if you properly break in a cob, that flavor is completely gone in no time.
The worst excuse ever for not giving cobs a try is aesthetics ... get over yourself because you're missing out on some enjoyable smokes!
That being said, I'm smoking from a 1930's KBB right now and enjoying the heck out of it. :
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