First non-filter?

[obc83]

Don't know if anyone else is listening to the radio show tonight but there was a question in the mail section asking for suggestions on a first unfiltered pipe. I'm starting to think about it too. The host suggested either a Savinelli or a Peterson Donegal Rocky. I'm probably going to wait awhile because I think I want to go for the hundred plus dollar tier, trite as that sounds. I just want to get something nice for that. Anyway, as usual; What say you?

 

[LeafErikson]

I would go with the Savinelli Tre line.

 

[proteus]

No filter just means not installing one on any filter pipe. I have Sav 320KS. Never use a filter.

 

[Frog Snacks]

I've never smoked a filtered pipe in my life, when I buy a pipe I take out the filter if it has one, and even those metal baffle things need to go.

 

[TakeThisCobAndStuffIt]

Don't make it too complicated. While you certainly can use this as an opportunity for a new pipe, you can also just pull the filter from what you have and see if it suits you before you make the investment.

 

[OzPiper]

6mm and 9mm filter pipes smoke perfectly without the filters
The draw is a lot more open, which some prefer.

Or you can opt to get an adaptor. They sometimes come with one.

 

[upnorth1]

I’ve never used a filter. Many of my pipes take them but most pipes smoke just fine without them. Whether a pipe uses a filter isnt an issue when I’m considering buying one.

 

[PipeIT]

Let me see if I have this correct?

——————————
Suggestions for a first unfiltered pipe. I'm starting to think about it too. The host suggested either a Savinelli or a Peterson Donegal Rocky.
——————————

There’s no such thing as a suggestion or advice to be made for buying a pipe that is either filtered or unfiltered, considering the mass amount of pipes made around the world for either style.

In the end, you look, read, possibly see what others are talking about, and then buy what you like.

There is no right or wrong here, it’s simply buying a pipe that catches your eye, and whatever you can afford.

You can’t go wrong with any of the big names, factory or small artisan carvers.

Mentioning only two names, Savinelli or a Peterson, is just being biased is all.

Also, besides only mentioning Briar pipes, you have Corn Cob, Meerschaum and Clay. If you are looking for more of a pure tobacco taste, sometimes Briar can impart flavors into the tobacco.

Corncobs, Meerschaum and Clay are neutral tasting. Some have talked about tastes in new Corncobs, but after being smoked awhile, they tend to go neutral.

I’ve smoked Briar, Corncobs, Meerschaum and Clay, and I found all the latter 3 to always be more neutral over Briar.

If you get nice briar, it can be neutral too...

 

[RookieGuy80]

Honestly, I would just jump onto SP and click the no filter box in the pipe finder section. The odds of you getting stuck with a bad pipe from an established legitimate operation are low.

As others have said, you can absolutely smoke a filtered pipe without the filter. That's my preference. It really opens up the draw, which I like. But if you don't like a wide open draw, it might not be an attractive option.

 

[PA Piper Mike]

Of course everyone is different, but that being said, I used to use filters on my pipes, then I switched over because I got tired of the occasional gurgling and not being able to run a pipe cleaner through. I've heard some say that they need the filter to help prevent tongue bite, but I'm not sure if that's just a myth. I smoke slow on blends I know can bite and don't seem to have any problems.

Long story short, just about any non-filtered pipe should be just fine. My 1st NF pipe happened to be an awesome dragon claw meer and it smokes great.

I'm with @RookieGuy80 ...hop on SP and run a search on NF pipes and get a pipe that stands out to you.

 

[El Capitán]

I've always thrown out filters that come with certain pipes. No need of a specific brand. Just find one you like and don't put a filter in it.

 

[AJL67]

6mm and 9mm filter pipes smoke perfectly without the filters
The draw is a lot more open, which some prefer.

Or you can opt to get an adaptor. They sometimes come with one.

This.

Also i would throw Meer into the ring, my goto pipes and all naturally filtered, if you want to look at it that way.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

As many have stated already, don't overthink it. Just buy a pipe you like, if it accepts a filter and you want to use a filter than put a filter in it. If you don't want to use the filter than don't put one in. If it doesn't accept a filter, well then no filter. I own several filter pipes, I've never used a filter in any of them.

 

[LeafErikson]

I'm going to go against the consensus here. I wouldn't recommend smoking a filtered pipe with no filter as your first unfiltered pipe experience. While it's possible to, it's not necessarily optimal. When smoking a filtered pipe sans filter, the draw is often insanely open and it makes packing wildly different than if you were just smoking an unfiltered pipe. If you want to try an unfiltered pipe just buy an inexpensive one and try it out.

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

All of my pipes eventually become non-filter pipes….. I leave the filter in until I dislike it and if it came with a box of them…. I will replace consecutively in the same fashion until all are used…. the the pipe becomes free of that “affliction”.

 

[ThermionicScott]

I would go with the Savinelli Tre line.

I'm pretty sure my next briar will be a Rossi Piccolo. Along the same lines, but a little plainer and with vulcanite stems. About $50. Not a stepping-stone to anything else, I'm just a base-model kind of guy.

 

[PipeIT]

One thing that’s always interesting, is people will ask about buying particular pipes, but Price rarely gets brought up in conversations.

Now, two areas of thoughts here on Prices. Price doesn’t always equate to a better smoker, inexpensive pipes can smoke as nice as expensive pipes, but the line can be drawn in some ways.

And last, with limited or new experience, it’s also a good idea to not spend a lot in the beginning, it’s better to smoke less expensive pipes and work your way up, so you have a baseline to judge against higher quality pipes, later down the road.

So, what price range were you looking to spend at?

P.S. If you haven’t read, ‘The Myth of Brand and Maker in Pipesmoking, by Dr. Fred Hanna’, be sure to, it’s a great and must read.

‘The Myth of Brand and Maker in Pipesmoking, by Dr. Fred Hanna’.

https://www.greatnorthernpipeclub.org/_files/ugd/17b259_acdce5ca70354ca7a5f64775f95ae600.pdf

 

[obc83]

I'm going to go against the consensus here. I wouldn't recommend smoking a filtered pipe with no filter as your first unfiltered pipe experience. While it's possible to, it's not necessarily optimal. When smoking a filtered pipe sans filter, the draw is often insanely open and it makes packing wildly different than if you were just smoking an unfiltered pipe. If you want to try an unfiltered pipe just buy an inexpensive one and try it out.

Thanks Leaf (and everyone else too, I appreciate all the perspectives). I do understand that I can just pull the filter, and that money does(n't) always buy happiness. Maybe I'll just get an adapter, I think I tend to like a more restricted draw. Regarding getting a new pipe though; where I'm sure I'm just looking for more PAD fuel and as much as I tend to modify the hell out of most things I touch, I'm still a believer that tools usually work better within the parameters of their original intended design. Also, I can make Google echo my chamber all day but I can only get those hard-won-through-experience opinions straight from the horse's mouth. Anyway, at this point I'm leaning toward a Sav or the Tsuge Tasting. The 23 I think. I'm big on billiard and saddle stems.

 

[obc83]

I'm going to go against the consensus here. I wouldn't recommend smoking a filtered pipe with no filter as your first unfiltered pipe experience. While it's possible to, it's not necessarily optimal. When smoking a filtered pipe sans filter, the draw is often insanely open and it makes packing wildly different than if you were just smoking an unfiltered pipe. If you want to try an unfiltered pipe just buy an inexpensive one and try it out.

Thanks Leaf (and everyone else too, I appreciate all the perspectives). I do understand that I can just pull the filter. And maybe I'll just get an adapter, I think I tend to like a more restricted draw. Regarding getting a new pipe though; where I'm sure I'm just looking for more PAD fuel and as much as I tend to modify the hell out of most things I touch, I'm still a believer that tools usually work better within the parameters of their original intended design. Also, I can make Google echo my chamber all day but I can only get those hard-won-through-experience opinions straight from the horse's mouth Anyway, at this point I'm leaning toward a Sav or the Tsuge Tasting. The 23 I think. I'm big on billiard and saddle stems.

 

[mso489]

PIpe makers want you to keep buying their filters so no one ever mentions they are mostly just optional. So you already have your first "filterless" pipe. You just didn't know it.