Gift recommendations?

[endlesssouth]

I am looking for groomsmen gifts and was thinking of getting everyone a pipe with their initials engraved in them.

1. Any pipe recommendations in the $50-70 range? Would go up to $100 if there’s a noticeable quality jump.

2. Is it possible to engrave a pipe and it still be usable?

 

[Alejo R.]

1 You can buy a Peterson's at smokingpipes.com for 90. No one can complain about a Peterson.

2 No problem at all. I have plenty of engraved pipes from the pipe club that are all totally usable.

 

[InWithBothFeet]

Get everyone a cob. A cob and a half ounce of 1Q at every placemat.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I am looking for groomsmen gifts and was thinking of getting everyone a pipe with their initials engraved in them.

1. Any pipe recommendations in the $50-70 range? Would go up to $100 if there’s a noticeable quality jump.

2. Is it possible to engrave a pipe and it still be usable?

Do they all regularly smoke pipes?

If not, it's a pretty useless gift.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Go Greek. Buy clays and then smash them all at the end of the evening

 

[paulbunyan]

Agree re Petersons. Lots of great options with Nording and Savinelli also.

 

[Brad H]

I vote Peterson Taverns so they can all match. They look nifty as well.

 

[elvishrunes]

Brigham, Rossi, Ropp, Molina, all have offerings in the range, available on Smokingpipes.com . For a novice no going up to 100$ isn’t an improvement, for those of us who know those Brands we’d be able to get a slightly better Savinelli or Peterson in that range. But I don’t see the point, unless you don’t care about money, even then.

The right carver could do a carving no problem if you can find one, and just seal it with olive oil or butter, rub on. No it won’t affect anything.

 

[warren]

I am looking for groomsmen gifts and was thinking of getting everyone a pipe with their initials engraved in them.

Why?

 

[Brad H]

These make a pretty good gift, you know if you don't care about who you are giving them to. Also if you messed up someone's initials, you just toss it into the corner and buy another one.
If they are not a pipe smoker, they perhaps would never know any difference.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Why?

Assuming it's a serious ask, the odds of all the groomsman being actual pipe smokers is low, hence my question.

If the OP is a pipe smoker then he knows where to find pipes, lol.

And no, you wouldn't go cheap on a groomsman gift, especially something like a $10 pipe.

 

[PaulRVA]

Savinelli IT and do a Custom Order
They can and will take care of engraving it with various options available.

 

[Sigmund]

Since some folks really aren’t gonna smoke Id do the cob and tobacco while buying a nice gift. In other words, a pipe on the side. Ir if you can spring for it add a nice gift they all will use and a decent pipe. Maybe a mens gift basket with some single malt etc…

 

[endlesssouth]

Assuming it's a serious ask, the odds of all the groomsman being actual pipe smokers is low, hence my question.

If the OP is a pipe smoker then he knows where to find pipes, lol.

And no, you wouldn't go cheap on a groomsman gift, especially something like a $10 pipe.

I used to smoke a pipe on and off about a decade ago. So, was mostly looking to get an updated lay of the land on pipes.

Some of the guys are cigar smokers, some are professionals with offices, but all of them have been in several weddings and have received the typical groomsmen gifts (tux/suit accessories, flasks, knives, etc.)

I figured I get them something nice enough they can use if they’d like to get into the hobby, or at least put on their desks as conversation pieces or to think of our friendship when they see it. Certainly isn’t a gift they’d likely to receive again and I’d have to imagine they’d make for a great group picture on the wedding day.

Not every gift has to be absolutely functional for it to be meaningful and a worthwhile gift.

 

[Brad H]

how many groomsmen we talking about here? And what sort of time line we talking about before you need them?

 

[endlesssouth]

how many groomsmen we talking about here? And what sort of time line we talking about before you need them?

9 guys and about a month out.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I used to smoke a pipe on and off about a decade ago. So, was mostly looking to get an updated lay of the land on pipes.

Some of the guys are cigar smokers, some are professionals with offices, but all of them have been in several weddings and have received the typical groomsmen gifts (tux/suit accessories, flasks, knives, etc.)

I figured I get them something nice enough they can use if they’d like to get into the hobby, or at least put on their desks as conversation pieces or to think of our friendship when they see it. Certainly isn’t a gift they’d likely to receive again and I’d have to imagine they’d make for a great group picture on the wedding day.

Not every gift has to be absolutely functional for it to be meaningful and a worthwhile gift.

You don't even smoke a pipe, not even all of them smoke at all, and those are cigar smokers. There is no "connection" at all so it isn't meaningful or worthwhile. Chances of someone displaying a pipe as a "conversation piece" in their professional office is more than a stretch. Some notion they might get into smoking a pipe - again, encouraging something you got out of and they aren't into and likely won't be. "Here, in case you think about taking up smoking."

Not a thoughtful gift, and something that is unlikely to be received well, even if nobody tells you, which they likely won't if they are your friends.

Give the matter some thought and come up with something worth giving.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I used to smoke a pipe on and off about a decade ago. So, was mostly looking to get an updated lay of the land on pipes.

Some of the guys are cigar smokers, some are professionals with offices, but all of them have been in several weddings and have received the typical groomsmen gifts (tux/suit accessories, flasks, knives, etc.)

I figured I get them something nice enough they can use if they’d like to get into the hobby, or at least put on their desks as conversation pieces or to think of our friendship when they see it. Certainly isn’t a gift they’d likely to receive again and I’d have to imagine they’d make for a great group picture on the wedding day.

Not every gift has to be absolutely functional for it to be meaningful and a worthwhile gift.

What about an engraved lighter?

As for the photo op. I hear ya. One of my favourite photos from our wedding day was with my bride posing with the lads with pipes/cigars/whisky.

 

[Brad H]

well 9 guys, 100$ each +$ for engraving..... 1000$.....

They have pipe tobacco made by cigar companies CAO, Partagas, etc. None of which I would recommend.
I would recommend something like G&H Brown Irish Twist aromatic which would put you near the cigar range of flavor, but better.

And I applaud you for trying to get more friends into smoking a pipe, even during these times of hardship of loosing so many good blends.

Maybe get the best man something a set above what you get everyone else..... Perhaps a Castallo Flame

 

[TheDennisBlack]

I wouldn’t spend anywhere near $100 on pipes for people that are probably not going to use them. I think $30 on a Missouri Meerschaum, or some Crown pipes if you really want briar, is plenty good enough and will give you the photo op you want and still be useful for those who actually try to smoke them. I admit I don’t know how you’d go about getting them engraved, so that may be a dealbreaker here. But I will also say that as a groomsman many times over, having my initials engraved on a gift never made it any more meaningful. The meaningful part simply comes from being part of something with people important to me, and being given a gift at all was fun.