Guilty Pleasure in Pipes

[peckinpahhombre]

Ok, does anyone have a a certain brand of pipes, or perhaps a style of pipe, that others look down upon but you (sometimes secretly) love?
My guilty pleasure? Ardor pipes. Many folks hate them. The exaggerated shapes. The brightly coloured stems. But hey, I'm a stylish guy. I like brightly coloured ties and flashy cufflinks. I love watches that are huge and in your face.
And yes, I do love (many) Ardor pipes. In fact, when I first got into pipes, some of the first I bought were Ardors. And I still look for them on occasion. Indeed, I sort of have a mini collection going of their Christmas pipes.
They are a guilty pleasure. I know many hate them. But, truth be told, for all their glitz, I have always found them to be extremely well engineered. In my experience, they smoke really well. Laugh at me all you want, but I still like Ardors.
Anyone else have a guilty pleasure? Just admit it. The truth will set you free.

 

[nsfisher]

Brighams mate. I have many and I love each and everyone. They are considered by many to be of Low Quality and are indeed priced far below their smoking qualities. I have 6 of them and have never had a bad smoke with any of them.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I think Ardor pipes are quite nice looking. Normally I would say something with a bright blue swirly stem just wouldn't be my style. I'm a more rugged old fashioned type (I suppose) That's why I want a Nording freehand... and not one of the expensive ones either. Just a great big hunk of carved briar in a bent freehand, plain, perhaps even unfinished. But no doubt, if I could afford one of those Ardor's I think i'd have one. I think they're nice looking, and wouldn't mind having one for a "special occasion" kind of pipe.

 

[Perique]

I like my Grabows. Other than the break-in period, which is absolutely nasty due whatever bowl coating they use, I've found they smoke fantastic and the price is right.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Stay away from those Nordings. Still the worse pipe I have ever owned. And Mike, cut the cob crap. Nobody is interested in smoking a vegetable.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

kidding of course (well, not about the Nording)

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I've always wanted to try a Brigham. I'm a Canuck. I feel every one of us should own one. I actually tried to buy one from SP once - a Brigham Giant - but then they emailed me and said they didn't actually have the pipe.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I think you're the first I've heard say anything negative about Nordings, peckinpah. I hope they're not all bad, I really do like the look of them.

 

[ghost]

Peck, you have to get a Brigham! Yes do it because you're a Canuck and all, but as nsfisher, myself, and many others have posted all over this board- they really are great pipes. I have seven in my rotation now, and not a single one is a bad smoker. Solid! I have a couple more on my bench waiting restoration right now...

 

[Perique]

Do y'all smoke those Brighams with or with out the filter?

 

[ghost]

Do y'all smoke those Brighams with or with out the filter?

I had the filters out for years, but I put them back in about 3 of mine. They're good either way, but as far as filters go they're the only ones I'll use in any of my pipes.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Roth, is The Pipe the one made out of space age materials?
'Tis true about the nording. I think I posted on another thread. I have tried everything. May have got a dud.

 

[bobpnm]

I guess mine is Carey Magic Inch pipes. They get no love here. I have 6 bought off EBay and one from the special deal they did when they became a sponsor. I like the way they smoke. -bp

 

[wnghanglow]

"the pipe" pipes are made out f saw dust and plastic, no matter the shape they make I am not surprised to hear it smoke bad. I have two lower end nordings in my rotation and both smoke well. As for the topic on hand, I don't feel guilty about anything I do with my pipes, but I suppose the fact that I like cobs more than briar and Aros from time to time could make some of the other smokers here cringe.

 

[captainsousie]

Pipe brand? Wally Frank. They go for very little money but I've not had a bad one yet and I have a few.
Pipe shape? Both the cavalier and the horn. Lots of pipers hate 'em but I just love the grace of the horn and the practicality of a cav.

 

[rhogg]

Don't feel bad. I like the "metro" look of Mario Grandi's pipes. Their workmanship is not on par with Ardor, but they are definately "out there" when it comes to design and variety. He mixes classic styles with a little art, and sometimes goes out on a limb. I have a hard time pulling the trigger on blue or purple stems, but I am drawn to some of the multi-color designs and wierd shapes. I have learned to stay away from buying pipes that are so impractical in shape they are a chore to smoke, but if had the extra cash I would buy them just for their artistic aspect. I learned the hard way to save my money and enjoy the pictures. For me I try to stay within the bounds of "smokeable", but it is hard.

 

[jgriff]

The lowly 3-hole stinger Kaywoodies. I have 3 and they all smoke great. People claim the stinger kills the draw but I call hogwash. I may have paid up to $5 at most for one of them and the others were free or $1. Frankly, I treat them like cobs.... if i drop them, whatever. If i smoke 1792 in them, whatever.....

 

[gray4lines]

And Mike, cut the cob crap. Nobody is interested in smoking a vegetable.

LOL!!
I secretly like really big pipes (although I do not own any...yet) I'm talking the GIGANTIC Ardors, like the size of a softball, and some of the Radice and other Italian makers' "Magnum" pipes.
Oversized to the point of looking ridiculous?: Yes.

Price to match the ridiculous size?: Yes

Inconvenient and impossible to take anywhere?: Probably
That may be why I do not own one... I'd rather have multiple, reasonably-sized, "practical" pipes than one giant pipe right now.
But I love them!

 

[yadan]

"Cobs. Many pipers look upon them with disdain, which is cool for me, otherwise I wouldn't be buying them at the local smoke shop for $1.99. I'd be paying $39 for custom danish hand carved cobs"
LOL!
I also love the 'lowly' cob, but mostly metals which many disdain. Which is fine by me, since fewer are interested in bidding for the pipes I love. ::

 

[bentmike]

Oh those infernal low end Peterson pipes with their myriad of quality control issues and nasty dip stained bowls. Shameful! But I love 'em. :lol: