Has the Pot Shape Declined

[drennan]

When I first started smoking a pipe they where some shapes I liked more than others but nothing blew my mind until I stumbled upon a Dunhill 5206, or a straight saddle stemmed pot. They have a certain no nonsense look about them, after a classic billiard to my eyes they look the most pipey of all pipe shapes. I lusted after that dunhill and started saving €'s but alas it got sold before I'd saved enough.
Whilst I don't own any dunhills I do own 4 '5206s', 2 are amongst the finest smoking pipes I own and as you'd imagine love English blends, the other 2 whilst mechanically smoke well enough they just don't have that je ne sais quoi.

 

[agnosticpipe]

I never used to like the pot shape, but on a whim I bought one and I liked the way it smoked so much I added more over time. This is my current stock of pots.
From the top: Ben Wade, Orlik Royal Sovereign, Savinelli Punto Oro, BB&S John Peel, BB&S Challenger

 

[ashdigger]

I have at least 6 Pots and I love them all. I use them primarily for ribbon cut baccys. My favorite backy in a Pot is Squadron Leader.

 

[JimInks]

When I was actively buying pipes in the '70s through the '90s, I had a hard time finding pipes in the pot style, so even though I have three (a Grabow, Butz-Choquin, and a Hercules), I don't have a higher or even a mid-grade. After seeing current pipe prices, it's hard to find a deal on one. But, maybe I'll get lucky yet. I did see an estate Charatan pot at the Las Vegas show, but the grain was very weak for the price.

 

[disinformatique]

I have a Barling, Dunhill and a Stanwell Pot. Lots of pipemakers are still making them but the focus have been lately on blowfish, billiards,brandy, devil anse and various hybrid shapes.

 

[sablebrush52]

Pots haven't been especially popular as long as I can remember. In estate sales they consistently return lower prices than their sleeker compadres.
I guess they're just not pretty enough, not an elegant line, just great workhorses that deliver great smokes. I love my pots and am grateful for the shortsightedness of others which offers me great deals.

 

[Perique]

I was about to jump on this thread and then I realized I already did... Three years ago
I stand by my previous comment that the venerable pot is the best shape for smoking, if not always for aesthetics. But then there's the Stanwell No. 11 referenced in my old post. IMHO. The masterwork.
The pot tames the sharpest Virginias, highlights the most subtle and supple Orientals, and caresses the smokiest Latakias. Long live the glorious pot.

 

[papipeguy]

My first "real" pipe was a GBD pot. I still have it although it needs a new stem. I have others and have always enjoyed smoking them. A no nonsense shape that always delivers a satisfactory smoke.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Diff strokes, diff folks. I dislike pots, period!
[FWIW: not much!]

 

[mso489]

Wow, this post of mine from three years ago has had a whole new life! Interesting to read the new posts and the old ones.

 

[irishearl]

Have 3 pots- a Sav Milano deluxe I/8 bent, a Willmer straight, and a Peterson 1/2 bent-the 301 standard system. While I can't say they're my favorite shapes, do like them fine. I think a Peterson 301 is a particularly fine exemplar, particularly when it's a deluxe system 1s, which I do not own.

 

[jefff]

I like them because they aren't stylish. To me the are almost pure function, like a straight billiard. That appeals to me.

 

[shaintiques]

The pot is one of the only straight shapes that really catches my attention. I have a very large Charatan pot that is an amazing smoker.

 

[ashdigger]

The Danish designs are the sports cars. The Billiards are the Sedans. The Pot is the family station wagon or mini-van.

 

[thomasw]

ashdigger, good analogy but the specific vehicle needs a higher carrying capacity i'd compare the pot shape to a good old reliable and very useful pick-up truck with an extended cab -- what'd you say? To suggest a giant mining dump truck or something bus-like is getting beyond solitary smoking, its industrialized chimney-like capacity. Just like a partridge family-van seems more like group hookah smoking instead of just a big solitary smoker.
back to more pot pics!
A personal favourite:

 

[mso489]

A belated confession these three-plus years later, when I did the original post I completely forgot that my first pipe, and one I still have, is a pot, but a full bent pot with a somewhat unique vertical saddle stem. When I posted, I had in mind straight or slightly bent pots. My first pipe was a St. Ives house pipe from Tinder Box, probably made by Chacom. It has a bit of charring at the rim but otherwise is in fine smoking shape, and I still enjoy it. Since posting, I have acquired a Savenelli Aurelia smooth slightly bent pot with a good big bowl as well as a Stanwell 86, the Sixten Iversson design that looks a bit like a Dublin but is termed a pot. I also have a Greek Amadeus straight traditional pot with a tapered stem. Pots are good.

 

[ashdigger]

Kaywoodie WWII Era 8769 (69=Pot Shape) Push Stem

 

[disinformatique]

Here are some of mine
Dunhill Pot

Barling T.V.F. KING 6279(havent taken pics after cleaning)

Stanwell 69R (havent taken pics after cleaning)

 

[rhoadsie]

I enjoy this Dunhill pot...

 

[ssjones]

Yep, it just dawned on me that the Castello Shape 55 might be the most popular pot shape of all?