Help, Please for: Good, Inexpensive, Small Pipe

[ThermionicScott]

I like small-ish pipes, but often they're not any cheaper than full-sized briars of the same quality level. (For example, a Dr Grabow Lark is about the same price as a Dr Grabow Omega, Savinelli Minutos are ~$100, etc.) I notice that a lot of those Ropps and Peterson Juniors have narrower bowls, but make up for it with taller chambers. You'll want to scrutinize the numbers before buying anything.

For quick smokes, I keep coming back to one or more of these things: shag or ribbon cut tobacco, a regular-sized pipe packed halfway full, or packed fully with a tobacco that doesn't penalize me if I put the pipe down and resume the bowl later on.

Smoking half-bowls can have some advantages; it can help in building cake at the heel, and is less susceptible to the effects of wind.

 

[Relax62]

Also, inexpensive is relative. If you provide a budget range, you’d probably get some pretty relevant suggestions.

@BarrelProof

Good point, I would like to find something in the <$50 range

 

[Relax62]

I'd go with a cob or fill a regular pipe I own 1/3 to 1/2 full. The problem with small is you also end up with a smaller bowl ID. This changes the characteristics of the blend you're smoking. May as well smoke a small cigar or a cigarette because what you're really saying is you want a nicotine hit.

@hoosierpipeguy
Well, actually I’m not looking for the nic hit, I was hoping to get the same enjoyment as I do with my evening smoke, but you’ve made a great point. I’m pretty new to this and thought there may be something out there that would accomplish that same experience in a shorter amount of time.

 

[mso489]

Peterson has just put out a "Junior" series of smaller straight rusticated pipes of various shape for about $78 that might fill the bill. I'd never seen them before, and now I've just seen them on SP. You might want to take a look.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Good point, I would like to find something in the <$50 range

I don't know if $52 breaks the bank for you, then, but the Rossi Piccolo 8313 prince model has been on my radar for a while. The chamber is about 0.7" wide by about 1" deep. I think that would be ideal for a flavorable, yet short, smoke.

https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/rossi/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=538984

(Hard to get a decent new briar for much less than that, for any size!)

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I like the mm hardwood “ozark” pipes. Small bowl. Very cheap. I did have to smoke it a number of times before the varnish taste went away, but otherwise a good pipe

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

@hoosierpipeguy
Well, actually I’m not looking for the nic hit, I was hoping to get the same enjoyment as I do with my evening smoke, but you’ve made a great point. I’m pretty new to this and thought there may be something out there that would accomplish that same experience in a shorter amount of time.

What else do you know of where you take shortcuts and get the same enjoyment? Ain't going to happen. At least to the same extent. Try a cob for $10. Buy one of the small briar pipes people have suggested. The enjoyment may be close enough to satisfy you. Modest investment to experiment a bit.

 

[OzPiper]

What else do you know of where you take shortcuts and get the same enjoyment? Ain't going to happen. At least to the same extent. Try a cob for $10. Buy one of the small briar pipes people have suggested. The enjoyment may be close enough to satisfy you. Modest investment to experiment a bit.

Cobs are a good suggestion for a cheap solution

If you’re open to estates, you can find nice briars for less than $50 delivered

French briars tend to be on the smaller side
As are old Britwoods

 

[Michigan_Bill]

I like the mm hardwood “ozark” pipes. Small bowl. Very cheap. I did have to smoke it a number of times before the varnish taste went away, but otherwise a good pipe

Second on the MM hardwoods. Also clays are very nice.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

A lot of good suggestions, from cobs to estate pipes and $50 briars. I have a small basket pipe and a meerschaum for quick or strong smokes.

I would just add this $30 pipe kit, which gets you everything you need to have the pipe and tobacco on hand.

https://www.amazon.com/Scotte-Tobacco-Smoking-Leather-Accessories/dp/B0711CZSL6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=51XZSEZCG3BE&keywords=scotte+pipe&qid=1678931925&sprefix=scotte+%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1

 

[Relax62]

A lot of good suggestions, from cobs to estate pipes and $50 briars. I have a small basket pipe and a meerschaum for quick or strong smokes.

I would just add this $30 pipe kit, which gets you everything you need to have the pipe and tobacco on hand.

https://www.amazon.com/Scotte-Tobacco-Smoking-Leather-Accessories/dp/B0711CZSL6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=51XZSEZCG3BE&keywords=scotte+pipe&qid=1678931925&sprefix=scotte+%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1

Thank you!

 

[Relax62]

I don't know if $52 breaks the bank for you, then, but the Rossi Piccolo 8313 prince model has been on my radar for a while. The chamber is about 0.7" wide by about 1" deep. I think that would be ideal for a flavorable, yet short, smoke.

https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/rossi/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=538984

(Hard to get a decent new briar for much less than that, for any size!)

That looks nice… seems like what I’m looking for. Thanks for the link!

 

[Relax62]

What else do you know of where you take shortcuts and get the same enjoyment? Ain't going to happen. At least to the same extent. Try a cob for $10. Buy one of the small briar pipes people have suggested. The enjoyment may be close enough to satisfy you. Modest investment to experiment a bit.

Agreed! I’ll probably try a Cobb. But you are correct.., in most cases, you get what you pay for. Thanks for sharing your experience. I’d rather spend a little more, or load 1/2 pipe, than to buy several cheaper ones only to find it was a waste of time and $$. But several have mentioned a Cobb, which I’d like to have in my collection anyway.

 

[vosBghos]

+1 for Rossi Piccolo's, cheap, small, no filter, vulcanite stems, simple black finish, they look like miniature Dunhill Shellbriars

 

[Sobrbiker]

I smoke my 5 MM cobs more than any of my briars. I usually have a Missouri Pride and a polished Morgan in a two pipe case with 3-4 blends on hand in my lunchbox at work and smoke 4-6 smokes per shift under field construction conditions. The narrow chambered Eaton works well for quick smokes too.
My briars don’t keep up nearly as well, my meer lined Kaywoodie Lovat fits the small pipe, but I’d hate to trash it in an on the job accident, whereas it’s $20 to replace a MM cob (and that include an ounce or two of more tobacco to try).

But I’m new to this, so I may be misguided…YMMV

 

[Searock Fan]

I smoke my 5 MM cobs more than any of my briars. I usually have a Missouri Pride and a polished Morgan in a two pipe case with 3-4 blends on hand in my lunchbox at work and smoke 4-6 smokes per shift under field construction conditions. The narrow chambered Eaton works well for quick smokes too.
My briars don’t keep up nearly as well, my meer lined Kaywoodie Lovat fits the small pipe, but I’d hate to trash it in an on the job accident, whereas it’s $20 to replace a MM cob (and that include an ounce or two of more tobacco to try).

But I’m new to this, so I may be misguided…YMMV

If I were smoking "under field construction conditions" I suspect I would become distracted and let the pipe drop from my mouth. I don't know from experience, but I also suspect that a dropped cob won't break as easily as a dropped briar or meerschaum.

 

[mso489]

makhor is right, the MM hardwoods are the absolute champ for a serviceable pipe for bottom dollar, or actually about seven. I like the straight version. It looks like Danish modern furniture and smokes well and is surprisingly durable. It doesn't have the folksy look that bothers some people about MM cobs, though I love 'em.

 

[Snakeseye]

I also think Ropp etudiants are a good option

 

[Relax62]

Thank you all for great advice and suggestions! Now I’m shopping!!

 

[Lumbridge]

Missouri Meerschaum Pony Express/Eaton