How Did You Choose Your Pipe?

[pipesaplenty]

Hey All,

Been a pipe guy for 2 years now, just decided to join in on a forum! Now..what I find the hardest is selecting a pipe with a plethora of choices among me. I know everybody has different tastes..but I'm kinda curious how you guys choose your pipes?

I personally have to like the pipe aesthetically and the overall "shape" of the pipe. I'll see if it's a good maker" a reliable" one i should say. But I still find it hard at times. Thoughts?

 

[uberam3rica]

I look at the aesthetics first. If I don't like the look of a pipe, I probably won't buy it.

 

[gray4lines]

For my first pipe, really a shot in the dark. I just liked the shape.
Now, after buying a few, I have a few brands/lines I will look at, and usually have an idea of what I want to get next (like a smaller Dublin shape). I'll look around and see what jumps out.
Always checking new updates, especially for estate pipes!

 

[thesmokindragon]

Has to strike up this feeling ;-)

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PDEEKGUq-9Y
Above all else, just enjoy the journey...I find myself getting caught

up with things, which is why I go back for another smoke but

really IMHO; #1-The Pipe Maker/Engineering , #2-strike that feeling

#3-I dedicate types of blends and even some specific blends to the

style and design of the pipe....and still going back to enjoying the

journey which all the above give to me
Welcome-welcome

 

[onepyrotec]

My first pipe was basically all the small shop had, it is a cheap Lorenzo. They had several to pick from...but not a lot of choices. They were all about the same.
Then I got a cob because my gramps gave me a bag of his drugstore ARO tobacco.
Then I was gifted an Ascorti Business pipe from a friend in the U.K. who owns several tobacco shops.
Then I got a few meers & started getting several MM cobs.
Now I'm eyeballing some "nicer" pipes

 

[mso489]

First, a pipe has to be appealing and appetizing. Most people don't find most pipes fill that bill. I'd go for some variety

in country of manufacture. I'd get an Italian pipe, a Danish, and an English, an Irish, and some from the U.S. Your

cobs already fill that bill, but there are plenty of others. At first, mix them up, some straight and some bent, unless

you are strongly drawn to one or the other exclusively. Dark finish, light finish, unfinished, rusticated, sandblast.

But only as you like. If rusticated doesn't please you, skip it. Don't like hard glossy finishes? Skip 'em. As long

as it's fun to do it, look at hundreds of pipes on line. I find that fascinating, but it's a good way to see what's there.

After you own three or four pipes, you'll have a good sense of what's working for you. Don't buy pipes on impulse.

Let a purchase steep for a while, to see if your interest passes. Shop pipes in person, but again, don't buy impulse.

See which of your pipes are continuing to please you. Which do you reach for most often. It's a pretty organic

process. Practice makes perfect. Ignore the advice about matching pipes to the shape of your face, or your

image, build, or whatever. If you're a guy who mostly wears bib overalls but you really like a dress pipe, well,

that could be kind of cool. Pipe smokers are nothing if not individualist. Oh, and it's nice to have a variety of

sizes of bowls; different sizes accommodate different kinds of tobacco and lengths of smoke sessions. You'll

want that variety.

 

[teufelhund]

I just found an unused MM pony express pipe in my grandpa's stuff. I'm from Missouri; seemed like a good fit.

 

[bobpnm]

Classic straight shapes appeal to me. Among a group of pipes, I always gravitate to them.

 

[pstlpkr]

I look at the aesthetics first. If I don't like the look of a pipe, I probably won't buy it.

If it passes aesthetic muster, I'll check the drilling (is it centered), and pass a pipe cleaner down the bit to check it for alignment. Then really give it a good close inspection for any flaws or fills.

I tend to shy away from rustication because it is so much harder to spot those imperfections that could come back to haunt you. (that's just me.)

However; I have purchased three rusticated pipes... waaay back when.
Everyone really has their own criteria for buying pipes... those are mine.

 

[brassonly]

Welcome Pipeaplenty, let me tell you how I chose my first pipe. First off I live up here in Northern Canada and the nearest pipe store would mean a drive of many hours for me, so what I did first was coming on sites like this. I read lots & asked lt of questions. Then I started checking out the many online stores. I probably did that for at least 2 to 3 weeks. After all that time I finally decided on my first pipe which was a Peterson St.Patriks Day 2012 model. I really liked the bent shape & how it looked & price seemed not too bad. I have really enjoyed smoking it & am really pleased with my choice. I always shop online since I live up here in the sticks & so am really thankful for all the online sites like this & the many excellent online retailers who make it possible for guys like me to enjoy this wonderful new hobby.

 

[rigmedic1]

Shape is my first criteria. Branding is second. And I examine the fit and finish of the thing. Doesn't matter if it is a Dr. Grabow or a Dunhill, as long as it is briar, looks and feels good in the hand, and the airflow doesn't whistle. Okay, meerschaum or cherrywood or a cob too. But I research any brands I don't recognize before I make a purchase. Internet purchasing is a little dicier, but I would only use a reputable vendor until I was more confident, if I were you.

 

[brdavidson]

My next quest is to find a nice manly poker, looking for something with a dark rusticated almost bark like finish. The enjoyment for me is the hunt.

 

[cajunguy]

When I finally pulled the trigger and bought my first pipe, I took a few things into consideration. I didn't want to spend too much, in case I didn't enjoy it, but I also wanted something functional. I went to the local Tinderbox and bought a little Italian pipe for a good price. It was a half-bent, which looked more comfortable to me, and had a small bowl.
Now that I know what's comfortable, how much I enjoy smoking at one sitting, and my tastes in style, I usually start with the look of the pipe. Then I check dimensions and other details.

 

[captainbob]

I only buy Artisan pipes. Personally, I have 16 pipes made for me by Bob Hayes. He stands behind his pipes 100%. The cost is very reasonable. I spend from $200 to $350 for a pipe. The fact that I have 16 pipes from Bob Hayes should tell you that I am very pleased with his work and all of them are excellent smokers!

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[jeffboyrd]

Aesthetics and materials come first when I choose, I typically prefer briar with in straight or a slight bent. After that I consider draft hole placement and weight. Since I won't put a pipe in my mouth before I purchase and clean, I put the end of the bit between my index and middle finger, simulating my mouth, and move my hand up and down to see how the pipe balances. Since I am a clencher, this provides me with at least some tell as to how the pipe will feel clenched.

 

[numbersix]

For me it's part aesthetics and part brand name. I know from this forum and experience that certain brands just perform better. Savinelli, Stanwell, etc. So once I know the brand I want, then it comes down to how it looks.

 

[phred]

For my very first pipe, I did some research on these forums and saw several recommendations regarding taking a step (or two) up from "basket" pipes, which made sense to me - I've been burned before by buying too cheap when starting in on something, and getting something that takes 3x as much work as a slightly more expensive (but better made) product. Bicycles, musical instruments, even computers... So I set a price point and went to a local B&M, where the guy behind the counter pointed me toward the section that was right around my price point and then suggested I pick up and handle as many as I liked, to see what drew my attention. He then went back to the smoking lounge and left me alone to make my decision (which I greatly appreciated - though I suspect if I were more the chatty type, he'd have stuck around). Once I'd been drawn to a Bjarne Viking Classic sitter (the only sitter I found that actually "sat", BTW), he wandered back over to talk tobacco with me - very good on the soft sell... :D
I like the lines of the bent pipes, and I like the smoother finishes. I'm learning to appreciate sandblasting, rustication, and straight lines, but I suspect that I'll always be drawn first to the curvy ones. :wink:

 

[lordofthepiperings]

Always starts with aesthetics. Then who made it followed by price range. That's why I mostly buy Petersons and Savinellis because they have a good range of prices and are made well.

 

[thesmokindragon]

@brdavidson -Check out Balkovec Bacci Pipes, mighty fine looking

designs, especially poker pipes ;-)

 

[pipesaplenty]

All good things to go by gents! Preciate the responds too!

I tend to like "rougher" or rusticated pipes. I myself am a backwoods kind of guy so I like the feel of a nicely partially rusticated freehand. I've had experience with big and small pipes..and I tend to go bigger cuz to me they smoke cooler, which means I like the flavor of the tobacco I'm smoking. I'm starting to dedicate my pipes too..but I tend to stick with non aromatics and english blends. Ive also recently gotten into estate pipes. Seems something beautiful to me about smoking a pipe with a story.