I have a large Morel freehand with plateau in his famous "Fleur" shape. It's French but it's not factory; all the same I really enjoy it. I got it at a great price and I can honestly say it's the only pipe I have that screams luxury.
How Do You Like French Pipes?
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"In limiting the U.S. to cobs, I'm not trying to "dis" American pipe carvers; they are up
there with the best, but I think they distinguish themselves more than bringing glory
to U.S. pipe making in general."
I think you're incorrect. The American pipe making scene has never been more vibrant. Carvers are constantly collaborating with each other, teaching seminars and meeting the public at pipe shows all over the country. I've been smoking pipes for 25 years and I'm convinced that American artisan-made pipes are some of the finest in the world.
The U.S. is so much more than cobs.
there with the best, but I think they distinguish themselves more than bringing glory
to U.S. pipe making in general."
I think you're incorrect. The American pipe making scene has never been more vibrant. Carvers are constantly collaborating with each other, teaching seminars and meeting the public at pipe shows all over the country. I've been smoking pipes for 25 years and I'm convinced that American artisan-made pipes are some of the finest in the world.
The U.S. is so much more than cobs.
smokindragon, that BC in the picture just arrived at my door, the Caprice, which means
an impulsive change of mind. I ordered mine from tobaccopipes.com for a few dollars
less than it is newly offered by SPC. Haven't smoked it yet, but the raspberry stem is
carried off beautifully, not too garish but definitely unique. BC uses the shape, 1304,
over and over again, and I can see why. It is a perfect, lightweight, medium sized pipe,
quite refined. Hope it smokes as well as it looks. Members seem to like their BC's.
Vive la France! Today, just by coincidence, I saw the movie version of Les Miserables.
Life is funny that way.
an impulsive change of mind. I ordered mine from tobaccopipes.com for a few dollars
less than it is newly offered by SPC. Haven't smoked it yet, but the raspberry stem is
carried off beautifully, not too garish but definitely unique. BC uses the shape, 1304,
over and over again, and I can see why. It is a perfect, lightweight, medium sized pipe,
quite refined. Hope it smokes as well as it looks. Members seem to like their BC's.
Vive la France! Today, just by coincidence, I saw the movie version of Les Miserables.
Life is funny that way.
I have three BC's and they all are splendid; the grains are lovely, they smoke really well AND they are priced in a range I can afford. I'll buy more of them and would recommend these French pipes to anyone.
My favorite pipe I own is a Butz-Choquim granada major. It's a beautiful piece, it is dedicated to EMP so I smoke it pretty much every day.
bigvan, I agree with you and said American, meaning U.S., pipes are up there with the best. Artistry and
prices illustrate this amply. What I was wondering -- and it was an aside and not well expressed -- was
whether U.S. pipes are regarded collectively as prime, or whether people outside the U.S. buy specific
artists/carvers but don't think of them as U.S. or "American" pipes per se. Of course, American would really
include Canadian, Mexican, etc. pipes, but the usage is to call U.S. things "American." Anyway, I agree
completely, U.S. tobacco pipe carvers are in an incredible golden age. World opinion in the pipe smoking
community may or may not have caught up with this. I may do a post and ask our non-U.S. members.
Be interesting to know how they think about it. Sorry I gave you the impression I didn't appreciate U.S.
carvers. Four of my prized pipes are by the N.C. carver Jerry Perry of Colfax, N.C., two of them Mountain
Laurel pipes, which are somewhat rare.
prices illustrate this amply. What I was wondering -- and it was an aside and not well expressed -- was
whether U.S. pipes are regarded collectively as prime, or whether people outside the U.S. buy specific
artists/carvers but don't think of them as U.S. or "American" pipes per se. Of course, American would really
include Canadian, Mexican, etc. pipes, but the usage is to call U.S. things "American." Anyway, I agree
completely, U.S. tobacco pipe carvers are in an incredible golden age. World opinion in the pipe smoking
community may or may not have caught up with this. I may do a post and ask our non-U.S. members.
Be interesting to know how they think about it. Sorry I gave you the impression I didn't appreciate U.S.
carvers. Four of my prized pipes are by the N.C. carver Jerry Perry of Colfax, N.C., two of them Mountain
Laurel pipes, which are somewhat rare.
Back to "the French connection," I just smoked my new BC 1304 Caprice, Dunhill mixture 965,
just a half bowl to get it started, and it is a fine pipe, really nice balance between a bowl that holds
some tobacco, but in a lightweight handsome pipe. I think it may be a Group 4 despite the compact
package. I really like the raspberry stem and the silver band.
just a half bowl to get it started, and it is a fine pipe, really nice balance between a bowl that holds
some tobacco, but in a lightweight handsome pipe. I think it may be a Group 4 despite the compact
package. I really like the raspberry stem and the silver band.
I have a Ropp Superior Bulldog that I absolutely love and smoke all the time dedicated to English/Balkan blends and a Graco that smokes everything like a dream. I've been eyeing the horn Stem Ropps for awhile too and hope to get something from Francois Dal someday.
Francois Dal is a Belgian pipe maker although from the French speaking region but I do believe our southern pipe smoking countrymen are more connected to the French pipe making scene and their traditions while pipe smokers(I believe there is only 1 Flemish pipe maker in Belgium) from the Flemish part seem to be more in influenced by the German/Dutch pipe traditions.
Wow, imagine this thread surfacing from the past! Genod is another excellent French brand. Iwan Ries now sources their house pipes from Genod, and they cost about sixty bucks. I have a Genod (not a house pipe) egg shape that is compact but with a good sized chamber. Some feel French pipes have smaller bowls, but they make an array of sizes, and the more moderate sized medium bowls are great flake/coin/plug/rope pipes.
Personally as a French customer, without looking for the craftsmen to their account, I always
prefer ButzChoqin, always of good quality, and after Chacom.
Or sometimes the Courrieu, Gogolin not St.Claude.
But always Butz in the lead generally.
(I'm talking about reasonably priced pipes, not expensive collectibles)
prefer ButzChoqin, always of good quality, and after Chacom.
Or sometimes the Courrieu, Gogolin not St.Claude.
But always Butz in the lead generally.
(I'm talking about reasonably priced pipes, not expensive collectibles)
Personally, I prefer my French pipes gently sautéed in butter with a little bit of fresh pressed garlic, some shallots, fresh ground black pepper, and a pinch of salt, served with just a touch of shaved truffle over the top.
Take care! Jeantet was a very good brand.
I'm repeating an earlier post, although maybe not on this thread, to remind everyone that France was the place where briar became the staple tobacco pipe material, and many of the shapes we hold dear and associate with English pipes were first designed in France. I think dollar for dollar, French pipes in general are the best buys going. In light of design and quality, I think they compare with pipes that go for half again as much, generally. They are factory pipes with the style of artisan designs.
It is also because these "factories" of pipes were actually craftsmen who had grown a little bit up to the stage of small factories by hiring local staff in this particular isolated region in winter.
Often women, quite meticulous.
In addition there were several, quite modest and therefore compete for quality.
Far from the "American style" industry, much like the Laguiole pocket knifes craftsmen at the time ...
Often women, quite meticulous.
In addition there were several, quite modest and therefore compete for quality.
Far from the "American style" industry, much like the Laguiole pocket knifes craftsmen at the time ...
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