How Long Does A Briar Pipe last?

[drsam]

I have been reading "Pipe Dreams" and found the essay on the longevity of briar pipes very interesting.

The author claims that briar gradually soaks up the tars from the tobacco and eventually becomes full and no longer smokes well.
I have several briar's that are over 100 years old and they still seem to smoke just fine. My oldest clays are over 200 years old and smoke pretty good too.
The question is...Does anyone have a briar that has become unusable? And if so why?

 

[PeriqueMyInterest]

I suppose that the briar would theoretically absorb a lot of tar and eventually the pores would get full but I think that the cake also absorbs quite a bit and it would be reamed away gradually. My oldest pipe is a pre-lane Charatan and it still smokes very well.

 

[withnail]

I think that is the main reason for having several pipes and letting them rest a while after a days smoking. Your 100+ year old Briar shows that, with a little care and attention, a pipe will last longer than the owner!

 

[tobakenist]

This is the only part of Pipe Dreams that I don't agree with, if a briar is looked after it will last for ever. it does not consider the amount of Cake,or how often it is treated with alcohol, I have several heavily smoked pipes that are over 100yrs old in my collection and they smoke as good if not better than a new Briar, I have cut up very old damaged Briars of great age to make Briar tampers and the wood in the cut is clean and looks like new and show no signs of absorbtion. I believe the only the surface pores absorb and a good alcohol clean cleans these pores out, cake also absorbes the tobacco juices and protects the briar, this is why a new pipe doesn't smoke well untill a cake is built up.

 

[drsam]

I thought that it might be like that but I have never cut up an old pipe to check on it.
Thanks for the info Tobakenist.
By the way...Are you German?

 

[tobakenist]

Sorry I'm afraid that I'm English. Tobak is spelled like that because my name is Ken and not Cen. ::

 

[lordnoble]

Tobak is spelled like that because my name is Ken and not Cen.

Awesome! Very cool!
-Jason

 

[ejames]

This is the only part of Pipe Dreams that I don't agree with, if a briar is looked after it will last for ever. it does not consider the amount of Cake,or how often it is treated with alcohol, I have several heavily smoked pipes that are over 100yrs old in my collection and they smoke as good if not better than a new Briar, I have cut up very old damaged Briars of great age to make Briar tampers and the wood in the cut is clean and looks like new and show no signs of absorbtion. I believe the only the surface pores absorb and a good alcohol clean cleans these pores out, cake also absorbes the tobacco juices and protects the briar, this is why a new pipe doesn't smoke well untill a cake is built up.

I agree!! I have cut up some old pipes also and found the same as you.

 

[bigvan]

I respect Pipe Dreams for not being afraid to make bold statements, regardless of their basis in fact.
I have several pipes that were either my dad's or granddad's, which have been continuously smoked for up to 60+ years and all are still servicable; some dings here and there, but none have become "full".

 

[clanobucklin]

I think rather than use the term "full" a pipe can sour to the point of being unsmokable. I had a pipe that I absolutely loved (the shape) but the owner must of smoked the cheapest of crap in it - and no matter what I did I could not get the previous owner's Funk out of it. Eventually - I just gave it a way. I think if you clean your pipes regularly - let them rest sufficiently - they should out last you.