If you can only choose one brand, which one would be?

[toby67]

I'm just starting my collection. So far I have decided to have a few good pipes for smoking and then I will have some for show, some which have been previously smoked I will enjoy on occasions but they will be mainly for handing down to my son when I pass as a legacy along with coins & banknotes etc..
So far the pipes I have started my collection with are - a carved meerschaum (meer-queen), unsmoked Comoy's Christmas 1981, 1930's KBB Yello-Bole Honey Curled Briar, a 1850's Damman (Melbourne, Australian) tobbaco company that imported and branded a series of pipes made in London.
Hopefully tomorrow I will pick up an unsmoked 1976 Wathen, 2x Kaywoodie Estate's and an Edward's Algerian freehand Hand Made Plateau Top Briar.
From there I hope to pick up 2-4 estate's (smoked & unsmoked) each month till I have about 40-50 and from there I'll decide which pipes I like and then sell the ones I don't want in my collection then expand based upon the brands and types of pipes that give me a woody so to speak. I only buy from 1-2 sellers on eBay that are reputable and often pick up some great deals on. Like the unsmoked Comoy's Christmas 1981 which I picked up for about $55 USD.

 

[toby67]

Also I wouldn't mind trying to pick up some estate Churchwardens and Clay Pipes to try and also add to the collection.

 

[dottiewarden]

I may be alone, but it's Chacom to the bone!

 

[wyfbane]

Charatans Lane era and older. Smoke as well or better than a Dunnie for 1/2 the cost In estate market so 1/4-1/6 what a new Dunhill costs. Plus, the are the Ardor of England... Crazy shapes!.
Petes are second for me, and I have no complaints about Savs or Stanwells.
Artisan is Rad Davis or Il Duca

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Well I would love to be able to afford to collect Castello pipes, but unfortunately my kids need to eat and I need to put a roof over the family's head. :mrgreen:
I have four Savinelli pipes already and I really like them. Good quality at a great price point. Can't go wrong with Savinelli if you ask me and a few others I see. ::

 

[sablebrush52]

If it HAS to be machine made, that would exclude Barlings as those were all hand made pipes. Pre_War Kaywoodies, then. Excellent buys on the estate market.

 

[kimbiker]

Well I smoke Dr Plumb, Falcons but my next pipe will be a............Peterson system, I hope it will back up all what you guys are saying.

 

[philobeddoe]

It would be Castello if it could only be a factory pipe brand. If I could collect any one brand pipe, factory or hand made, then it would be Tom Eltang, for his comfortable stems, awesome smoking and beautiful pipes. Rad Davis would be my second choice, a close second!

 

[gamxiaoyuan]

@philobeddoe

I agree. Tom really makes some good pipes.

 

[mattsem]

I got into pipes recently and im baffled by the number of pipe makers and pipes out there. Being a fan of smoking, I have been missing out on so much

for last 4 weeks I have been browsing the net and looking at different pipes.

Honestly, can't choose. There so many great pipe makers with great products that you want to have them all

Personally I have decided to have 1 or 2 pipes from all the great ones. But for now loving most of the Italians and Danish pipes

 

[nurseman]

I think Stanwell for modestly priced factory - and no I don't see a difference between the new ones and the Danish ones - it is a machine made pipe, the machine does not care what country it is in .
Best would be Castello ( I wonder if Castello moved from Italy to Denmark would people swear that the Danish ones are inferior ?)

 

[maxpeters]

Within the parameters set by the OP, I would go with Caminetto. Great history, great smoking pipes, and a unique and appealing logo. I haven't bought one in a while, but hopefully they are still making a great pipe. And still somewhat affordable.

 

[beefeater33]

If you are going to collect, choose something a little off the beaten path.... there's a million Petes, Stanwells, Castellos, ETC..... All fine pipes in there own right. I would collect something that no one else specializes in. Jarl makes a hell of a pipe, great smokers, Kriswill is another. All unique, and all kind of fly under the radar.......

I agree with Sablebrush-- Pre-war Kaywoodies! They will always hold their value, and most likely will keep going up in value.

The great thing about a collection is, if its done right, it strands out on its own merit.... seek something a little unique, and have fun!!

 

[gamxiaoyuan]

@beefeater33

That makes great sense. Thanks dude.

 

[beefeater33]

^^ You didn't say whether you would be buying new or estates.... I believe Jarl and Kriswill are out of business now, but show up pretty regular. I own several of each, and they are great smokers.

 

[andystewart]

Genod - sheer quality and made in St Claude, where it all started.
Andy

 

[andya27]

At six months into smoking a pipe, my choice would be Petersons. I love my Savinellis, and I could make the case that the quality control is far superior on a Savinelli, but there's just something about my Peersons that appeals to me more.
Were I to ever buy a higher end factory-made pipe I could see my opinion changing. Or even a custom made pipe.
But for now it's Peterson. In fact, I just placed an order yesterday for a new lighter, some tobacco, and a new Peterson.
As a caveat - Genod is probably next on my list, as my three Saint-Claude pipes are all wonderful.

 

[foggymountain]

Peterson is a mixed bag. I got about 3 dozen, only kept 14, and recently found some well hidden fillings ON A $200 PETERSON. Therefore I will never buy a pipe from them again. They take forever to break in, and usually turn out to be a rough smoke anyway and not worth the trouble. I do like their thick shanked rugged Irish looks though. Castello is a possibility. I never found one I wanted but they do have a great reputation. My pick is obviously Dunhill. I just ordered my 100th Dunhill. Smooth Dunhills; the blasted ones aren't as good except the Countys.

 

[smeigs]

I would collect Sasieni pipes. I have one 4 dot walnut that I love. They are harder to find but that would be my choice.

 

[toby67]

@Cosmic
Can you post a couple of pics of those Neptune pipes you mentioned, or even a link for me to look them over please.