If You Had to Buy Pipes From One Country for the Rest of Your Life...

[michaelmirza]

I think this question has been asked before... but never with a poll! I like the flair of Italian pipes, the simplicity of English pipes, and the ingenuity of American pipes, but for me the pipes I most consistently fall in love with are those from France. How about you?
Take the poll: http://www.poll-maker.com/poll908576xfeE94702-37
EDIT: Dammit, I wanted to impress you all by embedding the poll with HTML but the code seems too long for the forums.

 

[hmhaines]

Went with Italy. I love my Savinelli and I very badly want a Ser Jacopo!

 

[wyfbane]

I'd be comfortable with anything north of Canada on that list. I have several examples from each of those countries. If I had $X, where X is the amount I have spent on pipes to date, and could only spend that $ again on pipes from one country I would be fine.
I chose USA for the survey for two reasons:
1. Our artisans are making mind blowing pipes that smoke so well there is no need to outsource.
2. Missouri Meerschaum.

 

[Chasing Embers]

As much as I love Italy and Denmark, had to go American for the artisans. Love my Bruce Weaver pieces.

 

[cynicismandsugar]

I'll go with Italy: Ardor, Breddia, Il Ceppo, Savinelli... yeah, I could get by. Hmm, of course, if I slept on it, I would probably choose Ireland.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Denmark. I love the look of so many Danish pipes. My second choice would be a toss up between Ireland because I love my Petersons, and America. Of course so many American carvers are influenced by the Danish style.

 

[drennan]

I'd go English as I love the history and the classic shapes.

 

[disinformatique]

Canada, I'll happily take Micheal Parks, Stephen Downie, Todd Bannard, Gio Placentile, Annan Pillai and others :D

 

[PeriqueMyInterest]

How could only two of us decide on France? They make wonderful pipes!

 

[newbroom]

Interesting consideration, especially in light of the fact that no one has mentioned Greece.

I think the French innovated briar?

The English perfected the classic.

The French and English collaborated on classics.

The Danes introduced handmade freehands with curved shanks?

The US can provide you with a full spectrum of pipes, from high end hand made to reliable factory made.

I'll go with the US, because of MM. I think using corn cobs to burn tobacco is a perfect match.

The US introduced the world to both tobacco and corn cob pipes. ( that's my read )

 

[pagan]

U.S.A. because of MM Cobs and the wide variety of domestic artisan pipes

 

[ray47]

It's a toss up between MM Cobs (USA) and Savinelli (Italy). Both have a great track record and are affordable.

 

[ashdigger]

I'm going with England. I love old Meers and old Brit-wood, but the USA is a close second because of my old Kaywoodies and my modern Ryan Aldens.

 

[voorhees]

At this point American carvers. But don't hold me to it.

 

[mso489]

Statistically, referring to my pipe racks, Italy, with Denmark running a close second, and U.S. a close third, or tied for second. I could live with any of those three choices, but variety is best. I have pipes from France, Holland, Greece, England, and others.

 

[tarheel1]

England all the way.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I went for England, thinking at the time only of big names. But for current carvers, US all the way, baby!

 

[pipesmokingtom]

US. You can't take my cobs from me.

 

[ukbob]

Peterson all the way.

 

[codecreatively]

This is a hard one. I'd have to go with England, for the history. You could be satisfied with the nuances of collecting from the various brands, Dunhill, Sasieni, Charatan, Ferndown, etc. for years and years.