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

[cobguy]

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.

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

Same reasons here!

 

[beefeater33]

I voted England. They might not always be the best smokers, but I love the history and the classic shapes..... ::

 

[hmhaines]

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.

Did not think of point #2.... A quandary....

 

[okiebrad]

MM cobs and Moonshine Pipes would force me to choose USA.

 

[clickklick]

USA

 

[jefff]

USA ... but I'd hate to have to choose.

 

[huntertrw]

"I'd go English as I love the history and the classic shapes."
+1. Further, all of the English pipes in my collection are exemplary smokers.

 

[pruss]

Given my current finances, England offers me the best value and variety especially when considering the breadth of the pipes on the estate market.
-- Pat

 

[northernneil]

For me it would be a toss up between France and Italy. I love french pipes, especially the scale (size) the majority tend to be manufactured. However, the selection available from Italy is phenominal. I mean, most pipe makers have moved their manufacturing there for a reason.
Lastly, after just purchasing my first Michael Parks pipe, I do not think there would be a very bright future ahead if I was not allowed to buy another masterpiece from him. So I would have to add Canada to the list as well.

 

[johnbarleycorn]

Had to go with Italy since 9 of my 10 briars are Italian:

Castello

Radice (2)

Luciano (2)

Savinelli (2)

Mimmo Provenzano

Stanwell
Although I love my one American briar (a moonshine Devilled Egg) and my 5 Missouri Meerschaum cobs.

 

[kiel]

I believe that America has the best variety overall, from MM to high grades to factory pipes, America has something for smokers on all levels. America's "second chapter" in pipe making is really setting the bar high. Right now the high end makers really pride themselves on quality which I believe is a key factor in current times. They have led the way with sandblasting as an art and not just a finish to hide flaws, are developing a unique American style, and have opened a pipe factor (briarworks). On top of that, the high end makers share and discuss with other makers, quite openly and for free, ways to improve. I think if they added a couple more vowels to their last names they call all be going for a couple Gs a pipe.
Briarworks is a young factory employed by artisan pipe makers, and I think they will be sought after pipes decades from now. This feels important to mention. I took a tour of their factory, and they are more focused on quality over quantity. It almost resembles the W.O. Larsen crew or Stanwell crew from the 70s. Years from now when their estate market matures, people will be happy to say their Briarworks pipe was made by Pete, Todd, Sam, Bill, or Micah. I think that is pretty cool.
I dont have to say too much about MM. The entire pipe smoking world is pretty familiar with them and their quality. I will say that I have smoked corn cobs being sold here in China, and there is no reasonable way to compare them with MM. I still smoke the MM cobs I bought many years ago, the chinese cobs were either thrown away new or mid-bowl.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

I love pipes from all over the globe. However, when I look at my collection, it's made mostly of Italian and Danish
2 Rindaldo, Ser Jacobo, Savinelli. Then I have a few different Stanwells ranging in over 50 years old to new. This, of course, is just a sampling of my 50+ pipe collection.

 

[sallow]

That's easy - Denmark.

 

[ophiuchus]

8O -I'm torn!
Savinelli pulling me one way, Peterson pulling me another! Stanwell shoving hard from behind! Tsuge ... NOOOOOO!!!
Dr. Grabow, Missouri Meerschaum, and a handful of pipe makers made me do it. USA!
EDIT: Crap. Forgot about Falcon.

 

[michaelmirza]

Johnbarleycorn, Stanwell is from Denmark. :wink:

 

[beefeater33]

Johnbarleycorn, Stanwell is from Denmark. :wink:

They moved to Italy a few years ago.......... I think 2011-2012?........ :wink:

 

[simong]

England, hands down for me.

 

[moriarty]

Interesting survey. Like a lot of you I have more Italian pipes than anything else - mostly Le Nuvole and Ser Jacopo. Honourable mentions, though, to Russia, Ukraine, America and Denmark because I've had phases of collecting each. But now I buy very few pipes and have only been buying Greek (Asteriou) and Canadian (Parks). I'm bound to buy another Larry Roush someday, though.

 

[brudnod]

Italian.

 

[cranseiron]

I love my Ser Jacopos, Radici

and Costello but with American artisans producing pipes nothing short of amazing, I have to with the U.S.