Imaginary Basket Pipe Selection: Which?

[warren]

English I suppose for reasons best unstated. I've never handled a basket pipe. Not sure I've ever seen a basket of pipes in any of the shops I've been in.

 

[michaelmirza]

France. Because of Saint-Claude's history, and because my Chacom and Butz-Choquin are both fantastic smokers.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Interesting question indeed. I would go with Italy, since I actually have a basket pipe stamped Made In Italy.

 

[hugodrax]

@dottie:
Right on. Nothing like a French pipe. Chacoms, Genods, Jeantet, P.Viou....thankfully nobody really agrees with us.

 

[jerwynn]

+1 jvnshr! "I would buy one of each. I was going to say the same thing. If my budget is limited, I would go for "Made in London"."

 

[jackswilling]

I would pick the one that most resembles a Zulu/Dublin preferably with the most Bird's Eye grain. No preference on country of origin. I like them all.

 

[jeepnewbie]

I'd go with the one this had interesting grain. As for the country it wouldn't matter as all country's make great pipes.

 

[jpmcwjr]

All things being equal, British. But if could would snatch up all three.

 

[dkaye201]

I'd buy all 3. Two of my best smokers were basket pipes purchased 10 (?) years ago. They are still in my regular rotation.

 

[winton]

My pipe rack is almost full. But given the choice, I would go for the French. I now have three pipes from Sebastian Beo and they all smoke great and I love the look / feel of them.

 

[simong]

I can only say 'London made', because I've only ever seen & bought 'London made' rejects & basket pipes.

I have several, & they all look & smoke perfect.

 

[leacha]

I've had nothing but positive experiences with Italian pipes unlike the English or French.
Italy!

 

[jndyer]

I would go with Italy. Why? Well, because I have several pipes made in Italy and I do not like messing with an okay thing.

 

[markus]

I very limited experience with basket pipes, but I will have to say Italy.

I only have one basket pipe, made in Italy. It's one of my favorite smokers.

It actually does have a name on it (Fero), so that may disqualify it.

The guy at my B&M threw it in for $15, with my purchase of a new Peterson pipe and 5 tins of tobacco, I literally picked it out of a basket, I think it had a sticker on it for $30.

 

[mso489]

Maybe I should 'fess up and say I'd probably choose the "Made in London," because I have quite an array of Italian and French pipes, and only a few English. I did buy an English pipe out of the basket one time, a very lithe, light weight billiard with an ample bowl, however it did develop a crack between the bowl and the shank after about ten years. I gave it to a friend who wanted it more for decor than smoking (a Lucky Strike survivor). My English pipes are well-loved but under-represented.

 

[shutterbugg]

Definitely this is a hypothetical because there are no longer any B&M tobacco-pipe shops within a day's drive of me. I have had numerous basket pipes and the half dozen or so I kept are some of my favorite smokers. I honestly never paid any attention to where they were made. Manufacturers source briar from different locales, it goes more to the discrimination of that selection and the treatment of the briar, and that would be impossible to discern based on an unknown manufacturer. What I would look at is the number and size of any fills, how the stem fits, how it's drilled, how it passes a pipecleaner (if it's a bent shape).

 

[irishearl]

Have 2 no-names in my regular rotation, a made in London bought off the bay because I though it was an interesting straight black blast billiard with metal ferrule and extra-long, narrow tapered stem and 1 that may have originally been a basket pipe bought so long ago @ a B&M can't remember. But it was made in Italy. An attractive part black blasted, part smooth garnet stained large bent billiard. Even has some ring grain. Like them both a lot. So, guess that means both.