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PApiper63

Starting to Get Obsessed
Apr 13, 2024
137
615
I tend to not be too particular about things, and while some may say I do not have discriminating tastes, I tend to think that I have a wide base of tastes that I enjoy.

I am a beer drinker and really enjoy a good dark German beer, a hearty IPA, a citrusy Blue Moon, and can drink Miller Light like it's my job.

Same with food. I like Italian food, Mexican food, Greek food, Sushi, comfort food, bar food… You name it. If it's well prepared, I tend to enjoy it.

I tend to enjoy all the tobaccos. I enjoy me some Burley, Virginia, English, VaPer, and I'm never without a pouch of Carter Hall.



I also find myself drawn to almost every kind of pipe, but I smoke them all in different situations. I enjoy Billiards, Bents, Pots, Lovats, and CALABASH pipes and all the variations of these shapes.

Some people tend to disregard Calabash pipes as a novelty item or pipes that aren't good smokers. I have six of them and smoke them quite regularly.

Common complaints are:

  1. They are unwieldy. Of course they aren't clenchers so I smoke them when I'm watching a movie, reading a book, sitting around a fire or just enjoying a good bench somewhere. I smoke them when I can dedicate a hand to holding the pipe.
  2. They dull the flavor of tobacco. Calabash pipes tend to burn cooler than most other pipes because of their size. They also do dull the flavor of tobacco so I make sure I always smoke strong blend that might not handle as well in a traditional sized pipe. Give me a good luxury flake in a calabash and I am a happy guy.
  3. The bowl size tends to be small. They can be. If I'm smoking a calabash and want a longer smoke I just wipe out the bowl at the end of a smoke and reload and go again. No big deal.
  4. They are hard to maintain. This just isn't true. I bought my first calabash in my mid 20s about 40 years ago. I have smoked that pipe so many times… When I am done smoking a calabash I simply wipe out the bowl with the paper towel run a pipe cleaner through the stem and separate the bowl from the gourd and wipe it out with the paper towel. Takes 30 seconds.


Calabash pipes might not be for everyone, but I have enjoyed them for years. I find that some of my pipe smoking buddies avoid them because they are nontraditional and are a little confused about how to smoke and maintain them. They are really simple and versatile pipes. If you have one sitting around or can pick one up for a reasonable price, I recommend you give it a try.

How do my fellow pipe smokers feel about Calabash pipes? I would like to hear from the hive on this one.
 

Sig

Lifer
Jul 18, 2023
1,080
5,709
54
Western NY
Ive never had the urge to buy one. Same with clay, Olive wood, maple or Morta.
Briar, corn and Meerschaum are my thing.
 
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warren

Lifer
Sep 13, 2013
12,590
19,358
Foothills of the Chugach Range, AK
I had one, years ago I smoked regularly in public. An affectation to be sure. (Ahh, sweet youth and the importance of appearance.) It was good smoker, just a bit to clumsy. And, I finally got shuck of the idea of trying to impress folks. I got comfortable in me own skin.
 

PApiper63

Starting to Get Obsessed
Apr 13, 2024
137
615
I had one, years ago I smoked regularly in public. An affectation to be sure. (Ahh, sweet youth and the importance of appearance.) It was good smoker, just a bit to clumsy. And, I finally got shuck of the idea of trying to impress folks. I got comfortable in me own skin.
Most of the time when I smoke my Calabash I am by myself. I just like the way they smoke.
 
  • Like
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spike

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 21, 2009
205
464
I am not a fan. Nor am I a fan of cobs, meerschsum, morta. My 37 pipes are exclusively briar, nearly all with acrylic stems. I bought A Ser Jacopo briar calabash years ago, but eventually traded it because of the size and shape.

That said, I ascribe to the old Latin saying De Gustibus non est Disputandum; so enjoy your calabash.
 
Jun 9, 2018
4,748
15,296
England
I tend to not be too particular about things, and while some may say I do not have discriminating tastes, I tend to think that I have a wide base of tastes that I enjoy.

I am a beer drinker and really enjoy a good dark German beer, a hearty IPA, a citrusy Blue Moon, and can drink Miller Light like it's my job.

Same with food. I like Italian food, Mexican food, Greek food, Sushi, comfort food, bar food… You name it. If it's well prepared, I tend to enjoy it.

I tend to enjoy all the tobaccos. I enjoy me some Burley, Virginia, English, VaPer, and I'm never without a pouch of Carter Hall.



I also find myself drawn to almost every kind of pipe, but I smoke them all in different situations. I enjoy Billiards, Bents, Pots, Lovats, and CALABASH pipes and all the variations of these shapes.

Some people tend to disregard Calabash pipes as a novelty item or pipes that aren't good smokers. I have six of them and smoke them quite regularly.

Common complaints are:

  1. They are unwieldy. Of course they aren't clenchers so I smoke them when I'm watching a movie, reading a book, sitting around a fire or just enjoying a good bench somewhere. I smoke them when I can dedicate a hand to holding the pipe.
  2. They dull the flavor of tobacco. Calabash pipes tend to burn cooler than most other pipes because of their size. They also do dull the flavor of tobacco so I make sure I always smoke strong blend that might not handle as well in a traditional sized pipe. Give me a good luxury flake in a calabash and I am a happy guy.
  3. The bowl size tends to be small. They can be. If I'm smoking a calabash and want a longer smoke I just wipe out the bowl at the end of a smoke and reload and go again. No big deal.
  4. They are hard to maintain. This just isn't true. I bought my first calabash in my mid 20s about 40 years ago. I have smoked that pipe so many times… When I am done smoking a calabash I simply wipe out the bowl with the paper towel run a pipe cleaner through the stem and separate the bowl from the gourd and wipe it out with the paper towel. Takes 30 seconds.


Calabash pipes might not be for everyone, but I have enjoyed them for years. I find that some of my pipe smoking buddies avoid them because they are nontraditional and are a little confused about how to smoke and maintain them. They are really simple and versatile pipes. If you have one sitting around or can pick one up for a reasonable price, I recommend you give it a try.

How do my fellow pipe smokers feel about Calabash pipes? I would like to hear from the hive on this one.
I agree with everything you say apart from point 2. I have two Strambachs that have very big bowls that hold a ton of tobacco.

20180917_211812-600x337.jpg

20180917_2120042-600x337.jpg
 
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