Leather wrapped pipes? Newbee question.

[fruddog]

I have seen some pretty sharp pipes that are wrapped in leather. What is the idea behind them other than the aesthetics? They look pretty cool and I was just curious.

 

[unclearthur]

Looks mainly.

 

[cortezattic]

Tarzan's Pipes

 

[ace57]

Is it if You have a oops making a pipe You can cover it in leather call it $$$$$. I don't know.

 

[fullbent]

Thats what I always thought ace...Not real sure.

 

[papipeguy]

They became popular just after WWII. The GI's were buying them in Europe and coming home with them. They look cool and, as Arthur said, manly. I never had one but I'd expect that the leather insulates the bowl as well so handling is cooler. Maybe.

 

[unclearthur]

The original Longchamps pipes used some decent briar. I have seen a few of the later ones though with missing covers that had hidden some nasty fills.

 

[ace57]

Looks like Fullbent and Myself hit it dead on. ::

 

[fruddog]

Since posting this, I ran into a leather wrapped Bulldog online for only $15. Maybe it is covering some sort of imperfection.
-Clayton_

 

[thekiltedchaplain]

I think they look interesting, and may make the pipe cooler to hold. I'm not sure thats such a good thing though. I generally use the heat of the pipe to gauge whether it needs a few seconds to cool down. That and I can't help but wonder, with everyone else, as to why you would cover up a nice piece of briar?

 

[bubbadreier]

I don't know what the thoughts behind leather is but I hate the look!

 

[bgbarcus]

I have a leather wrapped Savinelli Canadian that my Dad bought in the 70's. I'm not a fan of the look but the pipe is very light weight, smokes great and the leather does seem to help keep the bowl from getting hot to hold. Neither he nor I ever did anything to treat or take care of the leather but it still looks nice and shows no signs of cracking or shrinking. I suspect the pipe manufacturers liked leather as they didn't have to worry about any sort of staining or other prettying up of the pipe and it covered minor flaws in the briar.

 

[hilojohnny]

Back in the 1950s-60s I owned a leather covered Longchamps....It was never a good smoking pipe. My experience may be the unique bad one....but I have no intention of owning another one.... :crazy:

 

[jimbo]

In the past, many meerschaums came wrapped in a tight leather glove. This was supposed to help with the coloring because it keeps your fingers off the pipe. That was the theory, but I've heard it doesn't work that well.
I've always thought a leather covered billiard was the ultimate in sophistication. I have yet to acquire one, however.

 

[seanz]

i have seen a few down here but something about them just doesn't ring with me

 

[extreme122]

I have a Longchamp pipe that i've got from eBay 2 years ago, it was unsmoked and i paid something like 20 bucks.
Apart from the amazing look it smokes cooler than regular pipes.

 

[bubbadreier]

That is a good looking Longchamp! Most of the ones I see are dirty and torn up!

 

[hobie1dog]

beautiful Longchamp. :worship:

 

[daveinlax]

Even Dunhill got into the leather covered pipes. A 1969 LB from the collection. 8O

 

[extreme122]

Beautiful Dunhill !!, also the jars behind are amazing !where did u get them ??
Nick