Let's Talk About "Unicorn" Pipes

[Dshift]

In my limited experience , I have managed to try over 200 different pipes - from brand new to over 90 years old, some cheap, some more expensive, all kinds of shapes and sizes, brands and countries of origin.

Most people I have talked to are of the opinion that they should all smoke very similarly, but I have noticed very stark differences in their performance. I look at a few factors when I judge a pipe's performance:

1.- How cool of a smoke it produces?
2. -How hot the pipe itself gets?
3.- Does it change the flavor of the tobacco in any way?(Positive or negative)
4.- Do I have to re-light it too often?
5.- Does it affect the tongue bite from specific tobaccos?
6.- Does it smoke dry?
There are a bunch of more factors, but they are more about the appearance of a pipe, like shape, size etc. , but let's ignore those for now.

Having this in mind I can divide the pipes I've tried so far in a few very distinctive categories:

1. Really bad performing pipes - they would smoke wet and hot, get very hot and so on.

2. The generic pipes - they are just average, not bad but not that good either. They could be found in any brand or price class and most of the time there will be a tobacco that works really well in them and everything else will be underwhelming, or you will have adjust the way you smoke to compensate for the pipe's shortcomings.

3. Now for what should be the last category, the exceptional pipes - 80% of the time this would be a pipe from a reputable and more expensive brand. It will ace most of the previously mentioned factors or even all of them. I assume this comes from a better selection of briar and great craftsmanship.

4. The "Unicorn" pipes(at least thats what I call them) - now from time to time I will grab the next old, dusty and grimy estate pipe to restore and it would feel very different... (Keep in mind that these pipes could be from absolutely every brand and price class) The wood feels extremely hard, but at the same time weirdly lightweight and if you knock on it, you will hear a very crisp ping. After I clear mine out all the cake that has almost turned into an unmovable object, clear out the thick layer of lava on the rim and scoop out all of the black goop from inside the pipe and stem and finish the whole restoration, I sit down and give the pipe it's well deserved "resurrection" smoke.

What happens after could only be described as pure divinity! All those performance factors, you can throw out the window! This pipe will do everything perfectly and it fells like whatever mistake you do or whatever tobacco you put in it, will not affect the pipe whatsoever.... As to how rare these pipes are - it's hard to say but I have just stumbled on my number 9 and 10.
First pipe - A Peterson's Spigot System 03s
Second Pipe - A Parker Jockey Club
Third Pipe - A small English made dental pipe
Fourth Pipe - A Sandblasted German Goldpoint
Sixth Pipe - A Danske Club 11 Naturell
Seventh Pipe - A Peterson's Sports 6
Eight Pipe - A cheap Denicotea Golf
and now one after the other an Orlik Supreme 9TS and a Charatan's Make Belvedere 313/318DC (not very legible) and the Charatan even outperforms all of the previous "Unicorns"...

Does anyone have any idea why and how is this happening and what do you do with pipes like this? So far I have been trying to keep them but I have parted with some because they were not my preferred shape or size, or I passed them to a friendly beginner, who contacted me, asking for some kind of advice.

 

[OzPiper]

It’s 500 year old burls dug out of an Algerian hillside by starving workers slaving under the whips of their colonial French masters under a hot, baking sun. Filled with magical sap.
We all know that

 

[Waning Embers]

Does anyone have any idea why and how is this happening

The skill of the smoker using the pipe.

 

[agnosticpipe]

The only Unicorn pipe I can think of is this, the Jobey Unicorn



See, I told you I was a smart ass...

 

[Waning Embers]

The only Unicorn pipe I can think of is this, the Jobey Unicorn

View attachment 397821

See, I told you I was a smart ass...

I'll see your smart ass and raise you a wise ass.

 

[fireground_piper]

You have more unicorns than I have total pipes.

I basically have 2 pipes I smoke regularly, 2 pipes I smoke occasionally, and 3 I smoke rarely but keep for mostly non smoking reasons.

If I don’t like an aspect of a pipe, I don’t bother with it and that starts with fit, finish and style. I can’t waste my time with a pipe that isn’t exactly what I want. If I was in your spot, I’d only own those 10 and everything else would be gone.

 

[SBC]

I've smoked many pipes over the last 17 years -- perhaps something like 200 -- and the differences to me do not seem as sharp as they seem to you. Still, I acknowledge below average, average, and above average pipes (functionally speaking).

Below average pipes might have an annoyingly restrictive draw, or the walls may heat up too easily, or they may be uncomfortable to me on some level I can't quite pin-point.

(But a pipe may have a single such concern and yet not seem overall below-average to me if I like it otherwise.)

Above average pipes are more difficult to delineate, but every tobacco seems to be at its best in them, they stay lit more easily, etc.

I'm not keeping track, but I feel like 90% of pipes are average, regardless of price point.
90% of $40 pipes smoke about the same as 90% of expensive brand or artisan pipes.

I have four pipes that smoke noticeably above average, for reasons that I can't completely explain. Only one of them is an artisan pipe (the Jeremiah Sandahl in my picture) -- and I've had a number of other artisan pipes that were simply average.

The other three above-average smokers I have are:
*a Bones bent apple
*a Peretti branded bent bulldog of unknown make
* a Chacom meer-lined lovat

I am perfectly content with average smokers. I'm thankful of course for the rare above-average one that I wind up with, too. But my experience just hasn't led me to anticipate finding a greater proportion of these among expensive pipes.

 

[anotherbob]

In my limited experience , I have managed to try over 200 different pipes - from brand new to over 90 years old, some cheap, some more expensive, all kinds of shapes and sizes, brands and countries of origin.

Most people I have talked to are of the opinion that they should all smoke very similarly, but I have noticed very stark differences in their performance. I look at a few factors when I judge a pipe's performance:

1.- How cool of a smoke it produces?
2. -How hot the pipe itself gets?
3.- Does it change the flavor of the tobacco in any way?(Positive or negative)
4.- Do I have to re-light it too often?
5.- Does it affect the tongue bite from specific tobaccos?
6.- Does it smoke dry?
There are a bunch of more factors, but they are more about the appearance of a pipe, like shape, size etc. , but let's ignore those for now.

Having this in mind I can divide the pipes I've tried so far in a few very distinctive categories:

1. Really bad performing pipes - they would smoke wet and hot, get very hot and so on.

2. The generic pipes - they are just average, not bad but not that good either. They could be found in any brand or price class and most of the time there will be a tobacco that works really well in them and everything else will be underwhelming, or you will have adjust the way you smoke to compensate for the pipe's shortcomings.

3. Now for what should be the last category, the exceptional pipes - 80% of the time this would be a pipe from a reputable and more expensive brand. It will ace most of the previously mentioned factors or even all of them. I assume this comes from a better selection of briar and great craftsmanship.

4. The "Unicorn" pipes(at least thats what I call them) - now from time to time I will grab the next old, dusty and grimy estate pipe to restore and it would feel very different... (Keep in mind that these pipes could be from absolutely every brand and price class) The wood feels extremely hard, but at the same time weirdly lightweight and if you knock on it, you will hear a very crisp ping. After I clear mine out all the cake that has almost turned into an unmovable object, clear out the thick layer of lava on the rim and scoop out all of the black goop from inside the pipe and stem and finish the whole restoration, I sit down and give the pipe it's well deserved "resurrection" smoke.

What happens after could only be described as pure divinity! All those performance factors, you can throw out the window! This pipe will do everything perfectly and it fells like whatever mistake you do or whatever tobacco you put in it, will not affect the pipe whatsoever.... As to how rare these pipes are - it's hard to say but I have just stumbled on my number 9 and 10.
First pipe - A Peterson's Spigot System 03s
Second Pipe - A Parker Jockey Club
Third Pipe - A small English made dental pipe
Fourth Pipe - A Sandblasted German Goldpoint
Sixth Pipe - A Danske Club 11 Naturell
Seventh Pipe - A Peterson's Sports 6
Eight Pipe - A cheap Denicotea Golf
and now one after the other an Orlik Supreme 9TS and a Charatan's Make Belvedere 313/318DC (not very legible) and the Charatan even outperforms all of the previous "Unicorns"...

Does anyone have any idea why and how is this happening and what do you do with pipes like this? So far I have been trying to keep them but I have parted with some because they were not my preferred shape or size, or I passed them to a friendly beginner, who contacted me, asking for some kind of advice.

My best explination is pipe fairies or gnomes. It just seems like magic to me.

 

[sablebrush52]

The equation is 25% equipment and 75% technique.

 

[The Benedictine]

My best explination is pipe fairies or gnomes. It just seems like magic to me.

 

[Sig]

Years ago I bought a lot of expensive pipes. 99% are now gone.
I have 3 pipes I would call "unicorn" pipes using your criteria.
All together I paid $120 for them.
First is my absolute best pipe I've ever smoked. A generic basket pipe called an "Excelsior". It's made in Italy many years ago, that's all I know. It was $10 at a small cigar shop. The briar and ivory inlay I did.


Next is an old Celius Root Pawn given to me be a member of the old PSF years ago. It has had its plateau top chopped off for some reason. The guy I got it from, Trucker Chuck, had it for decades. He had no idea why it was chopped either.



Then is the Rad Davis PSF "Pipe of the Year 2008". It's nothing special, but smokes and tastes great. I believe they were $110.

 

[Sig]

I've smoked many pipes over the last 17 years -- perhaps something like 200 -- and the differences to me do not seem as sharp as they seem to you. Still, I acknowledge below average, average, and above average pipes (functionally speaking).

Below average pipes might have an annoyingly restrictive draw, or the walls may heat up too easily, or they may be uncomfortable to me on some level I can't quite pin-point.

(But a pipe may have a single such concern and yet not seem overall below-average to me if I like it otherwise.)

Above average pipes are more difficult to delineate, but every tobacco seems to be at its best in them, they stay lit more easily, etc.

I'm not keeping track, but I feel like 90% of pipes are average, regardless of price point.
90% of $40 pipes smoke about the same as 90% of expensive brand or artisan pipes.

I have four pipes that smoke noticeably above average, for reasons that I can't completely explain. Only one of them is an artisan pipe (the Jeremiah Sandahl in my picture) -- and I've had a number of other artisan pipes that were simply average.

The other three above-average smokers I have are:
*a Bones bent apple
*a Peretti branded bent bulldog of unknown make
* a Chacom meer-lined lovat

I am perfectly content with average smokers. I'm thankful of course for the rare above-average one that I wind up with, too. But my experience just hasn't led me to anticipate finding a greater proportion of these among expensive pipes.

I should have mentioned in my above post, all three of my best smokers are dedicated to Va/Burley.
My average smokers all become Latakia blend pipes.
In my experience it's easier to find a Latakia pipe, than a pipe that's great with more delicate flavors.
I absolutely DO have some pipes that make Latakia blends taste great, but in my world I always start a pipe on Virginias, if it tastes and smokes great, it stays in the VA camp, if it isn't so great, I try it with Latakia blends. Far more pipes smoke Lat blends great versus Va blends....in my experience.
I also love run on sentences apparently.

 

[anotherbob]

The skill of the smoker using the pipe.

makes no sense if it's the same pipe smoker with different pipes.

 

[Dshift]

makes no sense if it's the same pipe smoker with different pipes.

Exactly and also I am talking about a very noticeable difference

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Smoking cadence is very much a subjective science, and different pipes resonate better with certain cadences.

While skill is definitely a part of it, you can learn to smoke different pipes differently, but a majority of people will have a single cadence they prefer and whichever pipe works best for them is the pipe that works best for them.

I don't really know what conclusions we can draw from that though.

 

[Dshift]

Smoking cadence is very much a subjective science, and different pipes resonate better with certain cadences.

While skill is definitely a part of it, you can learn to smoke different pipes differently, but a majority of people will have a single cadence they prefer and whichever pipe works best for them is the pipe that works best for them.

I don't really know what conclusions we can draw from that though.

This actually makes so much sense, maybe some pipes respond better to my cadence. This would explain why they perform better regardless of what tobacco I put in them.

 

[Waning Embers]

makes no sense if it's the same pipe smoker with different pipes.

Of course it does. Pipes are little more than straws and with learned good smoking practices you can make any of them smoke effortlessly.

 

[sardonicus87]

Smoking cadence is very much a subjective science, and different pipes resonate better with certain cadences.

While skill is definitely a part of it, you can learn to smoke different pipes differently, but a majority of people will have a single cadence they prefer and whichever pipe works best for them is the pipe that works best for them.

I don't really know what conclusions we can draw from that though.

Psychology, and I've made this suggestion many times and theorized that people stick to one way (not just with pipe, but drying, packing, etc) and that's why X thing always works for them while it never works for others and others find that Y works better. I think it's the same thing with all of it... they're trying to smoke everything the same way (either out of habit or whatever), and you can't smoke wet tobacco the same way as dry, or this pipe the same way as that, etc.

Think about it... how could half of people get a better experience with X when they do it this way while the other half do it the other way? Or with this vs that. Same thing behaving differently for different people? What's the one thing different? The people (and their behaviors).

I'll see your smart ass and raise you a wise ass.
View attachment 397828

I still look for unicorn pipes on occasion that look better, they never seem to do them justice, and still looking for one that's a male (has a goatee), and looks more like a traditional unicorn according to mythology, rather than just another horse that they stuck a horn on.



I still like my unicorn pipe though, but I think I'd prefer one in this style, like an apple with a carved relief rather than trying to carve a figural head...

 

[anotherbob]

Exactly and also I am talking about a very noticeable difference

I find every pipe I have smokes noticeably different then the others. And that they all amplify or mute certain nuances. And yes technique is far more of a factor.

Of course it does. Pipes are little more than straws and with learned good smoking practices you can make any of them smoke effortlessly.

They're not just straws. They have a lot of little factors that are different from each other. Including the fact that the wood has it's own flavor and then the stems are all different and have different draw and resistances. To me the question isn't if it makes a difference but how much and why.
And for whatever reason my Rattray is the most extreme example. Everything tastes sweeter in it, everything.
Though I will always say that technique makes a much bigger and more massive difference then any pipe could.

 

[bootlegpipes]

In my limited experience , I have managed to try over 200 different pipes - from brand new to over 90 years old, some cheap, some more expensive, all kinds of shapes and sizes, brands and countries of origin.

Most people I have talked to are of the opinion that they should all smoke very similarly, but I have noticed very stark differences in their performance. I look at a few factors when I judge a pipe's performance:

1.- How cool of a smoke it produces?
2. -How hot the pipe itself gets?
3.- Does it change the flavor of the tobacco in any way?(Positive or negative)
4.- Do I have to re-light it too often?
5.- Does it affect the tongue bite from specific tobaccos?
6.- Does it smoke dry?
There are a bunch of more factors, but they are more about the appearance of a pipe, like shape, size etc. , but let's ignore those for now.

Having this in mind I can divide the pipes I've tried so far in a few very distinctive categories:

1. Really bad performing pipes - they would smoke wet and hot, get very hot and so on.

2. The generic pipes - they are just average, not bad but not that good either. They could be found in any brand or price class and most of the time there will be a tobacco that works really well in them and everything else will be underwhelming, or you will have adjust the way you smoke to compensate for the pipe's shortcomings.

3. Now for what should be the last category, the exceptional pipes - 80% of the time this would be a pipe from a reputable and more expensive brand. It will ace most of the previously mentioned factors or even all of them. I assume this comes from a better selection of briar and great craftsmanship.

4. The "Unicorn" pipes(at least thats what I call them) - now from time to time I will grab the next old, dusty and grimy estate pipe to restore and it would feel very different... (Keep in mind that these pipes could be from absolutely every brand and price class) The wood feels extremely hard, but at the same time weirdly lightweight and if you knock on it, you will hear a very crisp ping. After I clear mine out all the cake that has almost turned into an unmovable object, clear out the thick layer of lava on the rim and scoop out all of the black goop from inside the pipe and stem and finish the whole restoration, I sit down and give the pipe it's well deserved "resurrection" smoke.

What happens after could only be described as pure divinity! All those performance factors, you can throw out the window! This pipe will do everything perfectly and it fells like whatever mistake you do or whatever tobacco you put in it, will not affect the pipe whatsoever.... As to how rare these pipes are - it's hard to say but I have just stumbled on my number 9 and 10.
First pipe - A Peterson's Spigot System 03s
Second Pipe - A Parker Jockey Club
Third Pipe - A small English made dental pipe
Fourth Pipe - A Sandblasted German Goldpoint
Sixth Pipe - A Danske Club 11 Naturell
Seventh Pipe - A Peterson's Sports 6
Eight Pipe - A cheap Denicotea Golf
and now one after the other an Orlik Supreme 9TS and a Charatan's Make Belvedere 313/318DC (not very legible) and the Charatan even outperforms all of the previous "Unicorns"...

Does anyone have any idea why and how is this happening and what do you do with pipes like this? So far I have been trying to keep them but I have parted with some because they were not my preferred shape or size, or I passed them to a friendly beginner, who contacted me, asking for some kind of advice.

Pics of the unicorns?