Looking to Buy a Gandalf-Style Pipe. Facing a Dilemma and in Need of Advice.

[bigvan]

"The long stem means the smoke is cooler..."
Whenever someone makes this claim, I feel the need to call it out. Longer stems do not cool smoke. If they did, then the smoke from a shorter, nosewarmer stem would be warmer. And it isn't.

 

[cigrmaster]

bigvan, lol, I know what you mean about that claim. Cool smoking is a combination of quality briar, proper tobacco humidity and good smoking technique. The length of a pipe has nothing to do with how cool or hot it will smoke. Just another old wives tale that are running around the net.

 

[padredeleltoro]

Just another old wives tale that are running around the net.

I believe the claim was made by Georges Herment. He thought it was a poor trade-off to exchange nose for cooler smoke.

 

[padredeleltoro]

Just another old wives tale that are running around the net.

I believe the claim was made by Georges Herment. He thought it was a poor trade-off to exchange nose for cooler smoke.

 

[padredeleltoro]

Sorry for the double post, ours is a wonky connection.

 

[carbz13]

+1 for what smokeybear said, that's my favorite setup to relax with. I also have a Stanwell HCA which might be a good option for you if you can find one- it comes with a standard stem and a churchwarden stem.

 

[numbersix]

"The long stem means the smoke is cooler..."
Whenever someone makes this claim, I feel the need to call it out. Longer stems do not cool smoke. If they did, then the smoke from a shorter, nosewarmer stem would be warmer. And it isn't.

I don't know, but I think there is some truth to the idea that CW offer a cooler smoke. Especially when igniting tobacco, my butane is superheating the tobacco - the longer distance from this initial flame, the greater the cooling effect IMHO.
To use an exaggerated example, just imagine puffing on a 3 ft pipe stem vs a 3in pipe stem. However, overall, I will agree with what Harris wrote:

Cool smoking is a combination of quality briar, proper tobacco humidity and good smoking technique.

 

[seakayak]

I just purchased a beautiful Savinelli church warden at www.pipesandcigars.com. It's a pipe Gandalf would be proud to own.

 

[flyguy]

I own 3 churchwardens (two Savinellis and a Rigoletto) and find the more I get into this hobby the less I smoke them. I recommend you buy a convertible-type churchwarden such as the Stanwell Hans Christian Anderson. They come with a long churchwarden stem and a short (normal length) stem.

@Roth: The Rigoletto was a bear to break-in but is a good smoker now. If memory serves me the draft hole was a little high and I had to apply mud to the bottom of the bowl in order to get this one to smoke right.

 

[prophecies]

I would personally recommend the Vauen Auenland pipes. I've checked them out in person in a great little pipe shop in Munich, Germany. They're absolutely amazing. Well-crafted, the finish is stunningly beautiful, and feels just right in your hand. If you're looking for that Middle-Earth feel, then these are what you want. "Auenland" means "Middle-Earth" in German.
You won't regret it. I would have bought it myself, if I wasn't broke from backpacking for 4 months.

 

[cynyr]

And a +2 for smokeybear's "Country Gent with Forever Stem" rig. I have an identical pipe, and it's my favorite for evening smokes.

 

[smokeybear]

Country Gent for the Win WOOT WOOT lol

 

[magicsmoke7]

Try http://www.lunapipes.com/ I have ordered my first pipe from Tom, and while I have yet to smoke it I chose Tom because of the good reviews he got. Happy hunting!

 

[pylorns]

The OP hasn't been back to even look at comments in a month. I can say a couple years back I bought a church warden that was a full wooden crafted pipe from a Ren Fair and its more of a collectible, I've smoked out of it some but it just isn't all that great.

 

[drwatson]

Go with the Vauen replica, better pipe, and worth the money..

 

[erinrigh]

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/Nording/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=130738
here is one at smoking pipes in your price range

 

[erinrigh]

This is mine, I bought it at a festival and have no idea where it came from

 

[rmason]

Erinrgh your picture doesn't work.

~Ron

 

[erinrigh]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1418858038330263&set=a.1418858024996931.1073741831.100006182402575&type=3&theater
hope this works