MM Cob Love

[churchlady]

I haven't been smoking as much lately for one reason and the other, but while the kids are away with grandparents I've been treating myself to more time with a pipe. I had picked up a couple of estate bent briars and been smoking them with some frustration, but yesterday I decided to pick my cobs back up. They really are so easy to smoke. I've had fewer relights and much less dottle. It's just been pleasant.

Today I tossed my newly arrived Picayune Pancake into a cob and enjoyed it with blueberry coffee from a local coffee roaster while looking over the Sunday school lesson for this weekend, and the whole experience felt less fiddly and more relaxing than it has in a while. It was so nice that after lunch I took the same combo out on the deck again.

I mostly lurk, but I just wanted to say again how much I appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm.

 

[Green Hill Hermit]

Can't beat a cob, reach for mine on a regular basis when working outside

 

[kcghost]

Cobs provide effective smoke ability with a tremendous price point and surprising durability.

 

[OzPiper]

Can't beat a cob, reach for mine on a regular basis when working outside

This is the kinda love that damns cobs with faint praise - “when working outside”, “when going for a walk”, ”when I’m in my truck”, “when I’m fishing”

How about ”when it’s a choice between my 1888 Barling magnum and a cob, the cob wins hands down. Every time ! ”
THAT is cob love

 

[AroEnglish]

That's wonderful to hear that the cob is allowing you to get a break and enjoy a smoke.

 

[Ahi Ka]

This is the kinda love that damns cobs with faint praise - “when working outside”, “when going for a walk”, ”when I’m in my truck”, “when I’m fishing”

How about ”when it’s a choice between my 1888 Barling magnum and a cob, the cob wins hands down. Every time ! ”
THAT is cob love

I agree. Take your durandu barling fishing and then let us know which you prefer.

 

[Chasing Embers]

This is the kinda love that damns cobs with faint praise - “when working outside”, “when going for a walk”, ”when I’m in my truck”, “when I’m fishing”

That describes every pipe I own.

 

[Ahi Ka]

That describes every pipe I own.

And every modern country song I’ve heard

 

[Puffaluffaguss]

Cobs are awsome, and if you want to customize them to your liking a lil more it's not that much. I belive your better off upgrading a cob for like $50 compared to buying a $75 briar that burns your hand and makes your blends taste bad. The "Elite" line of missouri meerschaum are a bit more pricy then the basics but are well worth it. If you want to go even more cob crazy you can have a cob custome made to your liking. Many ways to go cob crazy if your so inclined.

 

[Chasing Embers]

And every modern country song I’ve heard

The title of that video didn't need 'in 2013".

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I’ve been involved with smoking an IMP Meer for a good long while just to see if I tire from it and how it colors up over time. However, to this day my best smoker is an MM Emerald. Open draw, effortless in the clench and handles burley better than any pipe I’ve ever smoked. ️

 

[AJL67]

There’s just something about a little basket of cobs.

 

[JoeW]

After 3 months I’m up to 3 briars, but most of the time I use the MM Legend. I took it out this morning with some Chocolate Supreme, and it seemed to stay lit and taste better than my estate briar did. That’s all anecdotal, of course, but it felt that way. I think it feels like the cob performs better because I expect less of it…maybe?

 

[Chasing Embers]

It seemed to stay lit and taste better than my estate briar did. That’s all anecdotal, of course, but it felt that way. I think it feels like the cob performs better because I expect less of it…maybe?

Wider airway and better air flow than most production briars keeps the ember lit better.

 

[ThermionicScott]

When you’re a wet smoker like I have tended to be, that extra absorption really helps.

 

[JoeW]

Wider airway and better air flow than most production briars keeps the ember lit better.

That makes sense. Thanks for the insight!

 

[OzPiper]

Take your durandu barling fishing and then let us know which you prefer.

Sitting on the verandah rather than waist deep in a trout stream
Taking out the 1898 Barling Durandu Kalmasch and an MM cob.

With bowls of Dunhill Durbar



The Barling is a hefty hunk of briar. The thick walls meant it never got past warm. Despite its heft, the bent stem made it an easy clench. In fact it rested very comfortably on the chest for most of the smoke.



The cob, despite being lighter, was not a clencher. It too smoked cool. But its open draw resulted in some loss of flavour.

The Barling’s tighter draw brought out nuances in the Durbar that was missing from the cob - altogether a much more enjoyable bowl.

While the silverwork is an admirable feature of the Barling, it is really an implement for the age of servants and valets - polishing all that bling is best left to Jeeves

The cob is so much more practical.
I can see why the no nonsense vibe of cobs appeals to so many

 

[Puffaluffaguss]

Sitting on the verandah rather than waist deep in a trout stream
Taking out the 1898 Barling Durandu Kalmasch and an MM cob.

With bowls of Dunhill Durbar

View attachment 315761

The Barling is a hefty hunk of briar. The thick walls meant it never got past warm. Despite its heft, the bent stem made it an easy clench. In fact it rested very comfortably on the chest for most of the smoke.

View attachment 315762

The cob, despite being lighter, was not a clencher. It too smoked cool. But its open draw resulted in some loss of flavour.

The Barling’s tighter draw brought out nuances in the Durbar that was missing from the cob - altogether a much more enjoyable bowl.

While the silverwork is an admirable feature of the Barling, it is really an implement for the age of servants and valets - polishing all that bling is best left to Jeeves

The cob is so much more practical.
I can see why the no nonsense vibe of cobs appeals to so many

I don't think it has anything to do with the way a cob smokes but more the price point between the 2. The barling is worth at least 20× the price of the pictured cob. I can see the century old pipe that in that time was a masterpiece of pipe smoking, smoking better then almost any pipe from the "now". Yet that cob can be had "now" for less then 2 cups of coffee at the local Starbucks. That in my opinion is the only reason a cob is so good, price point and smokability. I can carve a pipe out of Pinion wood or cedar with the same specs of a cob, but it will most definitely not smoke as good.

 

[Chasing Embers]

But its open draw resulted in some loss of flavour.

The Barling’s tighter draw brought out nuances in the Durbar that was missing from the cob - altogether a much more enjoyable bowl.

That can be alleviated with a tighter packing. For me a tight draw results in hotter, flavorless smoke and relights. A draw with zero resistance is where I find perfection.

 

[johnnyflake]

Cobs have been my go-to pipes for many years now! Meerschaums a close second and Briars lastly.
Cobs are just easiest to smoke and for me the tobacco seems brighter in a Cob. I have said this many times in past years and I'll say it again, a number of tobaccos taste different to me in a Cob than they do in other pipes. I'll say that Va/Pers are well represented on that list. Briars are my favorite for English Blends.