My First Savinelli Pipe. (Help me Decide)

[Eloc]

Hello Everyone. I have been smoking a pipe for about a two years now. I have two pipes: a cheap churchwarden (my first pipe), and a straight billiard of moderate size. I have learned that I really enjoy clenching my pipe and want to get a Savinelli in a bent shape. There are two that I am very interested in and would like some input from you guys (especially those of you have either or both of these pipes). The pipes I am most interested in are the Savinelli 305 and 626. I am having trouble deciding between the two because i really love the look of the 605 and like the idea of trying a wider bowl, but i think the 626 will probably clench better.

Please share your thoughts. Reference pictures bellow.

-Eloc

 

[stokesdale]

With the exception of a few grabows and a rossi, all I own are savs, the one of two savs I don’t much care for is the one you show as the 305. That thing rips through tobacco and is hard to clean with the conical shaped bowl. I have 3 like the other one and love them. I’m a clencher too and its great for that

 

[mso489]

I have a number of Savinelli, but neither of those shapes. Two specs that will help with clenching, weight and degree of bend, the more bend the better, the less leverage on the teeth. For clenching, I like the weight 1.4 ounces or less. Up to about 1.6 is okay, and more weight is more for smoking seated. I don't know if you are on a price limit; Savenelli also makes Rossi pipes which offer the same shapes but less upscale finish.

 

[dcon]

I own both in a Roma. They are both fine pipes. I use the 305 for VA and the 626 for English blends. Both are easy to clench (actually , the 305 is the easier of the 2). The 626 is a larger bowl. You may want to take in consideration what you plan to smoke in the pipe and if you have any preference in that regard. Enjoy your acquisition!

BTW I have had both pipes over 35 years so, expect many years of satisfaction.

 

[shanez]

I have the 305 in Oscar Tiger and love it! It's the workhorse of my collection.

 

[Eloc]

I own both in a Roma. They are both fine pipes. I use the 305 for VA and the 626 for English blends. Both are easy to clench (actually , the 305 is the easier of the 2). The 626 is a larger bowl. You may want to take in consideration what you plan to smoke in the pipe and if you have any preference in that regard. Enjoy your acquisition!

BTW I have had both pipes over 35 years so, expect many years of satisfaction.

dcon,
Why do you find the 305 easier to clench? It is heavier and less bent than the 626. Also, I plan on smoking mostly english/balken blends in it. Do you find that the dimensions of the bowl make the 305 better for Virginias over stronger blends?

 

[Eloc]

With the exception of a few grabows and a rossi, all I own are savs, the one of two savs I don’t much care for is the one you show as the 305. That thing rips through tobacco and is hard to clean with the conical shaped bowl. I have 3 like the other one and love them. I’m a clencher too and its great for that

stokesdale,
Do you think it goes through tobacco faster because of the wider bowl dimensions? Also, how would compare the comfort of the clench of the 305 to the 626?

 

[olkofri]

I've read that wider bowls are better for English blends.

 

[stokesdale]

stokesdale,
Do you think it goes through tobacco faster because of the wider bowl dimensions? Also, how would compare the comfort of the clench of the 305 to the 626?

Yes to your first question. They both are good clenchers though

 

[mso489]

My Savs that I think of as perfect clinchers are a Rhodesian 999, a bulldog 673, and a pot 122.

 

[dcon]

stokesdale,
Do you think it goes through tobacco faster because of the wider bowl dimensions? Also, how would compare the comfort of the clench of the 305 to the 626?

No, at least not noticeable. I do not believe that you have to have a greater bend angle to be a good clenching pipe. They are both fine for that so, I would not get hung up on that aspect.
I actually chose the tobacco genre to match the pipe when I had very few pipes. I owned the 626 first and I smoked primarily English blends at the time. I bought the 305 specifically to be a VA pipe, as I was adding more VA to my smoking. I was actually working at a pipe shop at the time and when that group of Romas came in the 305 just caught my eye.
There are a lot of reasons for choosing a pipe for a particular genre and not all of them (maybe even most) have anything to do with the “science” of smoking. I have pipes of all different makes, shapes, and sizes and how one became a VaPer pipe and another became an Aro pipe usually had more than a single causation.

For example; I only smoke Dunhill (or Match Dunhill) in my Dunhills. I only smoke English blends in my GBD and Saseini pipes. I smoke VaPers in mostly Italian pipes. I like to smoke VAs and Burleys in Pots, Princes, or Rhodesians (but never a VA in a Burley pipe or vice versa). Why? I could come up with a multitude of responses but, it, honestly, comes down to “it just felt like what I wanted to do”.

Sorry, if this has not helped. My message when it comes to most things with pipe smoking, is do what is going to give you the greatest satisfaction.

 

[Eloc]

My Savs that I think of as perfect clinchers are a Rhodesian 999, a bulldog 673, and a pot 122.

mso489,
I was considering the 673 for a while but thought it seemed a bit big and heavy. It's good to know you think it an excellent clencher.

 

[dcon]

I've read that wider bowls are better for English blends.

I don’t necessarily buy into this. I have seen this said as well. I have, also, read other’s opinions that, VA and flakes smoke better in narrow bowls. Once again, I think this is all personal preference. I can have a wide Pot produce a heavenly VA smoke and I have had some great smokes with English blends in the narrowest of pipes.
I do think that if one believes blend X will smoke better in pipe Z, it probably will.

 

[petes03]

One of the easiest pipes to clench that I own. Savinelli 614

 

[mso489]

Some of the Savinelli shapes have a KS version, which I think means king sized, so those are larger chambers that weigh more, so keep that in mind. All my suggestions -- 999, 673, and 122 -- were non-KS versions. Although one of my KS pipes, an Oscar Lucite prince 315 KS (a discontinued series) works fine for clenching.

 

[ray47]

I have this Savinelli Oscar Lucite 614 and it's a great clencher.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Savinelli makes fine pipes, I wouldn’t dissuade you from getting one, but while you’re at it, pick up a MM cob. You might find it to be your new best friend if you like to clench your pipe.

 

[Paul lec]

My two latest Savs. Blue alligator,and Rusticated Oceana. Love the blue,and love the Gators!

 

[mikethompson]

That bottom one looks very nice. Either one you pick, Savinelli makes great pipes.

 

[BlueMaxx]

I would look at the 602 also.
It was my first Sav and step up from a cob to a briar pipe.
It is very light, utilitarian and comfortable bent pipe.
Has a pretty decent draw, I removed the balsa filter.
It is also very affordable and has a decent size chamber, clenches well.
Just my two cents...