Newb

[jaybird]

I'm new to the forum and looking for a pipe. It was recommended that I try a cob but the cobs I've seen around here are really cheap looking and feeling. so I found a smoke shop and they had several Capri pipes for $30 bucks. Any history on Capri pipes? Are they made by Brigham? Are they Italian? Made of Brair? I think the fella at the smoke shop said they were made by Brigham but something about imported from Italy, maybe the Brair was imported, I can't remember.

 

[ace57]

Wellcom Jaybird, If You are new to pipes then I would start with a cob and then go from there. It will all fall in place. We have alot of good pipe smokers here and You will learn alot.

 

[cortezattic]

PipesAnd Cigars.com sells a line of Leonessa Capri Pipes that retail for $30.00. Don't know about their quality though.
I, for one, would not recommend starting with a corn cob pipe. Nor would I recommend an aromatic tobacco blend.

.... and so the polemics begin...
Ooops! forgot my manners. Welcome to the forums and PipesMagazine.com! :clap:

 

[bigvan]

Welcome Jaybird!
I'm not a fan of cobs either. In general, cheap pipes are cheap for a reason; they're poorly made from substandard materials.
My advice is to go with an entry level pipe from any of these makers: Peterson, Stanwell, Savinelli, Brebbia, Johs, Neerup and my new favorite carver EJH. Plan on spending between $50 and $100, which seems like a lot, I know, but you're paying for QUALITY.
Not that you asked, but I have the same advice when it comes to tobacco; avoid the cheap stuff. Captain Black, Sir Walter Raleigh, Half and Half, and those giant bags from Walgreens are all using cheap, poor quality tobacco and loading them up with chemicals and flavorings. Start with Cornell & Diehl, McClellands, Hearth & Home; basically anything you CAN'T buy at a drug store.
Enjoy and let me know how it goes.

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

I'm with Cortez. pipesandcigars.com also sells gift sets with different tobaccos. Great for the beginner. I would state that going with the Bjarne, Peterson, Brebbia gift sets is preferrable.
Welcome to the forums!

 

[jaybird]

Any place in Canada to order from? Anything I should know about ordering from across the boarder?
Thanks.

 

[mlaug]

Now wait a minute here....Cortez's link shows briar pipes and they are probably a good entry level pipe.
The price vs. quality debate, Jaybird, is a horse that has been beaten to death five kajillion times.

That's a five with a bazillion zeros!
Have you ever smoked before?
If not, some of the burley based blends are a safe bet. Some Prince Albert or Carter Hall is easy to smoke, burns well, doesn't bite your tongue and readily available.
Plus, its cheap.
So, for $50.00 you could try pipe smoking and see if its any good for you. If its possible...ask your smoke shop if they carry any burley or virgina based blends and see if they have any suggestions.

 

[bigvan]

Pipes2smoke.com is in Toronto and though their pipes are a bit pricey, you can find some good deals if you look hard (check out Ben Wade, London Castle and their estate section).
They also blend their own tobaccos (Compton's) which are SUPERIOR.
The owner of the site is a very good guy named Maxim (Max) Engle. Shoot him an email and he'll be able to hook you up.

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

But the horse isn't fully decomposed...

 

[jaybird]

I did a search for the Capri and found a previous thread here. They do look like the pic posted by sirgeorge and were referred to as "Canada's answer to Dr. Grabow." Is that a good or bad thing?

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

Grabow has a huge following and many swear by them. They are cheaper and and mass produced. Quality of the briar differs with any pipe, including Dr. Grabow.

 

[bigvan]

Baskerville, of course opinions vary and tastes differ, but "Prince Albert and Carter Hall are great tobaccos"?
Really?
REALLY?!

 

[rigmedic1]

I am a strong believer in estate pipes, which are already broken in and can often be obtained cheaply. Of course, I would recommend that a beginner buy such a pipe from a reputable dealer who can ensure that the peice is properly cleaned before purchase. I think cobs are good, and of course I have purchased many great briars both new and used, but the first few bowls of a new pipe may be terrible until a good cake is formed. Some patience is required for that. Whatever pipe you choose, always keep in mind that the things get better with use, and that the better the pipe is to start with, the more likely you will come to enjoy it.

 

[bigvan]

Yes, drugstore tobaccos ARE popular.
But so are Big Macs

and Britney Spears songs

and boxes of wine

and pants that sag down below the underwear
Popularity is not the mark of quality. In fact, they're usually mutually exclusive.

 

[ace57]

Quality don't aways mean $, give a homeless man a Big Mac, box of wine, saggy pants, and a date with Britney then ask Him the quality of His day. :rofl:

 

[hebel]

A corn cob is a good entry level pipe, I myself have a diplomat from aristocob.com. Brandishi is another good entry level briar pipe that I love. Petersons are nice but start at about $50 an up. Enjoy!

 

[python]

Quite a few of our sponsors have pipe starter kits. This will help you get all of the essentials that you will need all at the same time.
Here are the links to some of the pipe starter kits at some of our sponsors:
4Noggins Starter Kits
Cup O' Joes Starter Kits
SmokingPipes.com Starter Kit
Pipesandcigars.com Starter Kit
More pipe starter kits and gift sets from Pipesandcigars.com
PipeTobacco.com Starter Kit

 

[cyndi]

o.O PA is like Big Macs and Britney? PA has been popular for a hella long time. No one is going to remember Britney in 50 years. I'd liken it to the dinner rolls you can get for $0.89 at the grocery store - it's a good standby that's survived the test of time and if no one told you it was that cheap, you wouldn't guess it.

 

[lordnoble]

First, let start off right by saying, "Welcome to the forums!" OK now that's out of the way... I'll join in.
I started with a Yello-Bowl BRYLON (think fiber-board) pipe that was horrible. Next was a MM (Missouri Meerschaum) Legend corn cob pipe which I still smoke to this day. I moved on from there building my collection (around 15 or so pipes). There's nothing wrong with MM cobs. Any other brand, I'd be a bit leery of. As for briar, Doctor Grabows can be good. I have one that is my best smoker, the other is just a good smoker. The suggestions for Peterson, Bjarne, Savinelli, etc. are all valid, but if you're just starting out, $80-$100 may be a bit steep especially if you're not sure you want to stick with this hobby. Buy what you can afford, and learn the ropes. You'll figure out what you like and don't like in time.
As for tobacco, I like some OTC blends. Captain Black White and Captain Black Royal are good. I'm not a fan of either Carter Hall OR Prince Albert, but then, I'm not a fan of heavily burley-based blends. This doesn't mean they are crap and should be dismissed, it just means that they aren't for me. Many swear by them. I think everyone should try everything because you will find your go-to blend that way. You don't know until you try...
The starter kits are a great way to get into the hobby and for relatively little money. I wish I had come to this website BEFORE I started. Would've made my start a little less rocky...
Well, good luck and keep us posted on how it's coming along for you.
-Jason

 

[jaybird]

How do I select a pipe when shopping in a store? What kind of thing do I look for? I'm not sure about ordering online from a US site because of tariffs. I bought a bottle of whiskey in MI and drove it back across the boarder. The bottle was $21 bucks and the tax was $19. If I can get it locally I might save myself the hassle of paying extra tax.