Next Pipe Suggestions

[Andriko]

Hello all,

I am considering my next pipe, but am not sure what to get (lack of experience etc).

My first three were a Petersons Churchwarden (don't like it at all), Petersons Donegal Rocky (feels light, smokes ok, but meh) and a Rattray's Blower's Daughter (tiny little pipe, but looks gorgeous. Would be great if I was a Lilliputian) .

I then got a Chacom Atlas Marble (I love it, thought the bowl gets a bit hot, and the filter doesn't quite fit snug) and a Savinelli Dante (fantastico!), so I think my preference is clearly for 9mm filter pipes, and I think I'd like something with a larger bowl, so which makers should I consider (price about £80-£120).

I have been thinking of another Savinelli or Chacom, but also considering a Rattrays or Barling, but to be honest, I really don't know which manufacturer is more reliable or good for the money. I do know that I don't feel too keen on getting another Petersons.

Thanks,

A

 

[DanWil84]

In that price range the offers are huge. Since I first picked my pipes first on looks I turned it around: what does the tobacco need from a pipe? The pipe is a tool, the tobacco is the goal. I realized I like English mixtures a lot. These smoked ok in my smaller diameter pipe, but I decided to go for a larger chamber and bought a Neerup. Neerup is known for its rather large pipes with big chambers and I think the Stemwork looks nice on them. My tobacco suddenly smoked cooler in it, I got more flavors. The pipe I got is about 22mm wide by 42mm deep. I would suggest you go to smokingpipes.eu and fill in the pipe locator, you can fill in any parameter a pipe could have. But the let your tobacco speak what kind of pipe you need and you will find one to your liking. You happy and your tobacco will be happy

 

[anotherbob]

Vauen could be a good option for a nice filter pipe as well.

 

[Andriko]

Thanks Dan, I will have a look. I seem to really like the English/Oriental blends too, though I tried Lakeland Dark recently and think I might also have a thing for burley and dark Kentucky...

I see Vauen come up a lot, are they as good as their marketing would suggest?

 

[DanWil84]

Thanks Dan, I will have a look. I seem to really like the English/Oriental blends too, though I tried Lakeland Dark recently and think I might also have a thing for burley and dark Kentucky...

I see Vauen come up a lot, are they as good as their marketing would suggest?

I don't have experience with them, but maybe a search on this forum will tell you more. But again, don't focus on a brand, look what's on the market in a preferred size. The market is big and there are offerings from multiple brands in every size in every price catagory.

Going estate (previously owned pipes, smoked or unsmoked) via smokingpipes or danishpipeshop is also a option. I have experience with both and I think I got pipes that were far more expensive for under 100 euros or even 50 euros. Danishpipeshop has a filter on quality of the estate (between 1 and 5 stars or unsmoked), smokingpipes includes their estates in the pipe locator. Some say estates are not for beginners, but I think via a reputable shop its a good option.

 

[mso489]

I think your preferences are more important than brands, although you may want a well-known brand for quality. You want a larger chamber (not just the bowl but the hole), and perhaps you don't want any of the brands you already own. You definitely want a 9 mm filter pipe. And your price is 80 to 120 pounds. Estate pipes from a reputable dealer might be a good prospect. You might look at English brands for proximity to the source and greater inventory -- Parker, Hardcastel, Britannia, etc. French brands tend to have mostly medium size chambers to small, in my experience, though I like their pipes. Vauen has a good selection of 9 mm filter pipes and high quality if you like their restrained style otherwise. Good luck. I think with a lot of shopping you'll hit your sweet spot.

 

[Andriko]

Thanks again, Dan. I think with Brand/ maker it's more of a question of consistancy and quailty. For example, I don't think the Peterson pipes were that great, whatever I put in them, and the Chacom I have has a few minor issues (but still smokes great). And beyond that, I suspect some makers, like Dunhills, are over priced and so on.

I am not averse to Estate pipes if one comes up.

Also, just checking out the Neerups - they look fabulous!

 

[Andriko]

I think your preferences are more important than brands, although you may want a well-known brand for quality. You want a larger chamber (not just the bowl but the hole), and perhaps you don't want any of the brands you already own. You definitely want a 9 mm filter pipe. And your price is 80 to 120 pounds. Estate pipes from a reputable dealer might be a good prospect. You might look at English brands for proximity to the source and greater inventory -- Parker, Hardcastel, Britannia, etc. French brands tend to have mostly medium size chambers to small, in my experience, though I like their pipes. Vauen has a good selection of 9 mm filter pipes and high quality if you like their restrained style otherwise. Good luck. I think with a lot of shopping you'll hit your sweet spot.

Thanks, mso! I will investigate some of the English ones as well. I will hit a sweet spot at some point, so many damn pipes to choose from though!

 

[cigrmaster]

You might want to check out Winslow pipes. Not the hand made E-A graded, but their lower end lines. I do believe they still make filtered pipes.

 

[pipestud]

Hello all,

I am considering my next pipe, but am not sure what to get (lack of experience etc).

My first three were a Petersons Churchwarden (don't like it at all), Petersons Donegal Rocky (feels light, smokes ok, but meh) and a Rattray's Blower's Daughter (tiny little pipe, but looks gorgeous. Would be great if I was a Lilliputian) .

I then got a Chacom Atlas Marble (I love it, thought the bowl gets a bit hot, and the filter doesn't quite fit snug) and a Savinelli Dante (fantastico!), so I think my preference is clearly for 9mm filter pipes, and I think I'd like something with a larger bowl, so which makers should I consider (price about £80-£120).

I have been thinking of another Savinelli or Chacom, but also considering a Rattrays or Barling, but to be honest, I really don't know which manufacturer is more reliable or good for the money. I do know that I don't feel too keen on getting another Petersons.

Thanks,

A

I am among the group that says to save up for a quality hand made pipe and then pull the trigger. Because artisan pipe makers know that in order to make sales, they need a quality pipe, they seek out the best well cured wood, and learn how to make the engineering enhance the opportunity to get a great smoke. Machine made pipes, while many are quite good, usually don't have the care taken to ensure the best smoke possible as hand made pipes by professionals do. IMO, of course.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I am among the group that says to save up for a quality hand made pipe and then pull the trigger. Because artisan pipe makers know that in order to make sales, they need a quality pipe, they seek out the best well cured wood, and learn how to make the engineering enhance the opportunity to get a great smoke. Machine made pipes, while many are quite good, usually don't have the care taken to ensure the best smoke possible as hand made pipes by professionals do. IMO, of course.

Ditto

 

[DanWil84]

Thanks again, Dan. I think with Brand/ maker it's more of a question of consistancy and quailty. For example, I don't think the Peterson pipes were that great, whatever I put in them, and the Chacom I have has a few minor issues (but still smokes great). And beyond that, I suspect some makers, like Dunhills, are over priced and so on.

I am not averse to Estate pipes if one comes up.

Also, just checking out the Neerups - they look fabulous!

There are ppl with complaints about Castellos or dunhills and ppl satisfied with Petersons or savinellis. The amount of complaints might sound more with the lather two, but those also produce 10 fold of the first two. So it's really hard to tell if a brand makes a inferior product on smoking charisteristics. Sure the quality of Briar on more expensive brands is superior and you get a hand carved product.

My neerup is smoking like a champ! And it was reasonably priced at around 120 euros. What I also like on neerup he grades his pipes (grain of the Briar I think) from the base lines, mine is a grade 2 Classic.

 

[marconi]

Thanks Dan, I will have a look. I seem to really like the English/Oriental blends too, though I tried Lakeland Dark recently and think I might also have a thing for burley and dark Kentucky...

I see Vauen come up a lot, are they as good as their marketing would suggest?

Vaun make excellent 9mm pipes they are all made in one factory in Germany.I have eight Vauns and I bought them all from Smokingpipes EU and they all smoke really well I can’t fault them.

 

[Grangerous]

If you don’t have one of these, you owe it to yourself to drop $10.99.
They smoke beautifully.

But if you want to spend some money, check out Jesse Jones from Blue Room Briars.

 

[karam]

Can’t go wrong with a Savinelli for the price.

As for hand made, you are bound to get a great pipe, made exactly how you specify, but the question i always ask myself if i am sitting on enough of a tobacco pile to justify the spend, and the answer has always been “no” so far.

 

[Andriko]

A corn cob is on my list actually. As for Blue Room Briars, I am not sure how easy it will be to ship pipes to the UK (I don't know if Her Majesty's Government will want ransom money for it).

 

[Chasing Embers]

A corn cob is on my list actually

See if you can find someone willing to part with a reverse calabash.

 

[Streeper541]

If you are located in London, why not pay a visit to the Davidoff or James Fox shops? There you should be able to get a good feel for a quality pipe in your price range with the assistance of the local salesman.

 

[olkofri]

I see Vauen come up a lot, are they as good as their marketing would suggest?

They're better.

 

[karam]

See if you can find someone willing to part with a reverse calabash.

View attachment 107962

Mysmokingshop.co.uk had two of them a couple of years back, still kicking myself for not picking one up…