Offering a Guest a Pipe

[mso489]

Just bought a MM cob pipe to offer a house guest during a visit next month. We have a couple coming in from

out of state. These are adults our age, not spring chickens. I don't want to reinstate anyone's bad cigarette

habit; I don't know if the guy has ever smoked --just thought I'd offer it. On the other hand, I didn't buy a

pipe for the wife of the couple, not wanting to leave out my wife, who did smoke too many Camels in her day.

One of the Forums members told how he provided cobs for his poker game crew; sounded great, and in that

context, every guy gets to speak for himself, and that's that. But in the sweet complexity of couples, things

aren't always that straightforward and easy. Any thoughts or suggestions? Then I'll just play it by ear, but

I think it's an interesting question. What do you think?

 

[bigvan]

I like the thought behind this, but in practice pipe smoking is not something one can just "do". It's a skill that most can't just "pick up".
Plus, pipe smokers will have their own pipe. If they don't have their own pipe, they're not pipe smokers.

 

[mso489]

bigvan, I think it's true that people who smoke pipes are drawn to it and figure out the lore asking

other pipes smokers. A lot of us grew up with a dad, uncle, or other role model who smoked a pipe,

so we memorized the moves before we ever put our hands on a pipe. However, the situation will be

that we will be sitting around a fire pit at the back of the house, say, and I'll want to accompany the

conversation with a pipe. I'll ask permission, make sure no one is asthmatic, etc. Then it would just

seem friendly to say, hey, I have an unsmoked corn cob pipe, if you'd like to try a bowl. I guess it seems

to be okay with me because I'd feel free to accept or decline, however I felt. I'd like to be inclusive if

possible. Some people would be amused and want a try, if they never smoked a pipe again. I'd give this

guy the cob, since he lives a few states away and won't be over next month. For some people, they'd

rather have it offered than not. I'll see what happens. It may dawn on me, as we sit there talking, that

this is not going to work -- what you're saying. Or I may give it a try. I don't think there's a set answer.

Depends on the person.

 

[05venturer]

I personally think it is a great idea. I offered one of my cobs to a friend of mine that had never smoked before and he was extremely appreciative and is now an active pipesmoker.

I like the thought behind this, but in practice pipe smoking is not something one can just "do". It's a skill that most can't just "pick up".
Plus, pipe smokers will have their own pipe. If they don't have their own pipe, they're not pipe smoker

:crazy:
.

I do not know how someone would ever start smoking a pipe if they didn't just "do" it Smoking a pipe is not rocket science and most likely not a "skill" that can't be picked up if you have an interest.

Great gesture and good luck, keep us posted.

 

[voorhees]

I have only once had someone actually ask to smoke one of my pipes. He was into the cigar we had, so he wanted to try a pipe as well. Grabbed a estate Medico and packed it for him. He seem to enjoy the experience.

 

[drwatson]

I would have to go for the cobs too! I'm to much of a germ freak to let anyone use one of my regular pipes.

 

[surlysoul]

I would have to go for the cobs too! I'm to much of a germ freak to let anyone use one of my regular pipes.

+1

 

[hfearly]

I would have to go for the cobs too! I'm to much of a germ freak to let anyone use one of my regular pipes.

Nothing a little 99% alcohol can't fix.
Offering your guest a 3$ "crap" pipe while you enjoy your well-seasoned Dunhill is like eating steak from your best china while you bump them to plastic dishes from Walmart. If it's a valued guest, I'd offer them at least my second best pipe.

 

[mso489]

hfearly, that's a good point. Easily solved by smoking one of my own, well-worn Missouri Meerschaums, for which I have just ordered

new stems. Though I admit, for a conversational evening I might rather smoke a huge-bowled 1/4 bent brandy or a tomahawk freestyle.

But your point is well taken. I don't consider a MM cob a crap pipe by a long shot, but a non-pipe-smoker might think that. Hey, I get

the cheapie and you're in the magnum briar. I have an out-of-state friend pipe smoker, and when we got visit him/them, we always

smoke some of the larger bowls we have. Deep conversation that -- ha-ha.

 

[zonomo]

I think I am going to have a few cobs at the ready because of this thread. I really like the idea because once people see how excited I am about this, they usually want to try. I did buy my best friend (who is a major cigar aficionado, not exaggerating this) a cob, some tobacco and a tamper. Last time I saw him, he had picked up a nice mid-rage bull dog. I had him try a few more blends.

 

[lordofthepiperings]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Have a few unsmoked cobs laying around and a variety of blends to offer up.
Pipe smoking definitely is an art with an acquired skill but, I think most of us just did it. I think most just went out and bought a pipe and blend we could afford and gave it a go. Like most things that take a skill or proper technique pipe smoking is something that takes practice.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

@ mso489 - I think its a great idea. As for me, I've been around my poker buddies for years and have known in the past that they don't mind a cigar here or there. Plus they were the ones that took the interest in my pipes as they've seen my collection, its on display where we play poker. So it was easy for me to get the MM Corn Cob grab bag and offer up the pipes, because I knew several would enjoy them from time to time.
Obviously your situation is a bit different. It sounds from your original post that you don't know this couple to well, so you could simply ask in conversation what hobbies they have, and in return you can share your interest in pipes with them. You'll be able to judge by how they respond if they would be interested in a pipe or not. If they seem interested then show them your collection and from there you would have an opportunity to offer up a pipe. I would also suggest having a second cob on hand in case the gentleman's wife is also interested. Depending on how its brought up it may be something they're both interested in trying but have never done it on there own. I would also suggest that if they do decide to partake then to smoke your cob as well to show that even though you may have a nice pipe collection the cob is a valuable pipe to your collection and pipe rotation. It will also help them realize they're not smoking a lesser quality pipe.
Good luck!

 

[tslex]

I am not a cob fan, but always have a few on hand for two purposes:
Exactly as described here, to be able to offer someone a fresh pipe to share a smoke with me if they haven't one of their own. At $8 or $12, I just tell them "keep it" when we're done.
My other use for cobs is sampling tobaccos that I'm not sure I'll like. Gives the tobacco a chance to show it's own flavor and, if I do not like it, the loss of the cob is a small one.

 

[flyguy]

I usually don't offer unless they are currently smokers of some sort. Like Roth, I keep extra, unused MM cobs handy for those special occasions. I don't want to get the stink-eye from a friend's non-smoking wife for starting her husband down the path of evil. ::

 

[bigvan]

"Smoking a pipe is not rocket science and most likely not a "skill" that can't be picked up if you have an interest."
It's not rocket science, no, but it's definitely a skill that's beyond mere puffing (as with cigars). The sheer volume of posts from rookies on subjects like "how do I keep it lit?" and "it's too hot to hold" and "Ow! I got bit!" can attest to that.
As I said, I like the idea but in practice it just seems awkward to me.
But opinions vary.

 

[barkar]

I like the idea but timing would be important. Best if they were to ask.

 

[appointed]

It might seem strange to offer one out of the blue, but I would definitely have a few cobs ready to offer unless you're smoking something better. It is customary to offer your guests the best you have, albeit we no longer pay much heed to custom these days. Use to you offered your own bed to a guest. So I don't know the etiquette to offering a cob if you have a briar. But if you bring up that you smoke a pipe and they seem interested, then I would offer them one. You never know, you might just turn another person on to our beloved hobby. If they do like it, just be sure to tell them about pipesmagazine.com

 

[possiblemeltdown]

hfearly +1
The scene of sitting around a campfire is actually how I got started on the hobby. A friend who had started smoking pipes a few months before offered his original starter pipe to me.... And yes, he did get the evil eye from my wife! He packed it for me and I did a pretty good job of getting through the bowl. Being an occassional cigar smoker I was amazed by the flavour (it was some potent aromatic as I remember). After that I was hooked.
One suggestion though, have an additional lighter that you can leave your guest with and explain that frequest re-lighting is normal for a new smoker.

 

[oklansas]

If you are worried about the seeming incongruity of offering a guest a cob, while you puff away on your own trusty briar,
There are a couple a $10 Mr. Brog pear wood pipes for sale on Amazon (one uses a filter, the other has a stinger). They are inexpensive, but look fantastic next to a more expensive briar and it won't break the budget to give them to the guest.

 

[instymp]

Surley, glad you have a pix of a horses ass (an apple ass at that) & not a "Horses hang down".

No, unless I had cobs to dispose of later. Hard enough tohave cigars shared.