Pipe Shape Subtleties........

[Choatecav]

I am constantly trying to hone my understanding of the subtle differences between certain pipe shapes. For example, the difference in a Lumberman and a Canadian.... or the difference between a Lovat and a Liverpool.... or what makes a Dunhill Shell vs just regular rustication...... is there a difference in a Yachtsman and a Zulu....
You get my drift.

Here's a cool link that handles a couple of these questions.

https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/canadian-pipe-shapes

If any of you have other examples please post them.

 

[Sobrbiker]

There’s a comfort in ignorance…
Once I got dialed in on the four major long shanked billiard varieties I’ve found it hard to not be “that guy” that’s constantly correcting folks that call a lumberman a Lovat, etc….
Speaking of those four, just how long does the shank have to be to fall in that category? I forget where I found it, but I know one general rule of thumb is that the shank’s length is twice the height of the bowl, but I personally think the ratio of the shank to stem is more defining, especially in smaller overall sized pipes (which are my preference).
For example, I don’t care if people think I’m wrong, but I think the Peterson 53 qualifies as a Lovat even if the shank is way less than twice the height of the bowl.


Heck, I even think the stubby Pete Sports 2 is a Lovat:

 

[Hillcrest]

Just personal observation but I have always preferred bent billiards, and still do, until I tried a short swan neck style billiard which was more comfortable, until I tried a hungarian and found it more comfortable, until I tried a bent egg and found it to be the most comfortable for everyday use. Now I smoke all of them to varying degrees and try to decide which is 'the one'. But in my mind I still gravitate to the look of bent billiards. The hungarians are the driest and coolest. The bent egg is perfect nearly every time. The bent billiards tend to be tastiest, and the swan neck billiard is a long lasting slowest simmering marvel. It just depends on how much time I have and what I'm looking for in a smoke.

 

[DonutLuvr]

All those shapes in the posted link look the same to me. I’m terrible with pipe shapes - I definitely need tobacco pipe knowledge 101.

I’ve ran across posters online with various pipe shapes - but I think part of my problem is I’m also a physical learner, I need to have contact with the pipe to examine it in my hand to learn more.

I guess the solution is - I need more pipes

 

[Choatecav]

Good comments. Seems like all of us feel the "lines are blurred" to a bit. Especially on some types.

Even like @Sobrbiker said about the shank length being twice the length of bowl.... I mean, that is not hard and fast. I don't want to be "that guy" who corrects folks either, but I want to have enough of a grasp on things to understand what is being discussed on some threads.

 

[Hillcrest]

Good comments. Seems like all of us feel the "lines are blurred" to a bit. Especially on some types.

Even like @Sobrbiker said about the shank length being twice the length of bowl.... I mean, that is not hard and fast. I don't want to be "that guy" who corrects folks either, but I want to have enough of a grasp on things to understand what is being discussed on some threads.

It would probably help if some of the pipemakers chimed in ,,, there are several on the forum.

 

[MCJ]

Definitely blurred lines in the "Canadian" style pipe category, but the link posted by @Choatecav above clearly explains the main differences in the areas of shanks (round vs oval) and stems (tapered vs saddle) that help to clear most of the confusion. Still a bit of a grey area in terms of shank length, however, as noted by @Sobrbiker

In addition to the regular confusion in the "Canadian" styles, I also find some challenges in defining various examples of bent apple, author, and rhodesian pipes. Even the same maker can sometimes define the exact same model of a pipe as two different shapes at different times (the example of Dunhill referring to its CK's as both authors and rhodesians being a good illustration).

 

[TheIronMonkey]

The Bill Burney pipe illustrations of various pipe shapes that can be seen on Pipedia are a great resource.

 

[MCJ]

Here are 2 other links that may be useful to some:

Pipe Shapes | Tobacco Pipes Resources | GQ Tobaccos

Pipes come in vast array of shapes and sizes. It can be a minefield when starting out, so take a look at our helpful guide

www.gqtobaccos.com

Smoking Pipe Shapes Guide - The Pipe Guys

thepipeguys.com

 

[huntertrw]

The Bill Burney pipe illustrations of various pipe shapes that can be seen on Pipedia are a great resource.

Thank-you for pointing out this wonderful reference!

 

[Sobrbiker]

The Bill Burney pipe illustrations of various pipe shapes that can be seen on Pipedia are a great resource.

That’s where I got the “shank is about twice as long as the height of the bowl”, thanks.

 

[OzPiper]

Shank length can be variable - as in a standard billiard where the length of the shank is equal to the height of the bowl
VS a long-shanked billiard where the length of the shank exceeds the height of the bowl.

The confusion comes in when the saddle stem is short (= Lovat)
Or of regular length.
I have seen long shanked billiards with regular length saddle stems called Lovats
These should be called a saddle stemmed, long shanked billiard in my book

Sorry for muddying the waters

 

[Choatecav]

Here are 2 other links that may be useful to some:

Pipe Shapes | Tobacco Pipes Resources | GQ Tobaccos

Pipes come in vast array of shapes and sizes. It can be a minefield when starting out, so take a look at our helpful guide

www.gqtobaccos.com

Smoking Pipe Shapes Guide - The Pipe Guys

thepipeguys.com

Really good comments on this topic. Thanks for these additional links. They are helpful.

 

[Terry Lennox]

I test AI by asking the difference between a lumberman and a Liverpool.

 

[Briarcutter]

There’s a comfort in ignorance…

This is my plea You guys are way too technical for me.
Best I can do Jonathan .

 

[Choatecav]

This is my plea You guys are way too technical for me.
Best I can do Jonathan .

Well, dang, Larry...............I was hoping you were gonna swoop in here and save us all.

 

[RPK]

I test AI by asking the difference between a lumberman and a Liverpool.

Did AI answer you ?

 

[Briarcutter]

Well, dang, Larry...............I was hoping you were gonna swoop in here and save us all.

I'm too pedestrian for that Mark. "Billiard", "bent", " pot" and "dublin" cover a wide range for me.

 

[Wapask]

I test AI by asking the difference between a lumberman and a Liverpool.

Well in that case Meta AI gets a big old F- grade

 

[Hillcrest]

I'm too pedestrian for that Mark. "Billiard", "bent", " pot" and "dublin" cover a wide range for me.

That's 4 ... I prefer bent or straight ... its simpler. The rest are just 'arty'.