Hi all, I'm just wondering as a new pipe smoker if it's worth having a sherlock holmes/lord of the rings type of pipe or is it just down to personal preference.
Pipe type.
- Thread starter Geordie lad
- Start date
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Almost everything comes down to personal preference when it comes to pipe smoking. A consideration is whether you enjoy or like it enough to make an investment or commitment to buying one of those pipes. Corn cobs can be had for a relatively small sum. It would be a minimal investment to gauge if you like pipe smoking well enough to spend more.
OK that helps alot, as when I can afford it, I will purchase a pipe like those which were smoked by Tolkien and sherlock holmes as would love to have those type.
Missouri Meerschaum that makes corncob pipes makes a pretty good version of a Lord of the Rings type pipe in a cob, and I think it even has an acrylic rather than a soft plastic stem. That might be the best of both worlds, starting out with a pipe.
A Peterson Sherlock Holmes would be more of an investment, and that might depend on how much discretionary spending and if you want to start out with that before you know if you will stay with pipe smoking.
A Peterson Sherlock Holmes would be more of an investment, and that might depend on how much discretionary spending and if you want to start out with that before you know if you will stay with pipe smoking.
The LOTR churchwarden you may as well try and find out, if having the shape is an homage to the books or films I assume it would be worth having just for that, but you may get a variety of opinions on how some of those perform. But why not find out?
My first pipe was a Peterson Sherlock Holmes Rathbone. There are several different shapes and stem combos available so your odds of getting a solid smoking pipe are really good there, IMO.
My first pipe was a Peterson Sherlock Holmes Rathbone. There are several different shapes and stem combos available so your odds of getting a solid smoking pipe are really good there, IMO.
Tolkien did not actually smoke a churchwarden. It really is down to personal preference but be warned, you will need longer pipe cleaners for them, and they can be harder to keep lit for a beginner.
Oh really thought he did, in your eyes what would be the best pipe to use as a beginner, I already have a corn pipe and a couple of falcons.
This one
I think would be a good example of a nice starter pipe, almost like a church warden, and slight hobbit vibe.
I think would be a good example of a nice starter pipe, almost like a church warden, and slight hobbit vibe.
The churchwarden style featured in LOTR is a fun pipe to have when you can sit and smoke in your easy chair. A little clumsy otherwise. Holmes is usually pictured smoking a gourd calabash, though that never happens in the actual stories! The calabash is also a pipe for very relaxed situations, as it is large and fragile.
My best recommendation is to get a briar pipe in one of the classic shapes.
My best recommendation is to get a briar pipe in one of the classic shapes.
Pipe smoking is kind of weird. There aren't hard rules but there are hard facts. For example how fast you smoke is your preference but the smoke will get hotter the faster you smoke and that's a fact. On one level it's simple on many others it's infinitely complex. All a pipe needs to be is properly constructed to get a good smoke, but the type of pipe can have effects rarely if ever game changing a wider chamber can meld complex blends better but a more narrow chamber will still give a good complex smoke. One big thing is how you feel smoking a particular pipe. The debate on how churchwardens change or don't change a smoke if far from decided but what is clear is they feel different and some people find that good (me) and others don't (idiots, no just kidding). If you think you'd have more fun with a Gandalf pipe then you probably will enjoy it more. Smoking a pipe you enjoy might not make it a better smoker but it will make it more enjoyable to you. I had one pipe I sold because it was super expensive for me, great pipe could tell it would smoke great but couldn't get comfortable handling it. Which also happened with my first hundred dollar pipe, until I did math and realized it was going to break down to pennies per smoke in no time flat.
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There's a good tobacconist in Newcastle that stock a variety of pipes for all budgets. Better than buying online....especially if you're not sure what you might like / dislike.
My understanding was that calabashes were very popular stage pipes. A billiard is going to barely look like a pipe in the cheap seat but a calabash will look like a pipe back there. Also very light pipes. Or in other words really good for stage plays. Then that got seared into peoples minds eyes with Sherlock Holmes.
Personally I like churchwardens for lunting (taking the pipe out for a walk), but they are less dexterous then other pipes and I like that for me it promotes a more thoughtful smoke. Sadly and awesomely the only way to find out how you react to different pipes or tobacco is trial and error.
Ropp: Etudiant Sandblasted (J16) Tobacco Pipe
search that in google and you should find it.
City centre somewhere........Cigar club Newcastle it's called.