Pros and Cons of Meer Lined Pipes

[Distant Roads]

I am really interested in this one. My first pipe was a meerschaum lined Lorenzo Spitfire Arena Bent. Someone gave it to me and it was very comfortable as far as I could tell.

I know that most meerschaum lined pipes don't use block meerschaum. Still, two questions:

1. do any of you guys like them? Or dislike them? Why?

2. In practice, why doesn't everyone choose a sea-foam lined pipe instead of pure briar? What's the advantage of a briar pipe without a sea-foam insert?

If these questions sound sacrilegious, please forgive me - I am ignorant and my intention is pure. I am about to buy a new pipe and there are all these considerations in my mind...

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

You don't share.

Why do you think everyone should choose a lined pipe over pure briar? What makes it more enjoyable with an insert? What are the downsides of briar in your opinion?

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

Have you smoked briar pipes? It sounds like you have only smoked a meerschaum lined pipe and are asking for opinions of briar vs meerschaum. Would this be correct?

 

[Briarcutter]

If these questions sound sacrilegious, please forgive me

Good question, sorry I don't have an official answer but my guess would be this. Some folks would like the best of both worlds. Meerschaum for the smoking characteristics and briar for the look and durability.

 

[Distant Roads]

You don't share.

Why do you think everyone should choose a lined pipe over pure briar? What makes it more enjoyable with an insert? What are the downsides of briar in your opinion?

I am newbie, and I have never had briar pipe, just corn cobs and sea-foam lined one. So I cannot assume anything. But from what I read, sea-foam lined pipe feels more like briar than meerschaum, but it saves you from need for resting a pipe after a smoke and there is no need to brake in the pipe... Yet, there are very few meer lined pipes for selling, the most pipes are briar or meerschaum. Which suggests that meer lined pipes are less popular than briar or meerschaum ones. That's why I am wondering about the reasons.

 

[Distant Roads]

Have you smoked briar pipes? It sounds like you have only smoked a meerschaum lined pipe and are asking for opinions of briar vs meerschaum. Would this be correct?

Yes, exactly! Also, I smoke few corncobs...

 

[Chasing Embers]

Once broken in I don't notice much difference from one material or the other excluding aesthetics.

 

[xrundog]

In my experience, a meerschaum lined pipe is heavier than either an all briar or all block Turkish meerschaum pipe of the same shape would be.
But lined pipes smoke just fine. I just can’t get past the extra weight.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I am newbie, and I have never had briar pipe, just corn cobs and sea-foam lined one. So I cannot assume anything. But from what I read, sea-foam lined pipe feels more like briar than meerschaum, but it saves you from need for resting a pipe after a smoke and there is no need to brake in the pipe... Yet, there are very few meer lined pipes for selling, the most pipes are briar or meerschaum. Which suggests that meer lined pipes are less popular than briar or meerschaum ones. That's why I am wondering about the reasons.

I can't think of any reason why a meerschaum lined briar pipe would "feel" more like a briar unless you are just talking about the sensory feel of surface of the briar in your hand which isn't really saying a lot.

I have a couple of meers and enjoy them, and I have a lot of briars and enjoy them, but for me it's more of a preference for a wood pipe vs. meer in general vs. any notions of differences in the performance, for lack of a better word.

 

[BingBong]

Had one, it was ok but I codgered it til it fell to pieces and the cake was so thick, I could get more tobacco in a RYO. Dr. Plumb, quite cheap, became a beater during my first latakia period.

Might get a meer-lined Falcon bowl yet.

 

[Sig]

I had one but the insert dissolved.
I've heard many people say Meer lined pipes can be wet smokers. Mine sure was. Pressed Meerschaum doesn't have the same "wicking" properties like block Meer and briar.
If you build any cake, it will stay wet and eventually dissolve your pipe.
I just restored an old Medico Whitewall pipe that someone truly enjoyed. It has been smoked a lot but is still in good shape. I'm going to add it to my rotation soon.
But to answer your question....who knows. Briar pipes are the traditional material used in the Western world, and we like them.
I smoke Meerschaum, cobs, clay but especially briar. For me they just smoke great, taste great and come in all the shapes, sizes and styles I want. Heck, ive even smoked Brylon pipes.

 

[FurCoat]

I have four lined pipes and they smoke just fine. I agree with @Sig that they do tend to smoke on the wet side. I'll add some pictures. The first is a Mark Tinsky, followed by a Dr. Grabow and two Medico's.

 

[kcghost]

I don't much care for meer lined bowls. I generally feel that you get shortchanged each way. You just get cheap briar with some low grade mee lining. When I smoke meer, I smoke meer and when I smoke briar, I smoke briar.

 

[Choatecav]

I have four lined pipes and they smoke just fine. I agree with @Sig that they do tend to smoke on the wet side. I'll add some pictures. The first is a Mark Tinsky, followed by a Dr. Grabow and two Medico's.View attachment 336909View attachment 336910View attachment 336911View attachment 336912

Never owned a lined bowl pipe before and honestly never saw the allure. I love briars and I love meerschaums but never figured I needed a blend of the two. Maybe I should.....

BTW, love the two Medicos. They are good pipes. My dad smoked a Medico.

 

[verporchting]

Just my opinion: when you try to get the best of both worlds, you get neither.

Briar is great. Meerschaum is great. Half of each is not great. Not terrible, but I’d rather have one or the other. Or better still, two different pipes.

 

[FurCoat]

Never owned a lined bowl pipe before and honestly never saw the allure. I love briars and I love meerschaums but never figured I needed a blend of the two. Maybe I should.....

BTW, love the two Medicos. They are good pipes. My dad smoked a Medico.

I love vintage American pipes and Medico is an exceptional example. Sadly not many come up on estate sales. I figure most of them were smoked to death. I only have one more in my collection with the intention to add more. It's a squat Rhodesian that I dedicated to Captain Black Grape since it has a purplish hue like a concord grape. Dang thing smokes like a dream.

 

[warren]

The one I owned, many years ago, was a great smoker. Sadly, lost years ago.

 

[Bassman65]

I have a meer lined Rattray. I really enjoy it. I also have briars and cobs. Just ordered a proper meer. I guess I’m in the ‘get them all’ and enjoy camp! Only way to find out what you really like.

 

[Briarcutter]

I love vintage American pipes and Medico is an exceptional example. Sadly not many come up on estate sales. I figure most of them were smoked to death. I only have one more in my collection with the intention to add more. It's a squat Rhodesian that I dedicated to Captain Black Grape since it has a purplish hue like a concord grape. Dang thing smokes like a dream.View attachment 336922

That is a very cool pipe!

 

[Choatecav]

I love vintage American pipes and Medico is an exceptional example. Sadly not many come up on estate sales. I figure most of them were smoked to death. I only have one more in my collection with the intention to add more. It's a squat Rhodesian that I dedicated to Captain Black Grape since it has a purplish hue like a concord grape. Dang thing smokes like a dream.View attachment 336922

I appreciate you showing this one as well. I believe I can detect the "purplelish" hue even in the photo. Very short, squat bowl, but it looks like a very wide opening. Never owned a pipe shaped quite like this. Would love to see a top down photo so I could see the entire bowl opening. If it is a hassle, don't worry about it.

thanks again.