Sav 320....real deal or hype?

[bigpond]

I've always gravitated toward small, light english style pipes but a funny thing happened the other day. I was taking advantage of the balmy weather (12f) and enjoying some dark birdseye outside in my comoy's nose warmer when I noticed...uh oh...my hand went numb. This was an issue because that hand was holding my pipe. I said to myself, "self, what's the point of smoking a nose warmer if you're going to use it as a bloody hand pipe"?
Then I thought what I need is a hand pipe...a big ass hand pipe. That way if my fingers on that one hand freeze at least I'll be sure of having a decent grip. And this led me to the sav 320. Which is totally new to me. I must have had my head in under a log pile to have missed the hype that surrounded this pipe for the last 5 years.
So now, I have a very keen interest in grabbing one of these things. Despite my proclivity for effete english pipes the look of the sav has really grown on me in the last few days to the point of near obsession. Now I'm just about ready to buy and am just really dotting my i's (i.e. filling my cart with other goodies).
The reason for this post is all the feedback I've read about the 320 has been positive. With a pipe this popular, and with so many people actually smoking them, it doesn't jive well with me to see no negative comments.
So, if you have a 320...what horrible things can you say about it to dissuade me from buying one? My 2 chief concerns are #1 the filter adapter will contribute to a wet smoke and #2 that stem is so thick at the button its going to feel like I have my lips on frogs backside.
The alternative, or rather, what I had myself set to buy before the save 320 walloped me in the head was a nice silver spigot ser jacopo.

 

[freakiefrog]

I'm going to tell you. I love my 320ks it is one of if not my favorite pipe I own. While they look big and bulky mine is deceivingly light in the mouth and very well balanced. The bowl size makes it "long smoke" smoker and the thicker stem mean I'm not worried about biting down on it..ever. My local pipe club even has a group of us the "320 Mafia" that really love our 320's.
With the filter insert like all Savinelli pipes I've never had an issue with them smoking wet. In fact I never use the filters they are well designed and close fitting.
I can't say this about every pipe I own, I'm looking at you Peterson p-lip, but everyone should have a 320 in some finish or another. Speaking of this I want a rusticated one for my birthday now :D.

 

[bigpond]

Totally not helping in my quest for negative feedback! I'm already pelting smoking pipes with emails about a certain 320...not telling which one

 

[phred]

I don't own a Sav 320 (yet), but I have two Rossi 8320 pipes - same shape, but lower price point and no filter. They're surprisingly clenchable, though they fill my hand nicely as well. I've been a fan of saddle stems, and worried a little that the thicker stem of the 8320 would make me look like I was trying for an Elvis/Billy Idol sneer (not that I actually resemble either - that's part of the worry) - but so far, nobody who's seen me smoking them has said a word about it. And it's substantial - no worries about biting through the stem, which I've nearly done on one of my cobs.
Much as I'd like to play along and dissuade you, I just can't. :D

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

that stem is so thick at the button its going to feel like I have my lips on frogs backside.

:rofl:
Eeeewwwww....

worried a little that the thicker stem of the 8320 would make me look like I was trying for an Elvis/Billy Idol sneer (not that I actually resemble either - that's part of the worry)

 

[papipeguy]

Love my 320. The top pipe in this picture is a Savinelli Spring 320KS. I've been using it for Plugs and it is wonderful. To not have this shape is doing yourself a great disservice; no pressure though.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I've been thinking about getting a 320 for quite a while now, but the only thing that puts me off is that I don't like short stems, and this thing has a really short stem.

Otherwise it looks fantastic and I really want one.
Also check out Brebbia. Occasionally they make some nice jumbo sized tomatoes.

 

[cortezattic]

I've always admired that shape, but never got around to buying one despite my experience that Savinelli never disappoints. I suppose it would look a bit silly for a tall, thin guy to be clenching one; but with my physique it would be a natural fit! :lol:

 

[khartman]

That's a real good looking pipe. If my tax return was a bit more I would have went with that instead of the Lolita 03!

 

[eightywon]

I like mine. Not the best for clenching but comfortable in the hand with a nice big bowl. I smoke mine filterless and adaptorless with no issues.

 

[brewshooter]

Definitely a hand pipe, not a clencher. I have two and am always thinking about getting another 320. I really like this shape. I do use the balsa filters, but I imagine it would work fine with the bypass in place. Savinelli is absolutely my favorite of the modern factory producers. Sorry, Peterson, you make some nice pipes, but I've never had a single problem with any of my Savs. Hmm, I don't think that helped to dissuade you.

 

[JimInks]

I love my 320KS. Not all of them have big bowls or short stems. Check this out Gaius: http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=136630
I have this in a smooth, which I prefer, but the dimensions are the same. It's a clencher and well balanced and smokes perfectly. I don't use a filter.

 

[bigpond]

You guys are terrible...wretched in fact. I came here dazed and starry-eyed, head spinning with pipe dreams and looking for some kind reasonable soul to shake me out of it with a few sober words of wisdom.
What do I get....?
Here's what
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=164406

 

[bigpond]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! Pretty excited about getting my paws on the pipe.
Jim, by a razor thin margin that exact Gaius was my second pick. If the spring sold, (and one of the two they had did in the last day) I would have grabbed the gaius without missing a beat. I picked the spring because I thought if I was going to go big, I may as well really go big. I also liked the minimal adornment though the gauss is also pretty modest. Both have plain bowls which was high on my list.
Speaking of bowl treatments, Savinelli seems to be a little unpredictable here. For example, of the 2 piano 320's at smokingpipes.com (go here, these guys are awesome) 1 is bare while the other is coated.

 

[dukdalf]

My Worobiec has a similar shape:
.
A good smoker, whether you use the filter or the adaptor or nothing.

 

[barleynbaccy]

Savinelli seems to be a little unpredictable here. For example, of the 2 piano 320's at smokingpipes.com (go here, these guys are awesome) 1 is bare while the other is coated.

Is used to depend on the which line of pipes your bought from. For instance the couple of roma pipes, and my Oscar tiger had coatings. My Trevi 320, and apple were bare. Looking at smoking pipes now though, it definitely seems like a crap shoot.

 

[delro]

Those are very popular pipes seems like most smokers have one in their collection or something very similar, one day maybe I'll stray away from my love of pokers, but for now I'll stick with 'em. congrats

 

[dochudson]

I'm a fan of the Alligator series.

 

[brewshooter]

WOW, I have black Savinelli Alligator, but that one is NICE!!

 

[buckaroo]

I did not know they made the 320 in an Alligator. Pretty cool. The 320's smoke great but it's the hand feel. Can't explain and it may not be the same for you.