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RookieGuy80

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 6, 2023
734
2,710
Maryland, United States
For some reason, I just have a hard time buying a pipe for under $300. I'm not a fan of saving money, because, what the hell do I do with all of it then? puffy
I've never been a big fan of the whole Henry Ford, make a bunch, so that you can sell for less. I am more of a luxury goods type of guy.

But, I am glad that you guys all dig these. Maybe they will come up with a more expensive line, and I can give them a try.
If you want, I have a couple Grabows I'd be more than happy to sell you at $300.
 

Skippy B. Coyote

Can't Leave
Jun 19, 2023
450
5,614
St. Paul, MN
For some reason, I just have a hard time buying a pipe for under $300. I'm not a fan of saving money, because, what the hell do I do with all of it then? puffy

As far as I can tell the whole point of a hobby is to give you something enjoyable to spend your extra money and extra time on, so if you've got enough extra money for $300+ pipes and enjoy them then there's nothing wrong with that. I just have a little less extra money and tend to gravitate towards pipes that I won't worry about getting scratched or dinged because they didn't cost a whole lot.

I still take good care of all my pipes and treat them kindly, because even the cheapest cob is still something that talented craftsmen spent time turning and shaping by hand on a lathe to make a nice smoking tool for your relaxation and enjoyment. I appreciate the beauty in all my pipes and want them to last a good long time, even if they cost me very little. That's the nice thing about pipe smoking though, that there's good smoking pipes and a wide variety of quality tobacco blends available for every budget. Whether you're a billionaire or a pauper, there's something for everyone.puffy
 

Sigmund

Lifer
Sep 17, 2023
2,963
28,297
France
I have to agree with you there Cosmic. There are some nice pipes out there that are not a lot of money but for me pipe smoking is an indulgence. Ive a few inexpensive pipes and some of my nicer pipes were very nicely cared for estates. In the end I tend to try to stick to picking pipes that speak to me...not just pipes that function.
 
As far as I can tell the whole point of a hobby is to give you something enjoyable to spend your extra money and extra time on, so if you've got enough extra money for $300+ pipes and enjoy them then there's nothing wrong with that. I just have a little less extra money and tend to gravitate towards pipes that I won't worry about getting scratched or dinged because they didn't cost a whole lot.

I still take good care of all my pipes and treat them kindly, because even the cheapest cob is still something that talented craftsmen spent time turning and shaping by hand on a lathe to make a nice smoking tool for your relaxation and enjoyment. I appreciate the beauty in all my pipes and want them to last a good long time, even if they cost me very little. That's the nice thing about pipe smoking though, that there's good smoking pipes and a wide variety of quality tobacco blends available for every budget. Whether you're a billionaire or a pauper, there's something for everyone.puffy
Agree 100%!! Enjoy what you enjoy!!!

My post was tongue in cheek. I am only chasing one particular pipe now, as I have enough pipe stuff to last another lifetime. My spending has shifted more to collecting collagraphs and linocuts these days. But, I still enjoy enjoy watching you guys chase your pipes.
 

Mike N

Can't Leave
Aug 3, 2023
492
2,729
Northern Panhandle of West Virginia
This is a very interesting thread. I like to think of myself as an equal opportunity pipe smoker. If you do a good job, you stay in the rotation regardless of pedigree.

In the last 24 hours I’ve smoked a bowl of East India’s Cellar Reserve in an $80 Missouri Meerschaum, a $200 golf ball Meerschaum which I am still breaking in, and in a $400 short Ser Jacopo. See photo below.

The best flavor profile was in the briar SJ and it smoked the entire bowl without a relight. But the cob and the golf ball smoked the aromatic a bit cooler and the taste in the new golf ball is really picking up as it acquires some flavor and oils.

It‘s very interesting to me to smoke good pipes from various price points.

Thanks for starting this thread.

Mike

(tap on photo to enlarge)
 

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obc83

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 4, 2023
244
1,147
Thanks for starting this thread.

Mike

(tap on photo to enlarge)
I like the direction it's taking, hope it keeps rolling a bit. I didn't over think the title but the concept of a "sleeper" seems like it means a cheap pipe that over performs. Not necessarily though, you hear about people having a disappointing first few smokes out of a piece they put a lot of money into and being disgusted with it only to find in a year or two that it's suddenly amazing.
 

obc83

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 4, 2023
244
1,147
For some reason, I just have a hard time buying a pipe for under $300. I'm not a fan of saving money, because, what the hell do I do with all of it then? puffy
I've never been a big fan of the whole Henry Ford, make a bunch, so that you can sell for less. I am more of a luxury goods type of guy.

But, I am glad that you guys all dig these. Maybe they will come up with a more expensive line, and I can give them a try.
Generally speaking, I'm with you. I am by no means well to do, but I'm a bachelor, and not a very frugal one at that. If I like something I will probably get it eventually. I just haven't got there with pipes yet. Could be that it's been a lean year, which it has, but also -always end up with a firearms analogy, they seem comparable- if I was rich I think I'd just buy more Rugers y'know, I'd drive restored 80s pickups. So regarding cost, those tools would still probably be on the lower end of luxury. Anyway, there's a point there, but who cares. Guaranteed if I won the lotto today I'd never spend less than 500 on a pipe haha.
 

RookieGuy80

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 6, 2023
734
2,710
Maryland, United States
I like the direction it's taking, hope it keeps rolling a bit. I didn't over think the title but the concept of a "sleeper" seems like it means a cheap pipe that over performs. Not necessarily though, you hear about people having a disappointing first few smokes out of a piece they put a lot of money into and being disgusted with it only to find in a year or two that it's suddenly amazing.
A sleeper is just something that took you by happy surprise, a Cinderella story. You "sleep" on something based on your prejudices. For example, for a long time I slept on Lakeland blends. The comments about grandmother's purse and public restroom soaps and the fact I'm not a big aromatics smoker had me ignoring, looking past, or sleeping on many good blends. I've never doubted the quality of GH tobaccos, just my enjoyment of them. After my third flake (the first one I managed to get and keep lit), I was blown away by how good it is. I was sleeping on them, but now I get it.
 

RookieGuy80

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 6, 2023
734
2,710
Maryland, United States
Oh yeah, I should probably answer the question. For me, it was my 2 Brylon pipes. I got them in a lot sale of estate pipes. I read up on them and saw nothing positive. They sat for a year until I accidentally grabbed one. For me, it's a Virginia smoking champ. Brylon heats up so quickly and gets so hot that you're forced to smoke slowly. Ungodly slowly. It turns out that is exactly a Virginia blend's natural habit. Not my favorite, but I was very surprised at what it could do.
 

Ghosted Tamper

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 10, 2023
259
1,457
South West, US
A slept on brand of pipes that has never delivered a bad smoke (for me) are the Italian-Era (current) Stanwell pipes. Loyalists seem to consider the Italian-Era Stanwells a different brand to the Danish-Era Stanwells, hence my usage of the term "brand".

@mso489 seems to have been the only member here (that I can recall), to sing any praise their way. I agree. They all have had great engineering and their price-point was always competitive with all of the other "big box" brands (Pete, Sav...). I found Stanwell to smoke the best, and to be of better QC.
 
Aug 11, 2022
2,627
20,691
Cedar Rapids, IA
I like the direction it's taking, hope it keeps rolling a bit. I didn't over think the title but the concept of a "sleeper" seems like it means a cheap pipe that over performs.
I didn’t want to hijack the thread right away, but wondered if this concept also included “beaters.” So, not just cobs and basket pipes and entry-level name brands, but perhaps once-fancy pipes with non-fatal cracks, lava eruptions, heavy gouging, you name it. Sort of like that beater acoustic guitar that isn’t your nicest but gets all the playing time because you’re not afraid to take it camping or whatever. puffy
 

Tate

Lifer
Sep 27, 2023
1,272
17,733
30
Northern Illinois
Cheapo Marxman are good sleepers I think. I was shocked at how good they were after a good clean and polishing. Especially when you can get em pretty consistently for 15ish on Ebay. It was a cheap way to get a rotation that smoked well. Now I can sit back until something really awesome comes by.
 

obc83

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 4, 2023
244
1,147
I didn’t want to hijack the thread right away, but wondered if this concept also included “beaters.” So, not just cobs and basket pipes and entry-level name brands, but perhaps once-fancy pipes with non-fatal cracks, lava eruptions, heavy gouging, you name it. Sort of like that beater acoustic guitar that isn’t your nicest but gets all the playing time because you’re not afraid to take it camping or whatever. puffy
Sounds like a good fit!
 
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FurCoat

Lifer
Sep 21, 2020
10,167
96,137
North Carolina
As far as I can tell the whole point of a hobby is to give you something enjoyable to spend your extra money and extra time on, so if you've got enough extra money for $300+ pipes and enjoy them then there's nothing wrong with that. I just have a little less extra money and tend to gravitate towards pipes that I won't worry about getting scratched or dinged because they didn't cost a whole lot.

I still take good care of all my pipes and treat them kindly, because even the cheapest cob is still something that talented craftsmen spent time turning and shaping by hand on a lathe to make a nice smoking tool for your relaxation and enjoyment. I appreciate the beauty in all my pipes and want them to last a good long time, even if they cost me very little. That's the nice thing about pipe smoking though, that there's good smoking pipes and a wide variety of quality tobacco blends available for every budget. Whether you're a billionaire or a pauper, there's something for everyone.puffy
I couldn't have said it better myself.