Small Pipes Are Good

[mso489]

On another thread, seacaptain said he got rid of a Savinelli because it was too small, but it was the best smoking pipe he ever had. Let me beseech thee, one and all, to keep one or several small pipes for their many good uses. First of all, you can get a full-length smoke, an hour or so, out of most small pipes smoking flake/plug/rope...so there's that. Also, they serve excellent purposes sampling blends, assessing full-strength blends before you dive headlong into them, and always, for getting a short smoke with loose tobacco, or a good quick nicotine dose with a strong blend like Five Brothers. Years ago now, fish'n'banjo put me on to small pipes, which I had always seen as toys or souvenirs. He didn't carp about it, like i'm doing here, but he hinted that for some purposes they are just right. When I bought several, I discovered, boy is he right. Keep your good small pipes and rediscover their many talents.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

When I first started smoking pipes I was drawn to the larger ones. Over time I began appreciating smaller and smaller pipes.. at present I'm in the group 1 or 2 range, barring exceptional exceptions.
I do a lot of smoking in the car and a lot of clenching, so it's a matter of utility.
That said (bless my heart) I'm seriously considering a much larger pipe for the upcoming warmth when Im at home.

 

[mso489]

Personally, I like medium-size pipes to predominate numerically, but value both small and large pipes in graduated sizes for various purposes. And yes, a good extra large is what you want for a long evening at home, reading a book or meditating great thoughts. For those with the discipline to have a limited number of pipes, I'd recommend at least one small (Group 1 or 2) and one extra large.

 

[mikefu]

I concur. I only have 15 pipes, but the bulk (8ish) are middle of the road group 3/4 size, and I have 4 group 2’s that probably get the most use, then have 2 group 5’s and one big ‘ole freehand Nording group 6 that sees the most infrequent use. I started with a group 5, and have pretty consistently sized down, probably due to improvement in technique that allows for longer smokes in smaller pipes. Great word!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Anything below a group 4 finds no favor in my collection.

 

[jpmcwjr]

All sizes, but traditional shapes welcome here.

 

[olkofri]

I keep seeing this 'group 1', 'group 2', &c. classifications but I just can't find a table which tells me the dimensions of each group. Anyone knows of one?
I'm into smaller pipes too: less time to finish, and (potentially) less bite.

 

[buster]

I started with large pipes. Found that they didn't fit my style. I went on a mission to find smaller pipes and built a small collection made in the 1940's. I just don't have the time for long smokes. Clenching them s easy when fishing, driving or working in the yard. Also they fit in my pocket nicely.

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

I prefer and smoke small pipes, well shall I say, lightweight pipes, not necessarily always small.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I love the look of a lot of larger pipes like Castello Great Lines. In my previous go with pipe smoking, that size was my preference. But I also mostly smoked ribbon cuts. Now that I'm mostly smoking flakes, I've found the benefit of smaller pipes. Recently got a Castello Sea Rock KK from Briar Blues. When it came in, my first thought was it was a bit smaller than expected. But does that pipe ever smoke VA Flake nice!
There's certainly tobacco types that favor a larger bowl but the smaller pipes certainly have their place, especially if you like to smoke flake tobacco.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I often hear that the smaller bowls are used for quick smokes, but I don't find that as the case. My first briar pipes were these small .6 diameter bowl Savinelli Piumas. I was a recovering cigarette smoker, so I saw these as quick smokes. But, the reality is that there is a ratio diameter to depth ratio that makes smaller bowls smoke for about as long as larger diameter bowls of the same ratio. I can smoke these for an hour or so, especially with flake or coins. The one thing i do notice is that the smoke is "thinner(?)" or more focused in flavor. So, they make great pipes for Virginias that have more subtle flavors. To me, the diameter has an effect of the flavors, and I don't see how they could not... as the smoke warms lees surrounding tobacco to warm and give off flavors. So, you're getting more of the direct smoke from combustion (take that saltedplug, ha ha).
Anyways, these are my tiny pipes that I love for clenching while working or driving.
But, most of my pipes range from .75 up to over and inch in diameter. Forgive my lack of that stupid Dunhill "group" numbering system. Most people say that refers to the size of the block of wood that they start with anyways, and to me gives no real indication of the diameter of the pipe. It just makes more sense to me to say what the size is in inches or even cm's. But, that's just my thinking on that, ha ha. ::

 

[mso489]

I don't own any, but I've noticed that Castello seems to favor marketing larger, somewhat heavier pipes in the U.S., but they do make smaller, lighter ones that turn up at some U.S. retailers, and more I think in Europe.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I believe the Euros think we're all decadent Heathens that lack any resemblance to finesse and guzzle our beer, pipe smoke and women. I say that but apparently we think that about ourselves as well. While at the pipe show today and looking at the offerings from a number of carvers displaying there, the majority of the pipes I saw were large to XLarge to HUGE. If I smoked the same tobacco all the time, I guess that might work. I could pack one of those Giants up in the morning and another one up in the afternoon and would be able to smoke most of the day with some tamping and relights.

 

[pianopuffer]

I would also be curious as to the mysterious pipe grading that I keep hearing about. Was this a Dunhill thing that was adopted across the board?

 

[mikefu]

Olkofri- here’s a link to a Dunhill chart...of course there are no measurements. But it’s more of an approximation, methinks. Size 3&4 are “average” size.

https://goo.gl/images/UNDUPm

If you were to print that on standard 8.5”x11” paper, I think it’d give a good estimation of actual Dunhill sizes.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Was this a Dunhill thing that was adopted across the board?

It's a vague approximation that some guys use, but not everyone. When you go to buy a pipe or when we want people to know what we mean we usually just speak of .5", .7", .75", .8" etc... diameter bowls.

 

[tschiraldi]

I usually prefer. 70" to .80" diameter bowls. I have some large Castello pipes, but my two smallest pipes are also from Castello. It's SHORT pipes I don't like! I'm a pretty big guy and honestly, look rather silly with a short pipe. I now stick to pipes between 5.5" and 6.25" long.

 

[jaytex1969]

I believe the Euros think we're all decadent Heathens that lack any resemblance to finesse and guzzle our beer, pipe smoke and women...

I don't know where they get ideas like that....

 

[Civil War]

I have a couple of small Peterson pipes that are absolutely perfect for twists/rope like Gawith Hoggarth & Co.: Brown Irish X

 

[Civil War]

Peterson 217