I noticed one of the promotional screens at the Iwan Ries home page is a $23.50 pipe. I have a whole range of pipes in terms of price, so this is not of interest to me, but how about a new pipe smoker who has a few cobs and/or flea market briars and wants another pipe for rotation. Smoking pipes, Pipes and Cigars, and others offer good lower end pipes, either low-end econo-pipes in regular brands, discounts on brand names, or factory pipes in the lower end of the market. I'd take a chance on the Iwan Ries or other major online pipe retailers because, as with house pipes, they want to sell their clients pipes that will smoke well and bring them back for tobacco and other pipes, probably higher priced. Dr. Grabow makes a range of pipes in the $30 to $50 range that are classic traditional shapes and good smokers, and have that grand old American factory pipe look that our grandfathers (and great grandfathers and some of our founding mothers too) so enjoyed. So, aspire to fine pipes, and add the medium priced when you can, but don't be afraid of the $23.50 pipe if it suits your budget. You can learn smoking technique and have some fine times with the basic equipment. As one of our venerable members said, pipe smoking is 25% equipment and 75% technique.
