The Grain Game ( long with pics)

[cigrmaster]

When I first got into pipes I was obsessed with finely grained pipes. My first purchase looking for grain was a Castello Fiamatta KK. It was gorgeous and it set me off to find the next great grain. I ended up buying Formers, Balleby's, Barbi's, Winslow's, Reiners, Matzhold's more Castello's, Viprati's and Upshalls all for the need to look at incredible grain. Back in 2000 and 2001 when I was buying this stuff, a top of the line Former with great grain ran around 900.00, my Castello Fiamatta retailed for around 750.00 if memory serves. Now when I look at pipes like these, the prices are insane. Stuff is going for 1500 plus for similar pipes. I am amazed at how relatively new carvers with 6-10 years experience like Todd Johnson are getting for their pipes.
So what is the point of all this you ask? My point is that other than the looks, these finely grained pipes smoke no better than my Ashton Pebble Grain, or sand blasted Upshalls, or my Winslow E's or a Mastro De Paja rusticated apple of my 70's Caminetto's. . I have a Savinelli autograph 4 that I got on ebay for 75 bucks years ago and it smokes as well the high end stuff.
I ended up selling all of my finely grained pipes( except for a Winslow C which my buddy sold me) years ago because I had decided to take a break from pipes and collecting. Now that I have returned and am collecting again, I am focusing on great smoking pipes, not finely grained pipes and I am having more fun doing it. I no longer have an obsessive need for grain. Are any of you guys hooked on the grain like I was? Here are a few pics of old pipes I used to have. They aren't great pics but you can see some grain.
Castello Collection Fiamatta KK

Former

Former

My Winslow C that I still own

 

[photoman13]

I don't know if I could ever spend 750 on a pipe without feeling some sort of regret. I choose a pipe that catches my eye but if it's a bad smoker it rarely gets used.

 

[shaintiques]

If its a bad smoker it gets sold

 

[cigrmaster]

herbinedave, I love that saying " you can't smoke grain", it is so true which is why I am collecting with a much different mind set. I am still waiting on the Charatans, they should be here by the beginning of next week. I also never keep a pipe that smokes poorly. The three Matzhold's I had all smoked like crap and I got rid of them. When I see his pipes today going for 1500 plus, I shake my head. The 2 Balleby's I owned were not great smokers either.
Luckily I was buying these pipes for well below cost so when I sold them all, I made money.

 

[pitchfork]

Thanks for posting this. Very interesting to hear about your development as a collector/smoker. Also very interesting to hear about some well-known makers whose pipes don't always smoke well.

 

[photoman13]

Honestly the one you kept is my favorite. That is one beautiful pipe. Good choice!

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Those are some nice looking pipes, and ones that I definitely couldn't afford. I like more of the rustic/sandblast pipes, and I'm more of a budget smoker so I like to find the best value. For me I've found that Savinelli makes a great smoking pipe and has a great price point. Plus I think they make great looking pipes as well.

 

[mp31guitar]

If I see a pipe I like, I buy it. I didn't realize until a few years ago that there were high end pipes costing thousands of dollars. When I started surfing the web for pipes and saw some Petersons, I couldn't believe they were about a hundred bucks. I thought that was high end. But, I bought a few. I'm not saying I wouldn't pay a thousands bucks for a pipe because if I liked it I might.
I just realized I'm blabbing. To answer your question, Nope, I never was into grain. ::

 

[drsam]

One of my best smokers is, of all things, a Dr. Grabow from the 50 or sixties. It has great grain as you can see from the photo.

It is an "Emperor grade. (One of one hundred thousand.) Paid less then 30 bucks for it.

 

[cigrmaster]

herbinedave, nice score on the Barling.
drsam, that is a hell of a good looking pipe. Nice grain, who would have ever thought it was a Grabow?
I am sure everyone here can go through their collections and tell stories about their great smoking pipes they got on the cheap. I guess it is a good thing that the chase for GRAIN exists because who is going to buy all the high grade pieces, it ain't gonna be me anymore.

 

[tbradsim1]

The maybe unknown fact that Savinelli. Estellas are some of the best smokers, for not a lot of money, I have 4, and I always have an eye out for them the old cajun

 

[ssjones]

I love looking at Castello Collection or 4C Cavicchi pipes,but always pull the trigger on lesser pipes that will smoke just as well.

 

[echopipe]

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing

 

[rigmedic1]

Those are some pretty pipes. I have to admit, I never had the resources to purchase such beauties, but I have done quite well with the inexpensive pipes I have collected through the years. Never been partial to any one aspect of a pipe though, only that I like the look of it, and that I can smoke it. You never know how it will do though till you have it in hand. I am fond of Edwards and Petersons, and I have many other brands in my collection, including a $35 Dr. Grabow that I dedicated to Virginias, which I enjoy as much as my Peterson Plato.