The Love of Small Pipes

[Skippy B. Coyote]

I've come to find, as time has gone on, that I'm much more inclined to make the time to relax and have a smoke when I have a small pipe that only takes 20 or 30 minutes to smoke. In the hustle and bustle of modern life it can be difficult to dedicate an hour or more to smoking your pipe, so I've found myself gravitating towards small pipes that offer a break for leisure more compatible with a busy schedule.

Sure, I could just load a larger pipe half full, but there's something that's just more gratifying about sitting down and smoking a full bowl of pleasant tobacco in a pipe sized for your needs. With that in mind, I've spent the past couple years collecting small pipes as I found them, and with the Rattray's Blower's Daughter I got in the mail today I now feel like my small pipe collection is finally complete!

From left to right, here's my little assortment and the blend styles I'm dedicating them to:

Morgan Bones Milan - Aromatics
Rossi Piccolo - English blends
Rattray's Blower's Daughter - Virginias & VaPers
Dr. Grabow Lark (2002) - Burley blends
Peterson Junior Rusticated Billiard - Lakelands
AKB Meerschaum Wolf - Whatever the heck I feel like smoking




How about you? Are you a fan of small pipes, and if so which are your favorites?

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

A small pipe has its place, such as for stronger blends, sampling something new, or wanting a quick smoke.

My basket pipe, a cob, or a bulldog gets me where I need to go when in need.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Around 2018 I came to realize I prefer a lighter pipe, 30g tops unless it's 3/4 or full bent.
The majority of mine are 5" or a bit shorter.
Some have very small bowls - others quite a bit larger.

My favorites tend to be classically shaped but scaled down.

 

[PaulRVA]

I have Several Castello KK 10’s Ashton XX’s and some Musico’s that fit the category. I didn’t think I’d get into smaller pipes but for mobility they are hard to beat!
They’ve earned some respect from me!

 

[Durhamshire]

Have to admit I gravitate to larger bowls and prefer straight over bent. Believe me me teeth know this well.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I like 5” or so, lightweight, around .75”x1.25-1.5” chambers.
Fits my style (outdoors doing stuff or at work) of smoking, not to mention my small (relatively) stock and my inclination to smoke 4-6 times a day

 

[Chasing Embers]

Have to admit I gravitate to larger bowls and prefer straight over bent. Believe me me teeth know this well.

My typical clencher.

 

[Ryan]

My typical clencher.

View attachment 298956

I’m guessing that’s a three to four hour (smoke time) chamber in that pipe? Am I close?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I’m guessing that’s a three to four hour (smoke time) chamber in that pipe? Am I close?

Yep. 3.5"×1"

Up until my hands could no longer safely hold smaller pipes, I really enjoyed many of Savinelli's shapes especially the 904 and 440.

 

[fireground_piper]

Not I. I couldn’t imagine a 20 minute bowl. I’m just getting into it at 20 minutes!

 

[Servant King]

I have 10 pipes currently (number eleven is backordered, will hopefully have it by my b-day), and it's pretty much an even split between large bowls and small ones. Three of the larges were gifts from friends--I probably never would've sought them out myself.

That said, I'm with the OP on this one all the way. I favor smaller chambered pipes, as I currently prefer smokes on the shorter end (especially living in a place where weather is often a major factor), and I only find a larger chamber more useful when I'm golfing. Of course, I say the word "currently" knowing that this could change at the drop of a hat...and it certainly wouldn't be the first time.

Love the pic! I see three of my absolute favorite blends there, two through four.

 

[didimauw]

I only smoke small pipes. Anything too large gets shipped off quickly. I've tried em all.

I have enough to last me a while, so I don't mind talking about it. But the Ropp Etudiant billiard is the pipe I've always been looking for. Thin short and light. Close second is the Ropp vintage line. My billiard with bone stem is a fantastic tiny pipe. (Even if it has a weird draft hole)

I don't even consider a pipe if it's over 5 1/2"

 

[BrightDarkEyes]

Small pipes are great. I would smoke them exclusively if I didn’t like my other pipes so much.

 

[AreBee]

As a new smoker I am having trouble discerning pipe sizes online. I bought a pipe online that was described as a “medium” sized pipe, I read all the dimensions and when it arrived it just seemed tiny. Then I see a churchwarden online and I’m intimidated because it seems enormous!

 

[rokerdepipe]

Small pipes some of the time and larger ones for less of the time. In Canada, at this time of year, it's nice to sneak out and get a relaxing smoke with a smaller bowl on hand.

Just this morning I enjoyed a bowl of C&D Burley Flake in a refurbished Dunhill Shell Grp 2 size. Perfect.

 

[AroEnglish]

I only smoke small pipes. Anything too large gets shipped off quickly. I've tried em all.

I have enough to last me a while, so I don't mind talking about it. But the Ropp Etudiant billiard is the pipe I've always been looking for. Thin short and light. Close second is the Ropp vintage line. My billiard with bone stem is a fantastic tiny pipe. (Even if it has a weird draft hole)

I don't even consider a pipe if it's over 5 1/2"

Do you have a side by side of the Ropp J07 and the Ropp 275? The 275 stem didn't quite clench right for me.

 

[AroEnglish]

Around 2018 I came to realize I prefer a lighter pipe, 30g tops unless it's 3/4 or full bent.
The majority of mine are 5" or a bit shorter.
Some have very small bowls - others quite a bit larger.

My favorites tend to be classically shaped but scaled down.

These are the same things I’m starting to realize. I still love big, chubby honkers (talking tobacco pipes in case anyone had any doubts) but I just don't reach for them as often as my teeny weenies (still referring to tobacco pipes).

 

[OzPiper]

My preference is a 20-40minute smoke.
Unless it’s a favourite blend, anything over 40 minutes gets a bit boring - ie I want to get onto the next bowl
So a group 3-4 bowl is ideal.

 

[Sobrbiker]

As a new smoker I am having trouble discerning pipe sizes online. I bought a pipe online that was described as a “medium” sized pipe, I read all the dimensions and when it arrived it just seemed tiny. Then I see a churchwarden online and I’m intimidated because it seems enormous!

Look for sellers that post dimensions, most will post chamber diameter, depth and overall length and height at the least. I like to know weight too.

 

[Sigmund]

Yes you have to check measurments. I recently was impulsive and did not. It was a Damanio Rovera (or Ardor) pipe. Its really nice but I may sell it. Unless I decide I want a smaller pipe I will wait to smoke it. It probably would be good for some flakes and cubes that burn really slow. I typically like a 40-50 minute smoke