I was looking for some feedback last week about the 320; a pipe that seemed to make no sense for me yet had a magnetic attraction I couldn't ignore. My spring 320 arrived on Monday and damn...this thing is the real deal. I only have one pipe less expensive, but the 320 has totally reshaped my expectations of what I should be looking for in a smoking pipe. I can't think of a better compliment.
I'm sure new pipe romance colors my opinion a bit, but right now I'm not sure I see the point in going further than the 320. You can pick these things up new regularly for @ $60 and sometimes as low as $45. That's so cheap it undercuts the estate market for me.
It gets all the basics right. It smokes so well that smoking is almost an after thought as in "oh yeah, pipe smoking.. don't sweat it, I've been doing that since you was a babe at mommas teet". It smokes dry, cool and cleanly.
This is a first in a few of categories for me. First italian, first bent, first tapered bowl, first lucite stem, first factory pipe to be drilled precisely and first to break the 2 oz barrier.
These are things that put me off this sort of pipe but actually make a lot of sense here.
Though heavy, it is easier to clench than my english nose warmer because it's balanced exceptionally well. Though there's no getting around physics and I can't clench it for as long as my 0.5 oz belgique, naturally. I think I may prefer lucite to vulcanite and don't really see why it's often maligned. Vulcanite has a tendency to stick to my lips. Lucite doesn't so far. It doesn't seem to scratch as easily and I'm not concerned about biting through the stem.
Anyway, there's really something about the way this shape fits the hand. It's fun to hold and feels great especially when it's -2F outside and you need a kungfu grip to keep from spilling your tobacco all over the place.
Any did I say it smokes dry? Seriously.
I think I can just stop here and say this is the only one of my pipes that I don't feel I need to coax. It does all the hard work all the smoker needs to do is moderate the flow to get what you want out of it.
All in all, a top shelf pipe at a bargain basement price.
I'm sure new pipe romance colors my opinion a bit, but right now I'm not sure I see the point in going further than the 320. You can pick these things up new regularly for @ $60 and sometimes as low as $45. That's so cheap it undercuts the estate market for me.
It gets all the basics right. It smokes so well that smoking is almost an after thought as in "oh yeah, pipe smoking.. don't sweat it, I've been doing that since you was a babe at mommas teet". It smokes dry, cool and cleanly.
This is a first in a few of categories for me. First italian, first bent, first tapered bowl, first lucite stem, first factory pipe to be drilled precisely and first to break the 2 oz barrier.
These are things that put me off this sort of pipe but actually make a lot of sense here.
Though heavy, it is easier to clench than my english nose warmer because it's balanced exceptionally well. Though there's no getting around physics and I can't clench it for as long as my 0.5 oz belgique, naturally. I think I may prefer lucite to vulcanite and don't really see why it's often maligned. Vulcanite has a tendency to stick to my lips. Lucite doesn't so far. It doesn't seem to scratch as easily and I'm not concerned about biting through the stem.
Anyway, there's really something about the way this shape fits the hand. It's fun to hold and feels great especially when it's -2F outside and you need a kungfu grip to keep from spilling your tobacco all over the place.
Any did I say it smokes dry? Seriously.
I think I can just stop here and say this is the only one of my pipes that I don't feel I need to coax. It does all the hard work all the smoker needs to do is moderate the flow to get what you want out of it.
All in all, a top shelf pipe at a bargain basement price.
Sorry! 
