The Too Many Pipes Syndrome
- Thread starter mso489
- Start date
That pipe has really been taken care of nicely. Here's my first non-drugstore pipe - a Bari I picked up in the '80s.
I think it's pretty clear it's a germaphobic concern, he's put off by the thought of putting his mouth on something used in the past by one or more strangers. It's like only screwing virgins. Might feel safe, but pretty limiting.
Ok I’ll play 
pros:
I like showing off my collection to those who come to my house. I am proud of what I have put together and they are much more than tools to deliver nicotine.
I like to choose from a wide array of options depending on where I’m going and who I’ll be around.
sometimes I choose one based on mood and how much I’ll be smoking
i have tried many different types, brands, materials, styles and have found some of my favorites
cons:
Money is tied up
unsecure (ie death, theft, accident etc)
pros:
I like showing off my collection to those who come to my house. I am proud of what I have put together and they are much more than tools to deliver nicotine.
I like to choose from a wide array of options depending on where I’m going and who I’ll be around.
sometimes I choose one based on mood and how much I’ll be smoking
i have tried many different types, brands, materials, styles and have found some of my favorites
cons:
Money is tied up
unsecure (ie death, theft, accident etc)
People collect pipes for different reasons, tools for use, thrill of the hunt, historical focus, artistry, mental illness, etc.
It one's interest is utilitarian - pipes are tools for burning tobacco, then you don't really need more than a few pipes and having more than that would not make sense.
If one's interest extends beyond the utilitarian, sky's the limit depending on whether or not pipes interfere with other important parts of life.
It one's interest is utilitarian - pipes are tools for burning tobacco, then you don't really need more than a few pipes and having more than that would not make sense.
If one's interest extends beyond the utilitarian, sky's the limit depending on whether or not pipes interfere with other important parts of life.
If you're referring to me, not hardly. I just like keeping my tools clean and presentable. A grimy wrench won't work as securely as a clean one.
I managed to convince my missus that the new pipe I was smoking was, in fact, an old pipe; ‘you’ve seen it before haven’t you?’
To which she agreed that she had. ?
It’ll catch up with me at some point…it’ll probably cost me a handbag or something.
I have a friend who thinks that way. I've asked him if he brings his own glass to the pub, fork and knife to restaurants, etc. I guess one of us doesn't understand the other's logic.
No, not you, why would I say that about you? You've never expressed any avoidance toward estates. Nope, it's the guy you're querying.
I know several people who are germaphobic. None of them exhibit anything close to a uniform behavior in all environments. There are specific things that set them off. It's rational but not always logical.
In any case, with regard to pipes, concerns about catching the Black Death from an estate certainly swirl about the pipe collecting community.
For a germaphobic pipe smoker, a collection of used vintage and antique pipes would be a con.
I consider estate pipes in the same vein as silverware and glasses in a restaurant or dental tools. As long as they are cleaned and sterilized, I have no concerns.
Over the last 20 plus years I have culled my collection a number of times. How many times I honestly don't remember. I do remember my last culling as I sold off around 60 pipes. Most of the pipes were artisan made. The only factory pipes were a bunch of Willmers and one Dunhill. The rest were from carvers like Bruce Weaver, Trever Talbert, Scott Thile, Scottie Piersel, 7 Brian Ruthenbergs, 4 or 5 Rad Davis and singles from other artisans.
I did this because a lot of pipes were not getting used much. The perfect excuse for the culling was I was able too get 13 Jack Howell commissioned pipes and for the money and smoking properties, I was totally hooked. I still have 38 artisan made briar pipes and a few Meers that I just look at. One of them is a well done IMP smooth Apple with silver but so far it hasn't wowed me.
I have a round 6 count I keep near it with 2 group 6 pipes. That Savinelli rack was my best score ever as I traded a box of Trinidad Fundadores(Cuban) that cost me 292.00 out of Spain in 1999 or so and the Savinelli retailed for over 2000.00.
I also have a 15 count rack with stained glass doors that is cool and empty. My goal is to eventually fill it but only with the best of the best American artisan pipes. I am a total homer and make it my business to support our guys.
It took weeks to figure out the best smokers I never wanted to part with. My timing couldn't have been better as my pipes got prices I never thought possible. Prices on ebay were high. I sold a 140.00(my cost) Michael Parks POY pipe for over 400.00. I got some nice coinage from some Rads, Ruthenbergs, Weaver and others. Now when I go to smoke a pipe, I decided on the tobacco first and then I pick a pipe from that genre or I pick a blend specific pipe,
I have never counted how many blend specific pipes I own. I know off the top of my head, I have 2 Rad Davis Lovats that only smoke 2007 Stonehaven. I have a Scott Thile Bulldog that only sees 1998 Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky. I have a Jack Howell Billiard that also only sees the aged Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky. There are others that i can't remember right now.
I have a Larrysson Dublin that only gets 2012 Solani 633 or 2012 Dunhill Deluxe Navy Rolls. I have a handful of pipes that I use for the first of the day with a mild Virginia, things like 2012 Fribourg & Treyer Cut Virginia Plug, 2013 Capstan Blue Flake, 2012 Peterson Navy Flake ( same thing as the Dunhill Flake, 2010 Samuel Gawith Golden Glow and there are more.
Since my culling I have taken up way less time deciding on what pipe I want to smoke with a blend I have picked. I honestly have a feeling of freedom with so few pipes. I hated being obligated to smoke a pipe just because I hadn't done so in a while. These were all good pipes mind you but I had better and I only kept the very best.
In another week or so all of my Samuel Gawith Flakes will hit their 10 year anniversary . I plan on smoking quite a bit of SG flakes. I cannot believe it has been ten years since I bought close to 40 pounds of those three flakes. I am excited to see what age has done to them.
All of my Samuel Gawith Flakes came from mom and pop stores in the low tax states. The only bag of Stonehaven I ever bought from one of the big retailers was an 8oz bag from 4noggins, all the rest was from the small guys.
My goal is to find the perfect pipe and tobacco combination for my SG flakes. I am pretty confident I will get there but it will take some time but it will be fun experimenting.
I did this because a lot of pipes were not getting used much. The perfect excuse for the culling was I was able too get 13 Jack Howell commissioned pipes and for the money and smoking properties, I was totally hooked. I still have 38 artisan made briar pipes and a few Meers that I just look at. One of them is a well done IMP smooth Apple with silver but so far it hasn't wowed me.
I have a round 6 count I keep near it with 2 group 6 pipes. That Savinelli rack was my best score ever as I traded a box of Trinidad Fundadores(Cuban) that cost me 292.00 out of Spain in 1999 or so and the Savinelli retailed for over 2000.00.
I also have a 15 count rack with stained glass doors that is cool and empty. My goal is to eventually fill it but only with the best of the best American artisan pipes. I am a total homer and make it my business to support our guys.
It took weeks to figure out the best smokers I never wanted to part with. My timing couldn't have been better as my pipes got prices I never thought possible. Prices on ebay were high. I sold a 140.00(my cost) Michael Parks POY pipe for over 400.00. I got some nice coinage from some Rads, Ruthenbergs, Weaver and others. Now when I go to smoke a pipe, I decided on the tobacco first and then I pick a pipe from that genre or I pick a blend specific pipe,
I have never counted how many blend specific pipes I own. I know off the top of my head, I have 2 Rad Davis Lovats that only smoke 2007 Stonehaven. I have a Scott Thile Bulldog that only sees 1998 Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky. I have a Jack Howell Billiard that also only sees the aged Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky. There are others that i can't remember right now.
I have a Larrysson Dublin that only gets 2012 Solani 633 or 2012 Dunhill Deluxe Navy Rolls. I have a handful of pipes that I use for the first of the day with a mild Virginia, things like 2012 Fribourg & Treyer Cut Virginia Plug, 2013 Capstan Blue Flake, 2012 Peterson Navy Flake ( same thing as the Dunhill Flake, 2010 Samuel Gawith Golden Glow and there are more.
Since my culling I have taken up way less time deciding on what pipe I want to smoke with a blend I have picked. I honestly have a feeling of freedom with so few pipes. I hated being obligated to smoke a pipe just because I hadn't done so in a while. These were all good pipes mind you but I had better and I only kept the very best.
In another week or so all of my Samuel Gawith Flakes will hit their 10 year anniversary . I plan on smoking quite a bit of SG flakes. I cannot believe it has been ten years since I bought close to 40 pounds of those three flakes. I am excited to see what age has done to them.
All of my Samuel Gawith Flakes came from mom and pop stores in the low tax states. The only bag of Stonehaven I ever bought from one of the big retailers was an 8oz bag from 4noggins, all the rest was from the small guys.
My goal is to find the perfect pipe and tobacco combination for my SG flakes. I am pretty confident I will get there but it will take some time but it will be fun experimenting.
I wish I had been around for the culling!
Before I added estate pipes to my antiques business inventory selection, I never had more than 8 or 9 pipes at a time - really didn't need any more than that. My best buddy had hundreds of high-end pipes in racks all over his walls, and he would just give me a pipe every now and then. We had some great times playing backgammon and smoking pipes.
Now I have 433, plus boxes of low-end ones that will probably never leave their boxes. My regular rotation only includes about 8 or 9, just like it always has, and I allow myself a list of 50 that I consider 'personal collection.'
The only way I can protect myself from PAD is to not look at ebay or SmokingPipes. Today I made the mistake, and ended up purchasing a Scottie Piersel. I've only owned one - a super-fat chubby that I auctioned on ebay when I was hard-up for quick cash. It was an absolutely perfect pipe, in ways that are impossible to explain - you have to hold one of her pipes in your hand. And, of course, they are perfect smokers. I wouldn't have sold it, but my real desire was an 8"+ pencil shank.
mso489, I like your list of pros and cons. But one con doesn't strike me as a true con—namely that having more pipes means more maintenance. I clean the pipe after every smoke. Because no cake builds up, the pipe doesn't require any maintenance beyond that. So if I smoked one pipe five times or five pipes once, it would require the same amount of maintenance. Just one fewer con leading to too many pipes!