The Too Many Pipes Syndrome

[mso489]

I think it was Mae West who said (something like) too much of a good thing is never enough. I have too many pipes, for sure ... by some standards. And I am a big piker by others. So here are a few pros and cons of owning, ahem, quite a few pipes. First I acknowledge that the grand total varies wildly from person to person.

Some would find 25 or 30 pipes way too many, definitely clutter and excess. Others find 500 a fairly spare accumulation, scarcely a collection at all. So within my own parameters, here are my pros and cons on having quite a few pipes:

Pros:
A lot of pipes is an array of smoking tools for a wide variety of smoking experiences.
A large number reduces wear and, in rotation, guarantees longer lasting pipes.
More pipes means a wider range of nations, sizes, materials, finishes, shapes, etc.

(Post your own excuses for lots of pipes on this thread.)

Cons:

More pipes represents more expense. Fewer makes it easier to spend more on each pipe.
More maintenance makes demands on time.
People not familiar with tobacco pipes might suspect one is a hoarder.
Unless you leave detailed instructions, your heirs will never redeem their value.

(What are your negatives on owning lots of pipes? Post on this thread.)

This is mostly for fun, but also to pique conversation. Is there any such thing as too many? Too few?

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

Negatives include having available resources tied up in one thing.

 

[mso489]

Apparently small differences in pipes can mean a lot, since even though I have a lot of pipes, I can always find another one that is highly appealing. They cast a spell.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Other than appearance and smoking duration I don't notice any difference from one pipe to the next. When they start to become clutter, I throw out the seldom used ones.

 

[timt]

I'm a sucker for patina, whether it be a darkened meer, crusty old cob or a light or unstained briar that has darkened over time. So, the more new pipes I buy, the more often I have to smoke something without the some of the visual characteristics I like.

I guess I could buy estates but I can't deny the fact that someone decided to ditch the pipe for whatever reason, or possibly died with it in their clench. I know some of you have had great luck with estates but I'll pass, thank you.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'm a sucker for patina, whether it be a darkened meer, crusty old cob or a light or unstained briar that has darkened over time. So, the more new pipes I buy, the more often I have to smoke something without the some of the visual characteristics I like.

I guess I could buy estates but I can't deny the fact that someone decided to ditch the pipe for whatever reason, or possibly died with it in their clench. I know some of you have had great luck with estates but I'll pass, thank you.

Briar darkens with age and some estate pipes are unsmoked.

 

[timt]

Briar darkens with age and some estate pipes are unsmoked.

Yes, that's true but not what I'd call patina from use.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Yes, that's true but not what I'd call patina from use.

The density of briar prevents any discoloration from the chamber contents from reaching the surface from use. Skin oils, handling, and age do most of that.

 

[Sailingtiger]

Most golfers have several sets of 14 clubs. Guy asked me why I had 5 kayaks, told him I sold one. I have over 500 cookbooks and 150 nautical books, and no I am not a hoarder.
So no cons, maybe just me.
Cheers

 

[timt]

The density of briar prevents any discoloration from the chamber contents from reaching the surface from use. Skin oils, handling, and age do most of that.

View attachment 151049

You know what I mean.

 

[Chasing Embers]

You know what I mean.

?Not sure.

This pipe was gifted to me in '92 by one of my high school teachers and it was new at the time. For my first ten years of smoking all I had was it and two Grabows.

 

[timt]

?Not sure.

Pretty sure you'd try to argue with me over my shoe size or my favorite sexual position. Ain't got it in me.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Pretty sure you'd try to argue with me over my shoe size or my favorite sexual position. Ain't got it in me.

Not at all, nor the forum for the latter. Save the discoloration from smoking meerschaums, my oldest pipes look much as they did the day that I bought them. I'm just trying to understand what you mean.

 

[mso489]

One of the luxuries of many pipes is the regular pleasure of selecting which one to smoke of your "pipe shop" full of them, that is your racks. There aren't too many pleasures where you have that range of choice. Same with blends.

 

[anotherbob]

At ten pipes i feel like i boarder on too many. I know my pipes well and where they excel. And there is still enough variety to feel excited to get back to that one. More and i'd feel like i was being wasteful and not using particular pipes enough already feel that way about the meer. But i just like briar better. And i like taking time to color it.

 

[anotherbob]

Not at all, nor the forum for the latter. Save the discoloration from smoking meerschaums, my oldest pipes look much as they did the day that I bought them. I'm just trying to understand what you mean.

fun story my oldest i cleaned the rim and thought oh poop removed some stain. Then realized that was the shade it started in and it had patina (or whatever it is called)

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

The density of briar prevents any discoloration from the chamber contents from reaching the surface from use. Skin oils, handling, and age do most of that.

View attachment 151049

Did you started cutting firewood for upcoming winter?

 

[mso489]

Ten pipes is probably about right, but for me that was a long time ago. I have culled several times. I sent a few to a friend who'd quit cigarettes but said he just wanted them for decor. I sent some to a chaplin who was sharing them with active duty military in Afghanistan. Twice I've sent groups to SP for store credit to get one pipe I liked better. I don't think I've just thrown one away. Sometimes when I'm tempted by a pipe, I see that I have one that fills that same niche of size, material, weight, etc., and sometimes I realize the one I already own is better. Now, with many gift pipes, two that I've received as prizes, and a number that are favorites for other reasons, it is truly hard to cull. Off hand I can't pick one out that I wouldn't miss.

 

[anotherbob]

also a big collection supports carvers that's a pro I don't think was mentioned.

 

[luigi]

Pros: it's so much fun to pick one pipe, smoke it for a few days, get bored with it and choose another one, admiring how great it smokes and how cool it looks. Repeat.

Cons: cleaning and maintaining, ridiculously high prices for a chunk of wood. Collection pieces excluded.