Too Many Pipes?

[mso489]

I once heard a pipe smoker in my local independent pipe shop saying he'd collected over 200 pipes. Then he

spared it down to a mere 60. He had a similar cache of tobaccos, but that's another discussion. I currently

have a few less than three dozen pipes, which means I rotate every few weeks, if I smoke one or two pipes

a day. I smoke as a specific leisure activity, not continuously. My current thinking is, I don't want to own

pipes that don't get smoked from one months end to the next, or that I am discovering in a drawer. I've

traded several away at once to get one I think I'll smoke regularly. I want to feel that most are my

"favorite" when I am smoking them -- a pleasant illusion, or delusion. What's enough? What's too many?

Any ideas out there?

 

[papipeguy]

There is no clear cut answer once you have one pipe. The thing is, some guys are deliberate collecters and then the rest of us actually do a count one day and wonder where they all came from. It just happens.

 

[quincy]

I need more pipes...

 

[numbersix]

I want to feel that most are my "favorite" when I am smoking them -- a pleasant illusion, or delusion.

I am the same way. I don't plan on collecting for collecting's sake.
Still, I am beginning to believe that it's a delusion. Tastes change. I can believe 5-10 years from now my favorite style (billiard) will be replaced with something new.

 

[acaciavet]

Last Count 105 God i hate E bay

 

[foggymountain]

I have about 130. I don't need them, but I do enjoy them. What you need, if you smoke 3 a day is 15. But why not have more if it pleases you?

 

[foggymountain]

sorry, duplicate

 

[yadan]

As I've said before in other threads: Too many pipes are not enough pipes.

I currently have 13, but my minimum goal is 49, so that I can smoke seven pipes per day and rest the pipes for a full week.

 

[eibhir]

I think I have enough pipes for now. I have 10 and a cob on the way so now I can focus on collecting tobacco. You have to do what's best for you and find your comfort zone.

 

[dervis]

Have around 30 with a few in the mail. 99% of the time I have a brog or cob lit up. Cant explain it but buying is fun.

 

[cigrmaster]

I feel that around 40-45 is plenty for me. My goal is to get that number of pipes that I always want to smoke, I don't want any pipes in the collection that just sit, so I am moving some out to make room for new ones. I currently have 44 but there are some I just don't reach for so off they will go.

 

[flmason]

I know I have too many since I just collect them rather than smoke them.

 

[allan]

Harris
I only have 7 that I smoke.
If you are dumping, let me know where your garbage can is.
Allan

 

[mso489]

Since I started this thread, I'll say, for those of you who haven't reached your limit: I'm first of all a billiard, brandy guy, but have a

number of others. I highly recommend at least one churchwarden and one poker. The churchwarden was a gift and surprisingly

good smoking.

 

[durham270]

I've only been smoking pipes since last October and love it! I'm surprised I waited till I turned 50 to start. I remember my grandfather always smoked pipes. After he passed on his pipes disappeared. I would have loved to have inherited a few of them at least. At the moment I only have 4 briars (low end) and 5 cobs. So, if anyone has too many pipes overflowing and would like to give one away I'm all in favor and will happily accept.

 

[fishnbanjo]

Well I do have more pipes than I have bamboo fly rods but barely!

banjo

 

[cedeks]

I have around 45 which is more than needed according to my use. I always say that but can not resist the urge to pass by pipe section every time I go to buy tobacco or pass by a duty free in an airport. Things startsby telling myself why not to go there and check the new designs, then I start asking the sales person to hand me one or two to check closely and without any resistance I find myself paying for one or two and leaving the shop happily... hehehe and I always end up thinking that I have more than I need

 

[withnail]

I guess you "need" 5 or 6 pipes to allow them to dry out between sessions, but then there is also the collecting side of things. There are so many lovely pipes out there that I can see how someone can find themselves with 200+. Personally I think that, as long you can display them, there is room for more

 

[rlunderhill]

I never count them up. I have my collectibles and I have my smokers. I always look at new pipes when I can. I buy what I can when they're available. Many times it's timing when you find a great pipe. I'm always looking.

 

[portascat]

About 25 pipes right now. I smoke about half of them on a regular basis, and about half of that on a very regular basis.
About 4-5 of my pipes are really awesome smokers, or at least I really enjoy smoking them specifically. There are about another 5 or 6 that I smoke to keep my favorites from getting worn out.
I don't really need any more pipes, and the pipe buying has slowed down a lot.
Now I am stocking up on tins and bulk. Not going crazy, but just building up a good reserve. If worse comes to worse, I can cobble up a pipe to smoke. Hard to cobble up an English blend.