Vulcanite, Acrylic, Plastic, and Horn Stems - Which is More Resistant?

[mrmachado]

Resistant to falling to the ground, I mean.
I'm thinking of buying a pipe with a horn stem because of its supposed resistance/durability (if it eventually falls to the ground accidentally), but I'd like to hear the experts' opinions first.

 

[mrmachado]

I think horn stems like this are beautiful, despite pipes like this being somewhat more expensive.
If they are resistant though, I will consider it.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Sure that is bone?
My GUESS is that acrylic is the most shatter resistant.

 

[mrmachado]

Sure that is bone?

I'm not sure, but Smokingpipes says so

https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/Ropp/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=317389

My GUESS is that acrylic is the most shatter resistant

Interesting, I was thinking it was the less resistant of the four... I guess that explains why my very first pipe (which I don't even consider my first pipe since I barely even managed to smoke it) broke as it fell to the ground right after my first smoking attempt, years ago. Looking back, I think it had a plastic stem and not acrylic. It cost me around $10.

 

[workman]

I'm sure acrylic is the most durable overall. Vulcanite is softer and probably less prone to break. Horn will probably not shatter or break, but my guess is you'll chew it down to hairs in a few years.

But I'd go for it anyway. Ropps are pretty, cheap, and when you've chewed that one up in 2-3 years, who cares if you buy another one?

 

[mrmachado]

Horn will probably not shatter or break, but my guess is you'll chew it down to hairs in a few years

I actually don't hold pipes between my teeth. I feel they're all too heavy for my taste. I hold them with my hand... So that probably won't happen I guess.
My only concern is shattering.
So horn seems the way to go!

 

[Civil War]

Acrilic is the most resistant.

 

[mso489]

The shatter risk is small, depending on whether you smoke at home while relaxing or go about clenching your pipe while active outdoors or in a work place or work shop where dropping it is more likely. Most pipe smokers rarely or never have pipe breakage from dropping. Usually, the pipes do fine, might take a nick or scrape, but aren't damaged in terms of use. For shear durability and low maintenance, I'd go with acrylic, if you don't mind the mouth feel, which I don't. I like Vulcanite a lot too. I don't like the MM cob soft plastic stems, so I buy the series with acrylic stems or refit with Forever stems. Most pipe destruction comes from lawn mowers or vehicle tires, by most reports.