What’s a church warden like?

[OverMountain]

I’m curious, what are the smoking qualities of a church warden vice a conventional style pipe?

The idea of propping up on my porch or out in the woods with a big ol’ church warden pipe is sounding pretty good.

What am I missing out on?

 

[Chasing Embers]

What am I missing out on?

A longer pipe.

Other than weight, not much noticeable difference.

 

[jttnk]

i have 4 or so church wardens . They smoke pretty much like any other pipe. Some people believe the longer stem gives a little cooler smoke, but I doubt that’s really enough length to actually cool anything.

I like feel of my church wardens I like the look, I like them for reading or playing on the iPad.

 

[bullet08]

Mean bastards. But can be bribed with tobacco and whisky.

 

[anotherbob]

The biggest difference in smoking is you're not as likely to clench it. Which can make you a little more thoughtful about how you smoke, well maybe. And the kind of meer ones Ember talks about clench pretty alright, where as the more traditionally shaped ones not so much.

 

[Winnipeger]

If the stem is long enough you can basically hold the pipe with your arms relaxed on the arm rests of your chair. You don't need to clench, but you also don't need to reach up towards your face, so it's a comfortable, relaxed sitting position. That's what I like about a churchwarden. Chilling out.

 

[Chasing Embers]

You don't need to clench

But you have the option if you wish to.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

I believe that they do run cooler. It also helps keep the flame away from my beard.

 

[kcghost]

The only negative about the is their lone and the posture you hold it. I tried to use one but the recliner I was in then made the pipe tilt upwards at an angle that made it somewhat uncomfortable to me.

 

[Smoke Wagon]

The long stem is perfect to prop my elbow on the arm of the couch and still reach my mouth perfectly. It’s very relaxing.

 

[verporchting]

Perfect for sedentary smoking but otherwise I find them impractical - unlike shorter, lighter and more manageable pipes.

I really enjoy a quiet pipe of an evening so I have several and like them a lot.

Give one a try! Hope you like it!

 

[ClenchedBilliard]

I’d tell you about them, but it’s a long story *ba dum psh*
But seriously, I do most of my smoking while driving and having a long pipe allows me to light my pipe and watch the road at the same time. And they are just flat out aesthetically pleasing to me.

 

[Peterson314]

I was just about to post a similar question. I really want one, but the first pipe I ever smoked was a churchwarden and I didn't have a great experience. Probably because I was a total noob. My roommate had a Peterson and a no-name Renaissance Festival tier Churchwarden that was mine every time we brought home some 1Q... sorry... Wilshire from Tinder Box and I fought the damn thing the entire session. His Peterson was a much better experience, which is why I eventually got my own.

I bought into all of the "difficult" propaganda about them because it resonated with my experience. But I find myself eying a Vauen Auenland Gilg. Only problem with the Gilg is that I am also looking at a black rusticated Savinelli 601 and 921, which I can't choose between, but could get both for the price of the Vauen.

Not like I need a new pipe, but that fact hasn't stopped me before.

 

[verporchting]

I have a Vauen churchwarden and it is very, very nice. Not the most inexpensive pipe by a long stretch but worth it IMO.

Several others in my collection are in the sub $100 range and they all smoke just fine - just not as Hobbity, lol. If you really want to feel like a Hobbit or a Wizard, accept no substitutes, the Vauen is the pipe for you!

 

[mso489]

Churchwardens aren't meant to be particularly portable. Even around the house, you have to account for its long stem as you navigate lamps and cabinets. However, if you are smoking in almost any chair with arms, you have the perfect pipe for meditative smoking and deep deliberative thought.

You'll need those churchwarden pipe cleaners to make it through the stem.

My wife gave me my first churchwarden, un-coached by me, one Christmas, as illustrated in my avatar to the left of this post. It's a Savinelli 601, a good pipe at a good price. My hat is a Turkish fez sent to me the same Christmas by my sister who had been to Istanbul.

 

[Hillcrest]

I wanted to try one but couldn't decide which to get. So I bought a 4.5" forever stem in amber tortoise with a bend for my MM Mark Twain cob. With the shank the bowl is 6.5 inches away. I prefer it to the original stem. That said, I now probably wouldn't buy one unless I got a really good deal on one. Instead I would consider getting the Peterson bard with a filter if I could find one I liked. But ... its the shape or bend preference for me not the concept of the long stem. It doesn't smoke any different unless you pack really tight and then you might get a hernia trying to smoke it !

 

[Zack Miller]

I only banged it on the doorway twice before I learned to be careful.

 

[Peterson314]

I have a Vauen churchwarden and it is very, very nice. Not the most inexpensive pipe by a long stretch but worth it IMO.

Several others in my collection are in the sub $100 range and they all smoke just fine - just not as Hobbity, lol. If you really want to feel like a Hobbit or a Wizard, accept no substitutes, the Vauen is the pipe for you!

Indeed!

I heard from an Elf that Santa is bringing me the new limited edition LotR books with Tolkien's original drawings. Let's see if he brings me $300 for a new pipe!

 

[OverMountain]

Is it possible to buy a Churchwarden stem and use it on a regularpipe bowl?

This is to combat PAD!

 

[olkofri]

Is it possible to buy a Churchwarden stem and use it on a regularpipe bowl?

This is to combat PAD!

Some manufacturers like Vauen sell churchwardens that also come with a short stem so that you can have either way.

Just buying a "churchwarden stem" would be tricky as, AFAIK, pipes don't have universal mortises. The stem is likely not to fit a pipe it wasn't made for. Unless... you look into cobs, probably. I'm guessing the Cobbit line from Missouri Meerschaum takes their regular plastic stems as well.