What’s the Difference?

[Briar Lee]

When I started smoking pipes two years ago, I wasn’t sure what shape pipe I would like so I purchased a few inexpensive types to try.
I tried Cobs and a couple cheap briars, even a Churchwarden. Now that I have acquired some knowledge, I am starting to branch out with some quality pipes.
I recently purchased a Savinelli full bent rustic and am having an author style shipped as of this writing.
My question is this… one of my first trials was with an inexpensive bent briar for $16 (photo). This pipe smokes well and will probably stay in my rotation. But what exactly is the difference between this cheap pipe and a $100 Sav or Peterson of the same shape? I realize the quality is night and day BUT what does the more expensive pipe give me than the cheap one?
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The first difference is every Savanelli is made with cured and seasoned burls of the heath shrub that grew around the Mediterranean and there is no really good substitute for geniune briar.

Real briar is much longer lasting but more important the pipe tastes better and keeps on tasting better as you own it.

Second, any Savinelli will have a bigger bore for the size than that one. It will hold more tobacco. The makers of the cheapie use thick walls hoping their pipe won’t burn through.

Briar is the traditional wood for a quality pipe.

The one and the only reason a cheap pipe isn’t real briar is cost.

 

[Waning Embers]

Ahhh interesting, I haven’t been paying attention to them over at SPC. I counted 8 as of today I see that are coated.

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hmm I always assumed, every pipe Castello did would be uncoated.

I wonder what the reasoning was, to of not just left them uncoated. I always assumed, this was the history and approach of Castello, going uncoated...

All brands have both. Some prefer the finished look of a chamber coat, myself included.

 

[Waning Embers]

The one and the only reason a cheap pipe isn’t real briar is cost.

Scotty Piersel's husband was making briar pipes for $50.

 

[Briar Lee]

Scotty Piersel's husband was making briar pipes for $50.

I have a pear pipe that looks like it was made on the same fraising machine as this SON Sailor which also takes a 9mm filter and came with a pre coated bowl, for $30 from Serbia.



That SON pipe has outrageously good briar.

But for so long as it lasts the $10 pear pipe tastes really good.

 

[coys]

I smoke most everything non-aromatic with a Peterson Aran billiard. It’s from the cheaper line of Petersons but it smokes very well.

I just want a trouble free smoke and for the pipe to stay cool. I seem to have good luck getting those things from this pipe versus others I’ve owned, so it may be that one less expensive performs well for you.