My main area of concentration is the Pre-Transition Barling pipe, of which I own between 35 and 40. Why? Because they are the best pipes I have ever had the pleasure to smoke. Because the briar from which they were carved was of the finest quality obtainable. Because that briar was harvested and cured under the supervision of the Barling family before being turned, not bought from suppliers. By and large they are not the prettiest of pipes, nor the most elegantly shaped. But they support the flavor of the tobacco like nothing else. Being lazy, I don't want to work to enjoy a pipe. Barlings are effortless to smoke. There's also a long and, for me, interesting history and tradition associated with these pipes.
I have a collection of Dunhills, about 16, which, with a few exceptions, I rarely smoke. I also have a number of Pre-War Kaywoodies which perform similarly to the Barlings. In the 1920's and early '30's KBB had a large inventory exceptional briar, 100 year old wood that was also air cured for years before being turned. I love smoking those pipes.
There's a collection of roughly 10 Pre-War Sasieni pipes, and a few postwar. These are more hit and miss. At some point I will probably sell them off. But for now, prices on 8 dots aren't going south.
The English portion is rounded out with a few Charatans and a few Comoys. If I ever get serious about building more of an English collection, I'll go for the Comoys, which are a bargain for the money. Excellent smokes.
The rest of my collection is largely American. I own a few Talberts because they are also uniformly fine smokes and I enjoy the styling. I have six or seven Paul Tatums, which are also great smokes and which are unique in their darkly humorous styling. Among my favorite pipes are the ones that were carved by Lee Von Erck. These provide a very mellow sweet smoke. His rustication/blast finishes are beautiful. Add to the above some Walt Cannoy pipes, a few by Tony Fillenwarth, and a few by Ruthenberg. There's probably some other makers whom I'm forgetting at the moment.
I may start investigating other American carvers but for now, I'm very content with what I have.
I still enjoy the hunt, but I rarely leap these days.
