What Did You Start With?

[smokedragon]

It all started long long ago in a time not unlike today. (November 2012) I had been smoking cigars for what seemed like an eternity (about a year). I decided that wasting $4-8 every time I wanted to have a relaxing smoke was foolish (I'm cheap!). I sought deep introspection, and then consulted a sage old hermit (I talked to my dad). I discussed my plight with the sage, and he brought forth a sacred object: one that would change my life forever (He asked me if I wanted to try a pipe, and lent me his Stanwell 2003 pipe of the year). It was as if a chorus of angels descended from the heavens, and beautiful music could be heard from an unknown distant location (I found it enjoyable). So started an epic journey (I decided to switch over).

 

[mustanggt]

1981. Grabow or Medico can't remember. Had to be Capt something or another. Sat in the living room with my first color TV an RCA 19" I bought brand new for $450. Can you believe how cheap TV's are these days? I sat their puffing away till I couldn't hold it anymore. I put it in the ash tray and went to bed. I got up the next day to fire up my first one of the day and I had burned a big ol hole in that thing. Crap!!! Well I didn't pick the pipe up again till several years later and got better wood, better tobacco(not by much)and tried again. I eventually got the hang of it.

 

[crazypipe]

1961 John Milletons Cherry Blend in a Cob , been smoking pipe ever since. ::

 

[pstlpkr]

1Q in my Royal Coachman.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

April 16, 2011 I went to my local tobacconist for a couple cigars. While I was there looked at some of the nicer pipes as I had done numerous times before, but I could never bring myself to buy one. I had just recently learned about basket pipes so I asked the tobacconist if he had any. He reached under the counter and pulled out a basket full of about 20 pipes of different shapes and sizes. I looked through the basket and found a pipe I liked. I took the tobacconists recommendation and grabbed 4oz of Lane 1Q and away I went. No cigars, a new pipe and some pipe tobacco. Been smoking a pipe since, and since then my pipe collection has gone from 1 to 18 pipes.
Took this pic shortly before lighting up for the first time.

Me smoking my pipe for the first time.

 

[gecko13]

My first pipe was a cob pipe I made from a cob I saved from supper, I was 13 or 14. After drying it I hollowed it out and made a stem from a piece of plastic pipe. I got a hold of some CB from a friend who's dad smoked a pipe. I gave up on it after a few weeks. Shortly after high school I bought a basket pipe from a local B&M and some 1Q. 35 years later here I am still puffing away.
::

 

[radio807]

I started in 1972 with a Kaywoodie Dublin and Mixture No. 79. My dad smoked Kaywoodies and Mixture 79, so that was a natural starting point for me. I wish I still had my first Kaywoodie, but I'm not at all missing the tobacco.

 

[ohin3]

My first pipe was a friends painted Canadian and some local tobacconist's goopy aromatic topped with straight perique. Moved on to just the aromatic and then almost walked away from the pipe. One day in a different Tobacconist, while discussing my intentions to walk away from the pipe because it just didn't seem to be what I thought it would be, an old feller gave me a couple flakes of Penzance and told me to try them before I decided to quit the pipe. I took them home, let them dry out like he told me to and lit up. I was hooked from then on and visited that old feller quite often.

 

[snewton]

Some intetesting stories here guys, keep em coming!

 

[cigrmaster]

I was sitting in my buddies cigar lounge listening to a friend on the phone telling me I had to try a pipe. He had been harassing me for well over a week at this point and I said screw it, Mikey( store owner) what kind of pipes are you selling? So we walk up to the front of the store where he has a small pipe cabinet. He had a few Petersons, Savinelli's and a couple of Winslows. I look around and ended up grabbing a Savinelli Linea Piu 5 with a sterling silver band. The retail on it was 155.00 and he gave me 20% off. He had a limited supply of tobacco so I ended up getting a tin of Asthon Black Parrot I believe. I of course burned the shit out of my mouth because I was a cigar smoker and knew nothing about smoking a pipe. I still have the pipe and I smoke Carter Hall out of it once in a while. It is a great pipe and I will always keep it in the collection.

 

[bigmick]

My first pipe experience was with a mini corn cob and some corn silk when I was about 10. Almost burned my tongue off. Flame from the match went straight past the corn silk and into my mouth.My cousin still laughs at me since it was his brilliant idea in the first place. Of course he didn't try it after getting me to.

The next attempt was 20 years later, in the mid 90's, with a MM hardwood pipe and some Borkum Riff. Still have the pipe(I smoked it 2-3 times a year and it's held up well, but since finding cobs and briars I haven't smoked it in 3 years.) and still refuse to buy more BR.

 

[hodirty]

I started with a Grabow Omega and "pipe Tobacco", Which was really the roll ur own tobacco. My tamper was a metal Golf tee and I smoked it so hot the stain blistered, badly! Never knew my pipe had afilter and just clogged it and quit for a few years. When I found my old pipe again i had just quit nails and wasnt ready to totally give up tobacco, tryed to take it apart and broke the stem off in the shank. So I went and bought a new one and some PA Vanilla and so began my pipe smoking story. Ive improved tenfold. Funny when I look back at it. Oh nostalgia...