What got you started?

[wizbang]

As a young pipe smoker, I never get the chance to talk about pipes to anyone that can relate to me, which is why I love these forums. So I thought this would be a good question to ask everyone and get a good convo going: what got you started on smoking a pipe? Was it a loved one who influenced you? Were you curious about it and decided to try it?

For me, it began on April 3, 2010. My mom and I were walking along Historical Main Street in St. Charles when we decided to stop in an antique shop and I laid eyes on a beautful Kaywoodie in excellent condition. My mom could tell I was intrigued by the pipe and told me to buy it, and so I did. We made our way down to a tobacco shop at the other end of main and I bought an ounce of house blend. I was just feeling adventurous that day and that is when it all began.

So now it is your turn, what got you started?

 

[scott306]

Well I would have to say I was just always intrigued by the smell of the tobacco whenever a old man walked past smokin a pipe.A rare occasion, but a great one for me.For some reason pipes and pipe smoking, makes me think of a simpler time. Way before my time of course. Made me think of a old wise man siting on a bench telling some young guy a story. Kind of dumb maybe but that's just my thoughts.

So after years of off and on curiosity I finally decided to go for it.I ordered my first pipe and that same night called everywhere in the city looking for tobacco.I was able to find one store that sells only three kinds, but at that time that was good enough for me.

Smoked my first pipe I believe Jan. 28 of this year and enjoy every puff I take.

Happy smoking! ::

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

I've always been sorta the odd one of the group amongst friends. When I was 23, I enjoyed smoking a cigar every now and then. The problem I had with cigars is that I could never find one that gave a good room note (aroma), and didn't leave my mouth hunting drastically for a mint or something to get the after taste out.
While browsing a Tinder Box in the mall one afternoon, my wife suggested that I think about trying a pipe. I always enjoyed the smell of tobacco, so this seemed like a logical and fun next step. Problem was, I couldn't afford anything at the time and Christmas was coming up. My lovely lady contacted my brother and they went in together to buy me a Bent Bob's pipe, tamper tool, lighter, tobacco, and some other small goodies to get me started. Man, was I a mess at packing and smoking that pipe. Surprised I didn't end up with a burnout on the pipe and I can tell ya, my tongue was feeling the abuse as well. I almost gave up on enjoying a tobacco product, but decided to go into that Tinder Box and talk with a fella there. After some great advice and searching on the web, I started experimenting with my pipe and also bought a couple from ebay.
I'm 32 now and immensely enjoy my vice, hobby, lifestyle, whatever you want to call it.

 

[unclearthur]

Lots of pipe smokers on both sides of my family. I best remember my Grandpa and my Great Aunt Ollie . Both were fans of butt kicking burleys. Then along around the time I started high School I read the Hobbit and LOTR. That was enough for me. Started before I graduated on 1970. Been smoking pipes since.

 

[lagavulin92]

I started in the end of August last year (2010). Fall was coming, Cuban cigars became too expensive to me on the long run, and I couldn't enjoy them in the windy fall weather. Thus I went to the Pipe, and never returned. I'm a senior high school student in Austria, where you may buy tobacco with 16.

 

[ichbinmuede]

Definitely a combination of things. I'm already an eccentric and a thinker and I always was so that predisposed me I'm sure. Seeing Bing Crosby in White Christmas with my Granny, my fifth grade social studies teacher who would always smoke his pipe while walking the school grounds at recess, also The Hobbit, and LOTR, and the Riftwar saga from Raymond E. Feist.

I think I'm going to have to re-read both of those again soon. While enjoying my pipe of course. ::

 

[winton]

I had never smoked anything, but always thought a pipe gave an impression of dignity, wisdom and peace. During a overwhelming period at work and a very rough class at school, I decided to try the pipe. The horrible $8 pipe and vile tobacco almost stopped me. I was determined to give the idea a fair chance, and located some great tobacco and good advise. Now my monthly smoke break is something I look forward to.
Winton

 

[admin]

Past childhood memories with all the positive connotations of pipe smoking lingered far back in my mind until I was 34 years old, and had just gotten divorced. Went out on the town with a bunch of guys and ended up smoking my first cigar.
When we went back to my neighbor's house he had a humidor with cigars, and he had a pipe rack with several pipes. I just thought it looked so manly and cool. The next day, I went to Crown Wine & Liquors in Sunrise FL and bought a humidor and filled it up with cigars.
Then I bought Tad Gage's book, "The Idiots Guide to Cigars". Inside the original printing, but now removed in later versions, there was a chapter on pipes. Basically, it said if you like cigars, then you should try pipes, and it gave the basics of pipe smoking.
So, I'd say my neighbor in Sunrise and Tad Gage were the two primary catalysts for me to start smoking pipes in 1998.

 

[wolfscout]

I had family members that smoked a pipe during my early years. I myself didn't take up the pipe until Feb of 1982 while stationed in Korea. Was for practical purposes of keeping hands and face warm during guard duty. LOL I've never turned back though.

 

[mjtannen]

For me it was the look, the aroma, and now the time. I've smoked a pipe on and off since college and that was a long time ago. I graduated in 1970. Over the years I smoked a bowl now and then but never really had much available time between multiple jobs and a growing family. Now as a widower and about to retire with kids grown and gone I have the luxury of time. A pipe requires time and attention and it enables the reward of contemplation. Now I smoke 3 to 4 large bowls a day so I'm clenching around 6 to 7 hours every day and I'm very comfortable. My pipe affords a special comfort and it is my companion around the house and in my car or truck. I've also grown to really like several tobaccos mostly latakia and I've "graduated" away from what I call the tuty fruity blends that leave gook and dottle in the bowl. I've also added to my original three or four pipes into a collection of twenty two pipes that I really appreciate along with about ten blends always available. As a man and a pipe smoker, I've matured into the best my pipes have to offer. I firmly believe that there is an evolutionary process that a pipe smoker makes along an enjoyable journey. Now, more than before, I make it a point to enjoy the ride. It is also interesting how life events make a man gravitate to manly pleasure. Be it a divorce, or the golden years, it tends to boil down to available time to smell the roses, or in my case the Latakia.

 

[timmay]

Hi everybody. If you missed my introduction, the name's Tim. Glad to be here. I've tried a few cigars and have always liked the smell of pipe smoke, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Still impatiently waiting on my new (to me) pipe to arrive. We'll see how it goes this weekend.

 

[colorduke]

During summer vacation i would spend alot of time at my greatgrandmothers dinner there was always the older retired guys hanging out puffing on there pipes,my mom or someone got me a little corncob and i would mimic there moves.Some of my other family members also smoked pipes,i have pics of me blowing smoke out of there pipes.I guess it was carved in stone that someday i would be a pipesmoker.

 

[oldmaus]

I first tried a pipe in 1976, it was a nice meerschaum. I dabbled with it on and off and decided it was not as pleasant as it looked. In retrospect it was the otc tobaccos that caused the problem. Two years ago I started having an occasional cigar which increased to a daily cigar in time. I tired of the high price of decent cigars and the smell caused complaints from my wife. I decided to return to a pipe and really enjoy and look forward to my daily bowls.

 

[marmal4de]

Jan. 28 of this year

I turned 24 on January 28th of this year.

 

[ivan08]

I was an occasional cigar smoker (dominican, cuban and PR cigars) but in 2009 I was shooping at Borders and I saw that book about pipes! A buy it, and after reading that book my curiosity about pipes awakes in me! Here in PR pipes are a very strange hobby, only a few enjoy it, I buy my first pipe online (a Brindisi) and after months I make an order at Boswell! A great Freehand! My favorite pipe! Happy smoke to everyone!

 

[morlader]

Way back in 1953 I was walking past a tobacconist in Adelaide S Australia and I saw a pipe in the window with a yellow bowl and jet black stem. I thought " great thst'a Cornish rugby colours " so I bought the pipe and have smoke pipes ever since.

 

[lordofthepiperings]

My stepdad had a pipe he'd smoke from time to time when I was younger. Then later on I got huge into Sherlock Holmes, but the clincher was Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. After seeing the first movie I went out and got my own churchwarden and an ounce of house blended black cherry tobacco.

 

[sockmonkey]

I quit smoking cigarettes a couple years ago, but dearly missed the act of smoking.
Cigars seemed a bit on the boisterous side, and were definitely lacking in style, so I figured I'd try a pipe instead.
Upon lighting my very first bowl, the smoke wafted up to my nose and instantly slung me back in time to my childhood. My mom worked as a leasing office clerk for two gentlemen, Charles Akins Sr. and Jr, both of whom smoked pipes in the office all day.
We'd recently gone from riches to rags (long story there), and these two gentlemen were extraordinarily kind to my family during a time when we were struggling just to get by. They loaned us their old cars, took us out to dinner, and when we visited my mom at the office they never failed to walk my little brother next door to the "U-Tote-M" for an armload of candy.
I've never forgotten them, but I had forgotten the smell of their pipe smoke.
These days, that same little brother and I run my mom's company, which has grown into a multi-million dollar business with over 30 employees...some of whom occasionally bring their little ones with them to the office.
It's a pale tribute to Mr. Akins and his son, but I do my best to show these kids the same kindness that was shown to a couple of displaced Yankee brats, scared and lost in Houston and very much missing a home in Rhode Island that wasn't there anymore.
Anyway, the reminder of those two gentlemen and their pipe smoke ended up being a big part of the allure for me.
TL;DR
I tried it because I'd given up cigarettes but still liked smoking, and because it reminded me of a couple very kind gentlemen from my childhood.

 

[marmal4de]

nd an ounce of house blended black cherry tobacco.

Interesting phenomena how new smokers gravitate to cherry blends!

 

[hilojohnny]

Jiminy Christmas, Morlader....you started even before I did....

Back in the Old Days when men were men and women were women....that would be 1957 when I was a college freshman....I decided to become the "man about campus"...this, of course, included becoming a pipe smoker since smoking the pipe was COOL.... :laughat: