What is the best Savinelli pipe?

[TheIronMonkey]

What is the best Savinelli pipe?​

I’m considering getting a Savinelli but don’t know which one, send pics too!

As others have mentioned, “best” is really subjective and can only be determined by what appeals most to you with regard to aesthetics and feel.

That said, Savinelli does grade their pipes in terms of quality of their briar and imperfections (or lack thereof) in the wood. You may find the info about sizes and quality below useful.

General Sizes:
Standard (no stamp)
King (KS)
Extraordinaire (EX)

Note: There are others, though: MEGA and Jumbo (JU)—seen on the very large Qandale pipes

Quality:
Standard
Punto Oro Gold
Punto Oro
Giubileo d‘Oro (no flaws)—these do have extra grades of one, two, and three five pointed stars. There may be ones with more, but I haven't seen any (yet).
Autograph (there could be flaws but it is a Freehand)
Autograph with briar grades/flames in ascending order of quality: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 0, 00, 000, Eccezionale (plural Eccezionali)—called Extraordinaire in the US, but not to be confused with the EX size, which is also called Extraordinaire; this highest grade has a single letter E stamped on the pipe. I’ve recently read that Savinelli produces approximately 100,000 pipes annually (this number was around 80,000 in 2015, so pipe sales must’ve improved in the last ten years; compare that to their production number of 400,000 circa 1973, and it’s rather sad). In years past, it has been written that on average, perhaps, only two or three Eccezionale/Extraordinaire pipes are produced in a five-year period; based on these numbers, approximately one out of every quarter million Savinelli pipes is an Eccezionale/Extraordinaire. I‘ve noticed an increase in Eccezionali/Extraordinaires offered in the last couple of years, so the 1:250,000 ratio may no longer hold true—even so, they still represent a drop in the bucket.

Note: There is no Autograph 7 Gruppo/Grade (no one at Savinelli knows why), but I have seen ones stamped with 2.

There are 0000 stamped pipes that are a higher grade than the 000 (a pipe shop called Pipe Pub in Texas sold them)—I believe these morphed into the Eccezionale/Extraordinaire grade; the evolution of the stamping for this highest tier Savinelli went from “0000” to “000 E” to “E.”

There are many lines that fall between some of the designations in terms of quality, but this covers the most basic delineations.

 

[carp rides again]

I like the 673 the most but I also have a duca de carlo that a friend gifted me that is a workhorse

 

[dozicusmaximus]

I really like my first pipe an unfinished billiard Series III 101. I found that the 320s smoke better for me though with english blends. I got a Bing and 673 recently which I am really enjoying.

 

[Douglas]

I really like my 706 (slim billiard), 701 (Lovat), 614 (Oom Paul-ish), 622 (bent pot) and Bing’s Favorite.

 

[TonyManx]

Miele 111 KS. I’ve owned and smoked many, many Savinelli’s and nothing beats the look, capacity and draw of that billiard in their “honey” series.

I've never had a Sav that didn't smoke well. Recently got a Rossi, It's just as good. If you use Facebook, there is an active group called Savinelli Pipe Fans

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Couldn't tell you what the best one is as I've had limited exposure to Savinelli pipes. I will say the Savinelli 606 KS might be my new favorite pipe/shape. I just love the way it smokes and feels in my hand. The one pictured is the 2023 Saint Nicholas version but they have many different varieties of colors and finishes. If you have a pipe shop nearby I'd stop by and just hold a few different shapes and finishes to see how they feel to you in your hand. I prefer a straight billiard, but the 606 KS might just change that for me.

View attachment 362249

Beautiful stem. I love that.
I have this 2022 Saint Nicholas in the same shape. It is a great shape and among the best smoking pipes I own.

For the OP, the best one is the one you like the best. I like the 606KS and the 626. Your milage may vary.
The good thing it, if it was made by Savinelli, it's going to be a good smoker.

 

[WirelessSmoke]

Beautiful stem. I love that.
I have this 2022 Saint Nicholas in the same shape. It is a great shape and among the best smoking pipes I own.

For the OP, the best one is the one you like the best. I like the 606KS and the 626. Your milage may vary.
The good thing it, if it was made by Savinelli, it's going to be a good smoker.

That 2022 is a beauty, looks very festive! I might have to start looking around for a 2022, and other previous years of the St. Nicholas now. Down another rabbit hole I probably didn't need to go down!

 

[pappymac]

As others have mentioned, “best” is really subjective and can only be determined by what appeals most to you with regard to aesthetics and feel.

That said, Savinelli does grade their pipes in terms of quality of their briar and imperfections (or lack thereof) in the wood. You may find the info about sizes and quality below useful.

General Sizes:
Standard (no stamp)
King (KS)
Extraordinaire (EX)

Note: There are others, though: MEGA and Jumbo (JU)—seen on the very large Qandale pipes

Quality:
Standard
Punto Oro Gold
Punto Oro
Giubileo d‘Oro (no flaws)—these do have extra grades of one, two, and three five pointed stars. There may be ones with more, but I haven't seen any (yet).
Autograph (there could be flaws but it is a Freehand)
Autograph with briar grades/flames in ascending order of quality: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 0, 00, 000, Eccezionale (plural Eccezionali)—called Extraordinaire in the US, but not to be confused with the EX size, which is also called Extraordinaire; this highest grade has a single letter E stamped on the pipe. I’ve recently read that Savinelli produces approximately 100,000 pipes annually (this number was around 80,000 in 2015, so pipe sales must’ve improved in the last ten years; compare that to their production number of 400,000 circa 1973, and it’s rather sad). In years past, it has been written that on average, perhaps, only two or three Eccezionale/Extraordinaire pipes are produced in a five-year period; based on these numbers, approximately one out of every quarter million Savinelli pipes is an Eccezionale/Extraordinaire. I‘ve noticed an increase in Eccezionali/Extraordinaires offered in the last couple of years, so the 1:250,000 ratio may no longer hold true—even so, they still represent a drop in the bucket.

Note: There is no Autograph 7 Gruppo/Grade (no one at Savinelli knows why), but I have seen ones stamped with 2.

There are 0000 stamped pipes that are a higher grade than the 000 (a pipe shop called Pipe Pub in Texas sold them)—I believe these morphed into the Eccezionale/Extraordinaire grade; the evolution of the stamping for this highest tier Savinelli went from “0000” to “000 E” to “E.”

There are many lines that fall between some of the designations in terms of quality, but this covers the most basic delineations.

@TheIronMonkey Thanks for that information.
The first Savinelli I bought was an estate Non Pareil that I needed a new stem. The second was a Giubileo d'Oro I found at a street fair for $3. Both are good smokers - in my opinion, very good smokers.
I now own four more Savinelli's (including the 2024 St. Nicholas) and 1 Rossi.

Even the Rossi is a good smoker except the first time I smoked it the finish started bubbling.

 

[Zeri]

Try the Clark's Favorite. It's such an easy smoke. So rewarding and satisfactory.

 

[BayouGhost]

I like a lot of them, but a few that stand out are the 311 poker and the 121/122 pot. The 121/122 really lets English blends come to life. I use the filter replacement insert in those but prefer non-filtered models for simplicity. My first pipe was a 606KS, which has a pretty large bowl, but it is a good one. I will eventually get a 626 in the Miele finish.