What is the Worst Pipe You've Owned?

[mrenglish]

Mine was a Larsen Pearl grade. Most expensive pipe I have ever purchased, even with a 35% discount I got from the shop I worked at. The birdseye was to die for and I have never seen such birdseye on any pipe since then. The bloody thing smoked wet as hell. Even let a more experienced friend try it out for a month or so to see if it was just me and he had the same issues. Sent it back to Larsen to get looked at. Got it back after a couple months and it still smoked wet. Wet as in each puff you take, you get moisture. A lot of it, gurgling with each puff. Sniff.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I had a Luciano that smoked so hot that holding it was like cupping Satan's testicles.

 

[cigrmaster]

Michael, that is a sad story and I cannot believe they sent it back to you in the same condition. I have been pining for an Eltang Dublin for years now. I haven't pulled the trigger because I have heard some of his pipes smoke wet and the drilling is too small. I have also heard that Kent Rasmuessen pipes don't smoke that great either. They are gorgeous to look at but imagine spending that kind of dough and getting a lemon?

 

[jpmcwjr]

I had a Luciano that smoked so hot that holding it was like cupping Satan's testicles.

You've led an interesting life! I've never even met Satan, much less handled any of his, uh, stuff! Though some experience with a few of his female acolytes...

 

[mrenglish]

Harris - Yeah I was bummed. This was back in 2000 I think. I look at these high end pipes and think they are very nice but am hesitant to spend that kind of coin. I am happier with my Chheda's and Alden's.

 

[btwes7]

Worst relationship I ever had with a Pipe was a Tsuge Tasting. It hated me from day 1. Smoked so hot no matter what I burned in it / or how slow - even the charring light warmed it up too much. Worked with it long enough to get a decent cake but could never get a cool smoke out of it. Still have it. Maybe some day I’ll figure it out.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Are you talking the heat from touch or how hot the smoke felt as you puffed away?

 

[dottiewarden]

It's still in the box. A well intentioned relative gifted me a 3 dollar plastic pipe with a perforated metal liner. It looks like a pipe to the untrained eye, but it has zero redeeming qualities.

 

[danielplainview]

Kaywoodie. It had a draw so tight, it would cave in your head.

 

[newbroom]

I'll play this game, but, 'worst pipe' is a terribly negative 'connotation' for any pipe.

I picked up an estate Kaywoodie RedRoot Dublin early on in my 'training', and of course, with its stinger and rather thinish walls, and my inexperience, I had troubles with it.

I puffed (still tend to) too fast and made moisture too much, hot and gurgley, it became a challenge.

With experience I've been able to smoke the thing with satisfactory results, but, I tend to leave it on the rack for its appearance. It looks kinda neat, hence my original attraction.

 

[oldtoby]

A Nording Signature free hand.
It now resides beside the nightstand along with the 12 gauge as a backup club.

 

[lasttango]

While I haven't had a total stinker, I have recognized that I smoke certain pipes poorly. I am still no good with full bents. I get them gurgling too easily. I really struggled my first few years smoking pipes. I didn't pack well. I smoked too fast. I over-lit the tobacco.
I have more issues with stems than I do the briar. I need a really nice stem. Some of the best stems I have encountered were from Jose Rubio, Jerry Crawford, Il Duca, Ashton, Larrysson F. Baki, my trusty old Hilson etc.
Some of the worst stems I have had are from (many beautiful Italian pipes), IMP, Storient, Stanwell, Brog, yellobole, grawbow...

 

[Civil War]

The ones with problems

 

[panamacharlie]

I'd have to choose these two as my worst. They look very pretty, but they smoke wet. Because of the very conical bowls they refuse to smoke flakes, and even with aros I am constantly relighting.

 

[samw74]

The 'worst' pipe I've owned was a Comoys era GBD bent billiard. It was awful: tobacco juice, gurgling, etc. It was so bad, I threw it away! I'm not giving up on their pre-Comoys production, as its my understanding they were well made.

 

[mso489]

I've bought and been gifted many pipes, traded off a few toward others. It is amazing to me how good most of them are. I've encountered some that are just not good smokers -- a carburetor pipe, one with a two-narrow airway too thin to be opened up, and a few others. But with a little learning, most of them have been good, excellent, or outstanding. Surprising.

 

[cigrmaster]

Michael, my two Ryan Alden pipes are among my best smokers. The kid is the next Rad Davis in my opinion. Makes a great pipe at a great price. His shaping and his stem work is very well done.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Because of the very conical bowls they refuse to smoke flakes

Now that is odd. I only smoke flakes in conical bowls.

 

[jazz]

Now that is odd. I only smoke flakes in conical bowls.

May I ask if you fold and stuff?

 

[michiganlover]

The worst by far was a Kaywoodie White Briar full bent. I got it early on in my pipe smoking career. Smoked wet pretty much from first lighting of a bowl. It got it's stinger chopped pretty much first thing, which didn't help. It still gurgled so much it was basically unsmokable.
I kept it for several years liking the look of it, and not wanting to toss something of that vintage (as it was NOS when I got it). Finally got frustrated with it about a year ago, and it got tossed in the garbage.
Can't say I have ever had good experience with stingers, but fortunately, Dr Grabow had the smarts to make them removable!