What Is Your Best Value Pipe Brand?

[indoeuro]

Value is subjective, of course. The traits one person looks for or defines as valued are not often shared, especially for something as personal as a smoking pipe. Some like a wide open draft, others prefer it restricted. Some look for hand-tuning, others want modularity. For most people, I think - just like with me - it's a mix of traits that make a pipe just right. Or maybe just right now, which is how we end up acquiring so many. But I digress.
My vote (other than Missouri Meerschaum, because cobs aren't pipes; they're necessities) goes to the Kaywoodie family of brands. These include Kaywoodie itself, Medico, Yello-Bole, and I believe some nifty hand carved numbers from one of our forum members, Nathan Davis. For me, there's just no better value in factory pipes for how I smoke than a new production Kaywoodie or Medico. Attached are photos of a Kaywoodie Red-Root and a Medico Select Briar that I bought this past Autumn from Greywoodie. They are both inexpensive, smoke like champs, and feature a level of craftsmanship and finishing paired with exceptional wood that is hard to find in most factory pipes. There's the added benefit of them being truly iconic American brands. The pictures are nice, but they don't do justice to how these feel and smoke. I particularly like the fit, feel, and finish of the Medico paneled Zulu. The Kaywoodie has become my go-to house pipe for Englishes.
What do you value in a pipe brand? Which fit the bill for you?

 

[craig61a]

Peterson - inexpensive, lots to choose from, good smoking pipes...

 

[ray47]

Other then cobs, I value my many Falcon pipes. Their sturdy, gives me a cool smoke, easy to clean and their inexpensive.

 

[danimalia]

Is it cheating to mention a line within a brand? Because my choice would be the unfinished Series III/Grezze line from Savinelli.

Stanwell would also be a strong choice. I have two Stannies, both $50 pipes, and they're good, reliable pipes.

 

[Merton]

Radice.... Not the least expensive maker but handmade, well made, perfect drilling, great stem work in both acrylic and hand cut ebonite and, from my perspective, as I have many of both, just about as good as Castello (better stems by Radice) for less than half the price. They are a great value. You can have a lot of cheap pipes or you might consider buying a few very good pipes which smoke great and last a lifetime.

 

[eljimmy]

I just ordered some Morgan Bones Pipes. I've read good things, hope they are good. $40 a pop for some models.

 

[autumnfog]

Eltang Basic Rusticated.
Light, robust, smokes cool, easy draw.

 

[STP]

Best valued...? Rossi (Savinelli) ?? ?

 

[BROBS]

New Kaywoodie

 

[SoddenJack]

I think pretty much anything made in France is a good value for the money.

 

[samuelgawith01]

Savinelli, Genod,Decatur,Stanwell, Vauen,Peterson, Brebbia.....

 

[Grangerous]

Cobs are fine smokers. No pipe is a necessity. However, in the less than $100 range you can get pipes from all the factory brands. In the $50 range, seconds from Sav and Stanwell would fit the bill. Rossi is value priced. Tsuge another. I think Peterson overprices their lower line.

 

[indoeuro]

Is it cheating to mention a line within a brand? Because my choice would be the unfinished Series III/Grezze line from Savinelli.

Stanwell would also be a strong choice. I have two Stannies, both $50 pipes, and they're good, reliable pipes.

Not at all! I love Kaywoodie push tenon pipes, yet I can't stand to look at anything with a stinger.

 

[indoeuro]

Cobs are fine smokers. No pipe is a necessity. However, in the less than $100 range you can get pipes from all the factory brands. In the $50 range, seconds from Sav and Stanwell would fit the bill. Rossi is value priced. Tsuge another. I think Peterson overprices their lower line.

Horsefeathers. Cobs are a staple, like flour, beans, salt, and ammunition.

 

[ChuckMijo]

Genod and Butz-Choquin

 

[alaskanpiper]

PSA (long): New Smokers: You Do Not Need An Expensive Pipe :: General Pipe Smoking Discussion

New Smokers, After a long stint in the cigar world, I began smoking pipes in April of 2019, a mere 7 months ago. To say I have been enthusiastic about my entrance to the hobby would be an understatement. Aggressive, Reckless, Passionate, Foolhardy, Frivolous, and "Balls to the Walls" are...

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[cigrmaster]

For my money 295.00 for a hand made commissioned or from his stock, my vote is for Jack Howell. I love they way they smoke and feel and nothing beats it for the price.

 

[BROBS]

I think Peterson overprices their lower line.

I agree. ?
They are too close in price to their nicer grades.

 

[marconi]

Savinelli waxed Grezze pipes all of them every shape. At £34/$47 you can't go wrong. A prudent man would buy three pipes at a time and save on postage.

 

[jaytex1969]

Savinelli and Stanwell both have more than one pipe in my front line and perform well with boring regularity.

There's plenty of fancier, nicer and more expensive stuff out there, but this thread IS an inquiry about value pipe brands.

Also a nod to the MM Cobs, which are great smokers for those without pretension...

I could drone on about the platoon of great smoking estate pipes I have from a bunch of makers, but I think that circumvents the spirit of the inquiry.