I’m an estate guy. I clean them up to my satisfaction; they don’t need to be pristine. If I like the look, I try to get it. I am particularly drawn to pipes from US pipe shops (Bertram, Tinder Box, Jansens of New Orleans, to name a few). I only have 2 pipes purchased new that were gifts from my wife. I will also clean up pipes I’m not particularly interested in or don’t smoke well (to me) to a further degree to resell and fund more pipes or tobacco.
What Kind Of Pipe Purchaser Are You?
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In the fewest words, “On the smaller side, lightweight, and derivative of the shape chart standards.”
Now, those can be British/french/italian/danish/America, new or estate, factory or artisan.
I’ve got spectacular smokers that were made in a factory 100 years ago, and the same that were hand crafted this year.
Now, those can be British/french/italian/danish/America, new or estate, factory or artisan.
I’ve got spectacular smokers that were made in a factory 100 years ago, and the same that were hand crafted this year.
A pipe is a tool
My take is its a Explicitly individual preference
For a while I was buying estate pipes on Ebay and unsmoked etstates from dealers on account of pricing of new pipes
If you like a new pipe - its essentially a pricing basis - it won't indicate 'smokability'
I've had some terribly shitty smokes out of a $250 pipe and excellent smokes from a $10 pipe
I like cobs even though I haven't smoked much of them - and Meerschaum is a special treat but its not very practical for the most part
My take is its a Explicitly individual preference
For a while I was buying estate pipes on Ebay and unsmoked etstates from dealers on account of pricing of new pipes
If you like a new pipe - its essentially a pricing basis - it won't indicate 'smokability'
I've had some terribly shitty smokes out of a $250 pipe and excellent smokes from a $10 pipe
I like cobs even though I haven't smoked much of them - and Meerschaum is a special treat but its not very practical for the most part
I want it briar.
I want it light--preferably 40 grams or less--but sturdy enough to take years of abuse.
I want it less than six inches long, closer to five is preferable.
I like the surface smooth or fairly. Easier to keep clean.
I like a good durable stem shaped in a way that's comfortable to clench.
I like plain or "classic" styles--in part to meet the lightness requirements.
The pipe must be inexpensive. I don't want to worry about losing or breaking it, nor smoking it in wind or rain.
I don't want any thick "shellac" polyurethane coatings.
I don't like chamber walls too thick. I don't like them too thin.
A few small fills are fine--but not too many, not too large.
Panels make me nervous.
I want no filter, no space for a filter, no converters to fill that space, no stingers, removable or not. No inserts. I want no "magic inch" vents or other gimmicky innovations. I just want a good tenon and shank.
I want it to take a pipe cleaner with ease..
And I want it to smoke well.
So long as the pipe meets those requirements, I'm interested.
I want it light--preferably 40 grams or less--but sturdy enough to take years of abuse.
I want it less than six inches long, closer to five is preferable.
I like the surface smooth or fairly. Easier to keep clean.
I like a good durable stem shaped in a way that's comfortable to clench.
I like plain or "classic" styles--in part to meet the lightness requirements.
The pipe must be inexpensive. I don't want to worry about losing or breaking it, nor smoking it in wind or rain.
I don't want any thick "shellac" polyurethane coatings.
I don't like chamber walls too thick. I don't like them too thin.
A few small fills are fine--but not too many, not too large.
Panels make me nervous.
I want no filter, no space for a filter, no converters to fill that space, no stingers, removable or not. No inserts. I want no "magic inch" vents or other gimmicky innovations. I just want a good tenon and shank.
I want it to take a pipe cleaner with ease..
And I want it to smoke well.
So long as the pipe meets those requirements, I'm interested.
My tastes when it comes to my pipe collection is catholic (small “c”). While there are brands that I collect in-depth, there are limitations and divisions within those groups dictated by my aesthetic preferences and prejudices. I have Savinelli pipes from circa late 19th–early 20th Century to present from the Milano and Genova branches of the family brand; I’ve got multiples in different finishes of several specific model numbers, but don’t collect every number issued—there’s a part of me that could envision going that thorough route, but there isn’t enough money or time to realistically go there. By extension, I also collect Brebbia pipes, partially because of their historical overlap of sharing staff from the ’50s–‘60s.
For some reason, the Poker shape doesn’t often appeal to me, yet I collect Ropp Cherrywoods, which are essentially Pokers. Ropp is another brand I collect, but the main focus when it comes to that brand are the 19th Century ones from the Bussang workshop. I also buy the new pipes that are Ropp in name only, made with old stummels from the Chapuis-Comoy factory.
I have collected a number of Colossus Pipe Factory pipes by Kaufmann Bros. & Bondy, and by extension delved into Kaywoodie (I especially love the miniature pipes in purple velvet cases). Longchamp leather wrapped pipes are a focus, and also by extension their parent company, Forestier-Bourgeois Cie (FBC).
Comoy’s, Dunhill, GBD, Peterson, and many others occupy space. I love the odd and unique and am thrilled I was able to locate a Comoy’s Olympic and a GBD Chairman (I’m still hoping to get some nice 19th Century Barling’s Make, Comoy’s, and Peterson pipes).
I have a smattering of artisan pipes and novelty pipes. I enjoy pipes made from briar, corn cobs, sepiolite, what have you—I have pipes with pyrolytic graphite inserts; ones made with Brylon, porcelain, clay—I’ve drawn the line with asbestos (I figure smoking one carcinogen is enough for now, but I might not rule out getting one just to have). I love pairing pipes made for specific tobacconists with a blend by that tobacconist (Barclay-Rex pipe with a Barclay-Rex blend, Uhle pipe with Uhle blend, etc.) Because my father was a package designer, I love finding pipes with their original packaging. While I appreciate that pipes are a smokable art and are meant to be smoked, from my book collecting, I often take a historical and archival approach to things and have no problem with preserving something “as is” and keeping a pipe unsmoked. I have a good number of pipes in virginal states with their original packaging and they will remain that way while under my care. If I have a desire to smoke a particular model, I’ll just locate a used stunt double and take a flame to that one and smoke it, while preserving the unused one.
Lately, I’ve been gravitating towards acquiring Magnum-sized pipes to use during my watching UFC fights on Saturdays. The prelims and main card usually last about six hours, and the post show is another hour. So, pipes with large chambers that can last five to eight hours with one fill are good candidates these days. It also helps to use slower burning chunky blends to last longer. I have one large pipe that is dedicated to a specific blend that is ribbon-like, which is not ideal because it burns more quickly than something like a cake (I may need to rethink the blend dedication to take advantage of the big pipe’s potential smoking time).
In some ways, there are no limits. I collect what I enjoy and I enjoy what I collect, whether I smoke it or not.
For some reason, the Poker shape doesn’t often appeal to me, yet I collect Ropp Cherrywoods, which are essentially Pokers. Ropp is another brand I collect, but the main focus when it comes to that brand are the 19th Century ones from the Bussang workshop. I also buy the new pipes that are Ropp in name only, made with old stummels from the Chapuis-Comoy factory.
I have collected a number of Colossus Pipe Factory pipes by Kaufmann Bros. & Bondy, and by extension delved into Kaywoodie (I especially love the miniature pipes in purple velvet cases). Longchamp leather wrapped pipes are a focus, and also by extension their parent company, Forestier-Bourgeois Cie (FBC).
Comoy’s, Dunhill, GBD, Peterson, and many others occupy space. I love the odd and unique and am thrilled I was able to locate a Comoy’s Olympic and a GBD Chairman (I’m still hoping to get some nice 19th Century Barling’s Make, Comoy’s, and Peterson pipes).
I have a smattering of artisan pipes and novelty pipes. I enjoy pipes made from briar, corn cobs, sepiolite, what have you—I have pipes with pyrolytic graphite inserts; ones made with Brylon, porcelain, clay—I’ve drawn the line with asbestos (I figure smoking one carcinogen is enough for now, but I might not rule out getting one just to have). I love pairing pipes made for specific tobacconists with a blend by that tobacconist (Barclay-Rex pipe with a Barclay-Rex blend, Uhle pipe with Uhle blend, etc.) Because my father was a package designer, I love finding pipes with their original packaging. While I appreciate that pipes are a smokable art and are meant to be smoked, from my book collecting, I often take a historical and archival approach to things and have no problem with preserving something “as is” and keeping a pipe unsmoked. I have a good number of pipes in virginal states with their original packaging and they will remain that way while under my care. If I have a desire to smoke a particular model, I’ll just locate a used stunt double and take a flame to that one and smoke it, while preserving the unused one.
Lately, I’ve been gravitating towards acquiring Magnum-sized pipes to use during my watching UFC fights on Saturdays. The prelims and main card usually last about six hours, and the post show is another hour. So, pipes with large chambers that can last five to eight hours with one fill are good candidates these days. It also helps to use slower burning chunky blends to last longer. I have one large pipe that is dedicated to a specific blend that is ribbon-like, which is not ideal because it burns more quickly than something like a cake (I may need to rethink the blend dedication to take advantage of the big pipe’s potential smoking time).
In some ways, there are no limits. I collect what I enjoy and I enjoy what I collect, whether I smoke it or not.
I got drawn into various pipes in the $250-$450 range (factory and artisan) and I just couldn't enjoy the pipes as smoking instruments due to nervousness/fear of damaging them. I find that under that number I can be more carefree and just smoke (still with care) and enjoy them.
the caveat , It's hard to damage a briar pipe
The minute you light it - it's considered smoked
That's true! I can't even remember smoking any of the new pipes in that price range. I definitely smoked the estates but still had the experience described above.
As a new pipe smoker, I had to build a collection for rotation. So, over the course of two years, I must have bought around 25 pipes from about ten different brands.
In the end, now I’ve kept only four Dunhills, four Castellos, and one Caminetto. All of them straight — billiard, pot, dublin, zulu, and apple shapes.
I don’t like bent pipes (besides, I never clench), nor various shapes like bulldogs. I’m not into very dramatic shapes either.
I don’t like rings and inserts, colored stems, saddle stems, or filters.
If a pipe doesn’t appeal to me or no longer inspires me for any reason, I sell it. I don’t collect things I don’t use.
What matters to me is that I like its looks, that it smokes well, and that it has a strong name — usually one associated with quality. New or estate I don't mind.
I don’t like experimenting and wasting time and money in the hope that something will please me. If I find satisfaction in a certain brand and type, I stick with it. In general — not just with pipes.
In the end, now I’ve kept only four Dunhills, four Castellos, and one Caminetto. All of them straight — billiard, pot, dublin, zulu, and apple shapes.
I don’t like bent pipes (besides, I never clench), nor various shapes like bulldogs. I’m not into very dramatic shapes either.
I don’t like rings and inserts, colored stems, saddle stems, or filters.
If a pipe doesn’t appeal to me or no longer inspires me for any reason, I sell it. I don’t collect things I don’t use.
What matters to me is that I like its looks, that it smokes well, and that it has a strong name — usually one associated with quality. New or estate I don't mind.
I don’t like experimenting and wasting time and money in the hope that something will please me. If I find satisfaction in a certain brand and type, I stick with it. In general — not just with pipes.
I can’t say I’m buying anything at the moment as I need to focus on getting tobacco before that stuff gets anymore pricy. Anyways. Ive been finding I like the estates more as I look around. I prefer round shapes(a kin to my fat head) but not exclusively round. More importantly to the shape I’m looking for unique features. Be it grain, rustications or “gimmicks” An example is the medico ventilator or the Carey Magic “inch” I think the Medico looks badass and the one I picked up on a whim was unsmoked and smokes great.
I've mostly bought and smoked Falcons for the past year, for their utility, reliability, and history.
I've been smoking briars more and more lately. My briar collection is entirely eclectic: 5 new, 4 estates. The criteria are nebulous, primarily based on appeal and availability. All of them were purchased because I liked their appearance and/or feel: they are pipes I want to hold and look at while I'm smoking them. Future briar purchases will likely follow the same criteria, though I'm also going to look for more historical pipes (80-100+ years old) where I can think about the history and/or provenance of them as artifacts of previous ages. Probably a birth year Dunhill too. For artistic quality alone, some day (when I'm rich) I'll buy a Tatsuo Tajima pipe, and a Lee von Erck (because he's a local). Maybe a morta too, and a mammoth tusk would be fun.
Smoking quality is highly important: it must smoke well, but that's difficult to judge in advance. I enjoy the look of bent stems, but mostly have straight because that's what was available (my wife calls it "the stern 60s father look," and I'm ok with that). My bent stems are mostly Falcons (my wife calls that "the wizard look", and I'm ok with that too). I'll probably also look for a few larger-capacity briars for longer smoking sessions, and a few cheaper briars for utility use and for Lakelands.
I've been smoking briars more and more lately. My briar collection is entirely eclectic: 5 new, 4 estates. The criteria are nebulous, primarily based on appeal and availability. All of them were purchased because I liked their appearance and/or feel: they are pipes I want to hold and look at while I'm smoking them. Future briar purchases will likely follow the same criteria, though I'm also going to look for more historical pipes (80-100+ years old) where I can think about the history and/or provenance of them as artifacts of previous ages. Probably a birth year Dunhill too. For artistic quality alone, some day (when I'm rich) I'll buy a Tatsuo Tajima pipe, and a Lee von Erck (because he's a local). Maybe a morta too, and a mammoth tusk would be fun.
Smoking quality is highly important: it must smoke well, but that's difficult to judge in advance. I enjoy the look of bent stems, but mostly have straight because that's what was available (my wife calls it "the stern 60s father look," and I'm ok with that). My bent stems are mostly Falcons (my wife calls that "the wizard look", and I'm ok with that too). I'll probably also look for a few larger-capacity briars for longer smoking sessions, and a few cheaper briars for utility use and for Lakelands.
I'm rather new to pipe collecting. My tendency is collect large GBD and Sasieni pipes, and any French GBD that catches my attention.
When I went from the occasional Dr Grabow of CB or Borkum Riff, things really changed.
I smoked my cheap drug store pipes with my cheap drug store tobacco on and off from 1987-2003ish.
While stationed in Afghanistan we would get big care packages of cigars sent from either private gifters, or places like Cigars International and JB Cigars. Fun fact, that's how I got addicted to Opus X, Padron Anniversary, Peppin, Cohiba(Dominican) Macanudo...and many other top premium cigars. Until I got home and realized these were not in my budget. Then found that Indian Tabac, RyJ and H Upman were great cigars....in my budget.
Anyways, occasionally there would be pipes and pipe tobacco in the boxes.
Most of the guys avoided the pipes like the plague.
I was seeing good pipes and tobacco go unused, and it was sad. So I decided to do something about it.
One of our command came in one day and threw a bunch of stuff in the garbage. I picked out a brand new Savenelli Author, a new Peterson Billiard, and a Stanwell Lovat....I dont remember the series or numbers.
Also about 15 tins of Dunhill tobacco, G&H tobacco, MacBaren tobacco....
This was the long way to say THATS where the real pipe bug bit me. Unfortunately none of those pipes made the trip home, but the love of pipes and tobacco did.
From then on I went all in. I still loved my cigars, but eventually joined the Smokers Forums. Thirty thousand posts and more than a decade later, I had dozens of ultra high grade pipes...Teddy Knudson, Karl Joura, Jess Chonowitsch, S Bang, Tom Eltang...and pounds of great tobacco. And the accessories!! Old Boy lighters, Swan matches, ashtrays stands....
In about 2014 I just lost the bug. I completely reverted back to drug store pipes and blends. I still have most of the tobacco, but sold all but a few of the pipes. My interest then turned to pre 1970s Comoys, GBD, Barling, Sassini, and many other older British, Irish, French and Italian pipes. Some I found NOS, but most are estates I rejuvenated.
Now its just anything old, and new Petersons for some reason.
Im pretty sure this is where I'll stay.
A $600 artisian pipe just doesn't do it for me anymore.
I smoked my cheap drug store pipes with my cheap drug store tobacco on and off from 1987-2003ish.
While stationed in Afghanistan we would get big care packages of cigars sent from either private gifters, or places like Cigars International and JB Cigars. Fun fact, that's how I got addicted to Opus X, Padron Anniversary, Peppin, Cohiba(Dominican) Macanudo...and many other top premium cigars. Until I got home and realized these were not in my budget. Then found that Indian Tabac, RyJ and H Upman were great cigars....in my budget.
Anyways, occasionally there would be pipes and pipe tobacco in the boxes.
Most of the guys avoided the pipes like the plague.
I was seeing good pipes and tobacco go unused, and it was sad. So I decided to do something about it.
One of our command came in one day and threw a bunch of stuff in the garbage. I picked out a brand new Savenelli Author, a new Peterson Billiard, and a Stanwell Lovat....I dont remember the series or numbers.
Also about 15 tins of Dunhill tobacco, G&H tobacco, MacBaren tobacco....
This was the long way to say THATS where the real pipe bug bit me. Unfortunately none of those pipes made the trip home, but the love of pipes and tobacco did.
From then on I went all in. I still loved my cigars, but eventually joined the Smokers Forums. Thirty thousand posts and more than a decade later, I had dozens of ultra high grade pipes...Teddy Knudson, Karl Joura, Jess Chonowitsch, S Bang, Tom Eltang...and pounds of great tobacco. And the accessories!! Old Boy lighters, Swan matches, ashtrays stands....
In about 2014 I just lost the bug. I completely reverted back to drug store pipes and blends. I still have most of the tobacco, but sold all but a few of the pipes. My interest then turned to pre 1970s Comoys, GBD, Barling, Sassini, and many other older British, Irish, French and Italian pipes. Some I found NOS, but most are estates I rejuvenated.
Now its just anything old, and new Petersons for some reason.
Im pretty sure this is where I'll stay.
A $600 artisian pipe just doesn't do it for me anymore.
I am a collector at heart. I collect all kinds of stuff. Pipes , tobacco, cigars , vintage toys , knives and more. No rhyme or reason. I just like what I like.
