What/Who Influenced You to Start Pipe Smoking?

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9) - Bob

Behind every pipe smoker, there is a story they got.. Story as old as their first pipe.. and whenever they are asked how they got in.. the spark can be easily appreciated in their eyes.. They want to share it out loud.. because their love for the hobby is eternal and they know it payed them well.
Share me out Designated Pipe Smokers.. What/Who and When you got influenced to get into the hobby?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I am never sure where to begin... My uncles all smoked pipes as I was growing up, and I was very close to them. Then there were the guys that always sat on the steps of the General Store smoking pipes, where my dad would stop to "jaw." My dad smoked a pipe for a few months when I was younger, but he just preferred cigarettes. But, he kept a humidor jar and a pipe in a small rack on the shelf. I also loved visiting the local Tinderbox in the mall as a kid.

In college, I actually bought a pipe (probably a Grabow) and a roll of OTC, burned my mouth, and tossed the pipe, thinking that my dad was right about cigarettes being superior. It was very, very fleeting.

I actually started smoking a pipe, when I was buying "pipe tobacco" in bags to have machine rolled into cigarettes. Subtract the cost of tubes and filters and the cost of using the rolling machines, I decided to smoke the tobacco in a pipe instead... and, here I am.

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

I am never sure where to begin... My uncles all smoked pipes as I was growing up, and I was very close to them. Then there were the guys that always sat on the steps of the General Store smoking pipes, where my dad would stop to "jaw." My dad smoked a pipe for a few months when I was younger, but he just preferred cigarettes. But, he kept a humidor jar and a pipe in a small rack on the shelf. I also loved visiting the local Tinderbox in the mall as a kid.

In college, I actually bought a pipe (probably a Grabow) and a roll of OTC, burned my mouth, and tossed the pipe, thinking that my dad was right about cigarettes being superior. It was very, very fleeting.

I actually started smoking a pipe, when I was buying "pipe tobacco" in bags to have machine rolled into cigarettes. Subtract the cost of tubes and filters and the cost of using the rolling machines, I decided to smoke the tobacco in a pipe instead... and, here I am.

cosmicfolklore,
Do you remember the year you begun?
May you never run out of smoke and your favorite blends. . Reading such accounts do bring smiles on writer while jotting the words and reader while reading alike..

Thank You For Sharing!
Happy Piping!

 

[Kozeman]

I'm a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. Pipe smoking seemed like a good addition to a contemplative mood.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Do you remember the year you begun?

Maybe 2008 or 2009. I have been saying "a couple of years ago" to this question for so long, that I am not exactly sure. When I check my phone, the first picture of me with a pipe was at the beginning of 2009, but I had been easing into it long before that.

I never got serious about trying new blends until I got here though. I was smoking what some call "RYO" pipe tobacco (Turkish blend) and Captain Black White up until I got here. PM had a moderator named Lawrence, who I met at The Briary who told me about this forum. He was the first of many forum members that I had the pleasure of meeting face to face.

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

I'm a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. Pipe smoking seemed like a good addition to a contemplative mood.

Kozeman, it indeed is.. Sherlock Holmes's an all time favorite of many..
Hope you enjoying the hobby to fullest!
Happy Piping!

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

Maybe 2008 or 2009. I have been saying "a couple of years ago" to this question for so long, that I am not exactly sure. When I check my phone, the first picture of me with a pipe was at the beginning of 2009, but I had been easing into it long before that.

I never got serious about trying new blends until I got here though. I was smoking what some call "RYO" pipe tobacco (Turkish blend) and Captain Black White up until I got here. PM had a moderator named Lawrence, who I met at The Briary who told me about this forum. He was the first of many forum members that I had the pleasure of meeting face to face.

cosmicfolklore, PM turned out a great place to learn so many things from Hobbyist like you.. I got great amount of Blends recommendations and accounts to worth think upon. Most do begin with OTC's and those are like key to a portal that hold huge universe to explore.. Glad you got into the hobby and enjoying well!

Happy Piping!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Glad you got into the hobby and enjoying well!

Thanks, you too.

 

[ray47]

Started smoking a pipe in 1967 while serving in the military. I was trying to quit smoking cigarettes. At first it was difficult giving up the cigs and only smoked a pipe a few times a week. Eventually the pipe smoking took precedence, but I never really gave up on the cigs completely, even to this day. My son-in-law got me hooked on dip and that plus the pipes has really caused me to cut down on the cigs quite a bit, to the point that I hardly smokes cigs that much, only when I'm really stressed about something. My preference is pipe tobacco and I enjoy that more then anything.

 

[smokiespipesmoker123]

Probably around 2005 or 2006... not really sure... I smoked cigars occasionally and it seemed like a cool thing to try..
Like most, tongue bite... I smoked a pipe occasionally then it fell off my radar.. I moved to Tennessee and picked it back up last fall. Got obsessively into it cuz of this forum.

 

[rushx9]

My grandfather smoked a pipe, cigars, and cigarettes until his doctor told him to quit, which he did. Cold-turkey on all three. But before he did I remember hating the smell of the cigars and cigarettes, (which everyone else in my family smoked) but enjoying the smell of his pipe tobacco. I started smoking cigs at the age of 12-13 but my first year away at college I thought a pipe might suit me better and be more economical. A local tobacconist, that admittedly hated pipe smokers because they didn't spend as much (with him) as cigar buying high-rollers and always complained that he didn't stock a blend they wanted, scowled at me as I picked up a MM Cob, the cheapest pipe he had, and when I asked about blend suggestions he sold me on a pouch of the goopiest cherry aromatic he had. Pure evil. Of course, I burned my tongue so bad I decided piping was not for me.
Flash forward 20 years; I had to quit cigarettes over a heart condition. A good friend and former coworker at a local brewery said that with my penchant for nerding out hard on craft brews and picking out flavors, I should give the pipe another try. He then presented me with a pipe and a few blends from his stash and suggested I pick up some Carter Hall. I fell in love with the flavors of Oriental and Virginia tobaccos (not so much CH) and within a few months found myself no longer craving the dull taste of cigarettes. I asked my dad if any of my grandfather's pipes were still around, and was lucky enough to a acquire a few. I've been building a pipe collection (mostly estates) and stocking a meager, but choice, cellar ever since!

 

[Chasing Embers]

I started in May 1991. Was trying all types of tobacco products to see which ones I liked. Turned out that I liked all of them.

 

[warren]

No change from the times I've answered this question, coeds, freshman year college.

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

Started smoking a pipe in 1967 while serving in the military. I was trying to quit smoking cigarettes. At first it was difficult giving up the cigs and only smoked a pipe a few times a week. Eventually the pipe smoking took precedence, but I never really gave up on the cigs completely, even to this day. My son-in-law got me hooked on dip and that plus the pipes has really caused me to cut down on the cigs quite a bit, to the point that I hardly smokes cigs that much, only when I'm really stressed about something. My preference is pipe tobacco and I enjoy that more then anything.

ray47, Thank You For Your Service for your nation! Pipe Smoking do well known among community to curb down Cigarettes smoking prevalence.. and I understand stressful condition do halt the replacement therapy!
I hope you are enjoying your blends and smokes to fullest!

Happy Piping!

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

Probably around 2005 or 2006... not really sure... I smoked cigars occasionally and it seemed like a cool thing to try..
Like most, tongue bite... I smoked a pipe occasionally then it fell off my radar.. I moved to Tennessee and picked it back up last fall. Got obsessively into it cuz of this forum.

smokiespiper123, PipesMagazine is a great place to get detailed aspects of hobby. And here.. sky is the limit!
Hope you are enjoying your smokes and blends!

Happy Piping!

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

My grandfather smoked a pipe, cigars, and cigarettes until his doctor told him to quit, which he did. Cold-turkey on all three. But before he did I remember hating the smell of the cigars and cigarettes, (which everyone else in my family smoked) but enjoying the smell of his pipe tobacco. I started smoking cigs at the age of 12-13 but my first year away at college I thought a pipe might suit me better and be more economical. A local tobacconist, that admittedly hated pipe smokers because they didn't spend as much (with him) as cigar buying high-rollers and always complained that he didn't stock a blend they wanted, scowled at me as I picked up a MM Cob, the cheapest pipe he had, and when I asked about blend suggestions he sold me on a pouch of the goopiest cherry aromatic he had. Pure evil. Of course, I burned my tongue so bad I decided piping was not for me.
Flash forward 20 years; I had to quit cigarettes over a heart condition. A good friend and former coworker at a local brewery said that with my penchant for nerding out hard on craft brews and picking out flavors, I should give the pipe another try. He then presented me with a pipe and a few blends from his stash and suggested I pick up some Carter Hall. I fell in love with the flavors of Oriental and Virginia tobaccos (not so much CH) and within a few months found myself no longer craving the dull taste of cigarettes. I asked my dad if any of my grandfather's pipes were still around, and was lucky enough to a acquire a few. I've been building a pipe collection (mostly estates) and stocking a meager, but choice, cellar ever since!

rushx9, I hope you and your heart is in good shape! New as ever!
Cigarettes are awful when smoke emanates from them! Stale tobacco with paper burning is a big no for me..! Here in India too, Pipe Smoking is considered a high class activity and availability of Pipes and Tobaccos is very minimalistic. But I think, it's much better then smoking cheap cigarettes.
I'm glad you got into Pipes again. And hoping the blends are appeasing your taste buds well!

Happy Piping!

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

I started in May 1991. Was trying all types of tobacco products to see which ones I liked. Turned out that I liked all of them.

chasingembers, Hope you enjoying the hobby to fullest!
Happy Piping!

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

No change from the times I've answered this question, coeds, freshman year college.

warren, do share your story.. I would love to read it!

Happy Piping!

 

[kcghost]

I didn't have any family member influence me, but I like smoking and couldn't stand cigarettes and you can't smoke cigars inside if you want people to be any where near you. Pipe was kind of the choice in those days.

 

[Dr_Harshit_Joshi]

I didn't have any family member influence me, but I like smoking and couldn't stand cigarettes and you can't smoke cigars inside if you want people to be any where near you. Pipe was kind of the choice in those days.

kcghost, what was the year when you got into the hobby?