And I appreciate you and all others who take valuable time to answer my question.. replying back is just a simple gesture of thanks to you and all!
Happy Piping!
What/Who Influenced You to Start Pipe Smoking?
- Thread starter Dr_Harshit_Joshi
- Start date
Happy Piping!
So, there I was, standing on the fantail of an icebreaker in 1972 and looking out over the vast ice of the Arctic Ocean between Alaska and Russia. I smelled it, a lovely scent of something wafting across the deck. I turned and saw one of the old wizened Chiefs, relaxed in a folding lawn chair and puffing away. Being young and in awe of the old timers aboard ship, I apologized for interrupting his solace....
Actually, the only grandfather I knew was a pipe smoker and I always enjoyed the smell of his tobacco. As for the above, it actually happened, too. Except it was the Chief I worked for down in the engine room and he told me to buy a pipe and tobacco in the Ship's Store and he would teach me how to smoke it. I would then occasionally sit with him and some of the other pipe smokers on the fantail or the mess deck (This was back when smoking was allowed on the ship except during meals and fuel or ammo loading.) Leaned a lot about work, leadership and pipe smoking from them.
Actually, the only grandfather I knew was a pipe smoker and I always enjoyed the smell of his tobacco. As for the above, it actually happened, too. Except it was the Chief I worked for down in the engine room and he told me to buy a pipe and tobacco in the Ship's Store and he would teach me how to smoke it. I would then occasionally sit with him and some of the other pipe smokers on the fantail or the mess deck (This was back when smoking was allowed on the ship except during meals and fuel or ammo loading.) Leaned a lot about work, leadership and pipe smoking from them.
Reading these stories made me smile this morning, and realize that I'm just shy of my 10 year anniversary.
In 2010, we were vacationing in Florida at Pensacola Beach. I was an occasional cigar smoker, which my wife didn't appreciate. A older guy opposite our room would pop out on his balcony a couple of times per day and smoke a pipe. He looked pretty content. One evening, I had just lit a decent size cigar and the wife said she was ready to go out (after 40 years or marriage, we still don't always communicate!). I complained that I had just lit the cigar. The old guy popped out and enjoyed a quick smoke during this conversation. She commented that she wished I smoked a pipe, it reminded her of her grandfather. I laughed and said I was too young to smoke a pipe (48 at the time).
When we got home, and I was in a NJ cigar shop that I frequented for work and I asked about the no-name pipes he had on display and usual jar offerings. He told me I'd never enjoy a pipe, they were too inconvenient. So I left with cigars. In my hotel that night, I searched pipes, and stumbled over this site. That night, I bought a bad estate from Ebay and some bulk tobacco from my local roll-your own store on my way home. As you might imagine, that was an awful experience. More internet searching shows Boswells was just 18 miles up the road. I stopped there, bought one of their pipes and several tobaccos. That set the bit and here I am. I just logged pipe #347 on my Pipe Log spreadsheet.....(60 couple in my current collection)
In 2010, we were vacationing in Florida at Pensacola Beach. I was an occasional cigar smoker, which my wife didn't appreciate. A older guy opposite our room would pop out on his balcony a couple of times per day and smoke a pipe. He looked pretty content. One evening, I had just lit a decent size cigar and the wife said she was ready to go out (after 40 years or marriage, we still don't always communicate!). I complained that I had just lit the cigar. The old guy popped out and enjoyed a quick smoke during this conversation. She commented that she wished I smoked a pipe, it reminded her of her grandfather. I laughed and said I was too young to smoke a pipe (48 at the time).
When we got home, and I was in a NJ cigar shop that I frequented for work and I asked about the no-name pipes he had on display and usual jar offerings. He told me I'd never enjoy a pipe, they were too inconvenient. So I left with cigars. In my hotel that night, I searched pipes, and stumbled over this site. That night, I bought a bad estate from Ebay and some bulk tobacco from my local roll-your own store on my way home. As you might imagine, that was an awful experience. More internet searching shows Boswells was just 18 miles up the road. I stopped there, bought one of their pipes and several tobaccos. That set the bit and here I am. I just logged pipe #347 on my Pipe Log spreadsheet.....(60 couple in my current collection)
pappymac, pipe smoking on a ship that to on a mid of journey is a major issue! Wow! The landscape setting you described had been unapologetic back then! Glad you got to learn from your senior.. hope you are enjoying the hobby same way like you did in 72!
Happy Piping!
ssjones, Happy Anniversary! You are welcome to share your account without ever compromising your thoughts.. I didn't understand on what context that cigar shopkeeper told you that pipe can't be enjoyed a bit! Boswells are great looking and seems to provide good performance.. Glad you joined the PM community.. hope you got to learn great amount of things here from fellow friends!
Enjoy your smokes and blends!
Happy Piping!
@Dr_Harshit_Joshi and @jttnk and everyone else who read my comments I appreciate the reassurance and kindness shown. I am wrapping up an Air Force career with 18 years in. The kids live with me and are a great thing to focus on. I have read "Happiness is a Serious Problem" and need to incorporate the expressed ideals better into my life. At the end of the day I feel blessed most of the time and my pipes do nothing but enhance that feeling.
pipebaum81, never stop doing what you love and what lead you to perfect peaceful stillness.. keep enjoying life with your kids and with your other ventures!
Happy Piping!
First time I smoked pipe tobacco was dokha. My high school friends' dad taught English at Emirates University in Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE. They brought back this tobacco and these small pipes back called medwakhs when they went to visit him. Having smoked herbs, I thought I could hit a piece. I there on a bed for five minutes spinning. Once I came to I said "hey man, could I get another one?" 
Been a dokha smoker ever since.
Been a dokha smoker ever since.
Kingdom Dokha, see.. my knowledge for Dokha is very limited but I did read that these small pipes holds very small amount of tobacco that has very high amount of Nicotine content in it.. is that true? What type of tobacco is generally used.. ? Is it natural or additives are used to increase the buzz like in Ciggs?First time I smoked pipe tobacco was dokha. My high school friends' dad taught English at Emirates University in Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE. They brought back this tobacco and these small pipes back called medwakhs when they went to visit him. Having smoked herbs, I thought I could hit a piece. I there on a bed for five minutes spinning. Once I came to I said "hey man, could I get another one?"
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Dokha is a type of high nictotine nicotiana tabacum. It's thought to have originated from one of the Orinoco strains. There are several reasons for it being high in nicotine content. First through selective breeding though generations for nicotine content and to grow well in the conditions and light cycles of the Persian Gulf. Secondly the growing condition itself of the Region. Temperatures reach 110 degrees+ with 10%-20% humidity towards the end of the growing cycle. This stresses the tobacco plant making it produce more nicotine as a defense mechanism. Finally the drying process. The entire plant is cut and air-dried and ground up in a relatively quick manner. This naturally retains a lot of the nicotine. Tobacco loses a lot of it's nic content when it is fermented and aged. There aren't any additives in it to help the nicotine absorb in the bloodstream faster like cigs.
Thanks for the education!
You can put your location in your Profile, which will save questions in the future as to where you live should you mention local stores, weather, tobacco prices, availability, regulations, location of photos of surroundings, and so forth. Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details, which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down.
You can put your location in your Profile, which will save questions in the future as to where you live should you mention local stores, weather, tobacco prices, availability, regulations, location of photos of surroundings, and so forth. Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details, which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down.
In the end, a sudden burst of boredom lead me to look into pipe smoking and Muttonchop Piper's videos really set things in motion ...however, smoking 'the green leaf' for years and years and recognizing that the art of smoking was lost in that world, i wanted to see what 'proper' pipe culture was all about. I now prefer to eat the greens and only smoke the good stuff
I've always been drawn to tobacco. I love the smell of it. I used to smoke cigarettes socially, and didn't really get the satisfaction I was looking for. So I gave up for a while until I found cigarillos and Cigars. Cigarillos are my first tobacco true love, and I still enjoy them frequently.
Anyways, I also have a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, which led me to tobacco pipes. I bought a cob 6 years ago, along with an oz of a local aromatic. It was terrible. I fled back to my cigarillos and Cigars.
About a year later, I was browsing smokingpipes, and saw a pipe I couldn't stop thinking about. And that's how I got the first of 7 Savinelli pipes. I bought the Dunhill sampler and, the rest is history. I actually smoked some Nightcap from those very same tins that I had jarred away on the way to work this morning. Full circle.
Anyways, I also have a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, which led me to tobacco pipes. I bought a cob 6 years ago, along with an oz of a local aromatic. It was terrible. I fled back to my cigarillos and Cigars.
About a year later, I was browsing smokingpipes, and saw a pipe I couldn't stop thinking about. And that's how I got the first of 7 Savinelli pipes. I bought the Dunhill sampler and, the rest is history. I actually smoked some Nightcap from those very same tins that I had jarred away on the way to work this morning. Full circle.
My 4th grade teacher would occasionally smoke a bowl of Dr Pats Irish Mixture in our classroom during lunch. It was such a wonderful smell.
At 15yo my father must have got tired of beating me when he caught me smoking cigarettes because I somehow convinced him to let me smoke a pipe.
MacBaren Plumcake was a favourite blend [It didn't bite me like it does today]
Although I enjoyed my pipe it was such a hassle carrying a pipe, tobacco, pipe tool and cleaners. Cigarettes were more convenient.
It's one of my regrets that I didn't persevere.
35 years later I was terribly addicted to cigarettes. Numerous quit attempts were torture.
My then wife had bought me a Peterson Sherlock Holmes pipe but it had sat in a cupboard for 20 years after a cherry blend incinerated my mouth [The tobacconist at the specialist pipe shop clearly had a warped sense of humour. A cherry aromatic would be the last blend that I'd recommend to someone attempting to quit cigarettes]
Over 10 years ago I was so tired of craving for a cigarette every 30 minutes that I was determined to quit ciggies for a pipe. I've not smoked a single cigarette since nor am I ever tempted.
Now I smoke mild, mild to medium blends with no stronger than mild nicotine.
When otherwise occupied I can go hours without a smoke and not even notice. My smokers cough quickly disappeared despite being an inhaler and I've noticed an improvement in my overall health.
Cigarettes have a staggering 300-600 added chemicals. Pipe tobacco has none other than blends that have a little harmless PG or glycerine.
It infuriates me that pipe tobacco is treated no differently than cigarettes by so-called health 'authorities'.
At 15yo my father must have got tired of beating me when he caught me smoking cigarettes because I somehow convinced him to let me smoke a pipe.
MacBaren Plumcake was a favourite blend [It didn't bite me like it does today]
Although I enjoyed my pipe it was such a hassle carrying a pipe, tobacco, pipe tool and cleaners. Cigarettes were more convenient.
It's one of my regrets that I didn't persevere.
35 years later I was terribly addicted to cigarettes. Numerous quit attempts were torture.
My then wife had bought me a Peterson Sherlock Holmes pipe but it had sat in a cupboard for 20 years after a cherry blend incinerated my mouth [The tobacconist at the specialist pipe shop clearly had a warped sense of humour. A cherry aromatic would be the last blend that I'd recommend to someone attempting to quit cigarettes]
Over 10 years ago I was so tired of craving for a cigarette every 30 minutes that I was determined to quit ciggies for a pipe. I've not smoked a single cigarette since nor am I ever tempted.
Now I smoke mild, mild to medium blends with no stronger than mild nicotine.
When otherwise occupied I can go hours without a smoke and not even notice. My smokers cough quickly disappeared despite being an inhaler and I've noticed an improvement in my overall health.
Cigarettes have a staggering 300-600 added chemicals. Pipe tobacco has none other than blends that have a little harmless PG or glycerine.
It infuriates me that pipe tobacco is treated no differently than cigarettes by so-called health 'authorities'.
Wow, chopper, that's a big accomplishment.
Agree it's almost absurd pipe tobacco is piled in with cigarettes, and sometimes vaping.
Agree it's almost absurd pipe tobacco is piled in with cigarettes, and sometimes vaping.
kg.legat0, Man.. Matches860 and Muttnchop Piper videos in YouTube was my prime source to get into pipes.. Their content is timeless.. and to this day I do watch their videos. Matches860 is not among us anymore and is dearly missed and Muttnchop took a break from YTPC for now though.. I'm glad you found the elegance of smoking with getting indulged yourself into Pipes..In the end, a sudden burst of boredom lead me to look into pipe smoking and Muttonchop Piper's videos really set things in motion ...however, smoking 'the green leaf' for years and years and recognizing that the art of smoking was lost in that world, i wanted to see what 'proper' pipe culture was all about. I now prefer to eat the greens and only smoke the good stuff
Best Wishes..
Happy Piping!
Nomadorb, Savinellis is a show stopper to get quality briars for beginners and potential pipe hobbyists alike in a decent price range.. Dunhill (now owned by British American Tobacco firm) quit manufacturing pipe tobaccos long ago but glad Peterson took the recipes and introduced them again..
Yesterday I was in Nainital (a local serene and beautiful hill station in Uttarakhand state of India) with my friends and saw them smoking Dunhill Ciggs.. ! Don't know why like Indian Tobacco Company Dunhill switched completely to Cigarette production!
Hope you are enjoying your smokes and blends..
Happy Piping!
Chopper, finally you did it! Glad you completely gave up Ciggs for Pipe and I'm happy that your pipes and blends are serving your taste buds and nicotine requirements well and in moderation! Ciggs are difficult to give up.. and Nicotine Replacement Therapies can cause huge havoc by giving excruciating withdrawal symptoms to a conditioned smoker.
And I too had fingers crossed for Cherry Blends.. I am desperately waiting for my Missouri Prides which are in transit and may show up by next week..
Health authorities are well known to place any type of tobacco top in blacklist of Oral Cancer Causing Agents as no form of tobacco be it smoking or smokeless can be labelled 'safe' for consumption.. but we all in community knows the real side of Pipe Tobacco.. additive free.. strength ranging from mild to strong in taste and Nic content and plethora..
Hope you are enjoying your blends and smokes..
Happy Piping!
Dr, this has been such a fun thread. It is one that comes up every few years, and it is nice to read the stories of some of the newer members.
I've answered this, here, a few times, but just for you, I'll repeat some of my story.
I was just 14 in 1960, and my father, who was a life-long, heavy, cigarette smoker, and occasion pipe smoker, wanted to discourage me from cigarettes. He gave me one of his pipes and a pouch of Cookie Jar. (I didn't want to tell him that I'd been stealing some of his Parliaments and my mothers Kents, for two years.) I took the pipe and tobacco and got hooked. Although the tobacco scorched my tongue, I kept with it, because I loved the smell. One couldn't smoke a pipe around one's peers at 14, without being a target for ridicule in those days, so I only indulged when I was alone.
In my late teens, my father's friend, a committed pipe smoker and collector, became my "guru." He taught me about good tobaccos, how to care for my pipes, and how to pick good, affordable pipes.
Now, 60 years later, I try to be that same kind of "guru" to the newer smokers in our Chicago Pipe Club.
Thanks again to you and to those who have contributed to this thread! Happy piping!
Dino
I've answered this, here, a few times, but just for you, I'll repeat some of my story.
I was just 14 in 1960, and my father, who was a life-long, heavy, cigarette smoker, and occasion pipe smoker, wanted to discourage me from cigarettes. He gave me one of his pipes and a pouch of Cookie Jar. (I didn't want to tell him that I'd been stealing some of his Parliaments and my mothers Kents, for two years.) I took the pipe and tobacco and got hooked. Although the tobacco scorched my tongue, I kept with it, because I loved the smell. One couldn't smoke a pipe around one's peers at 14, without being a target for ridicule in those days, so I only indulged when I was alone.
In my late teens, my father's friend, a committed pipe smoker and collector, became my "guru." He taught me about good tobaccos, how to care for my pipes, and how to pick good, affordable pipes.
Now, 60 years later, I try to be that same kind of "guru" to the newer smokers in our Chicago Pipe Club.
Thanks again to you and to those who have contributed to this thread! Happy piping!
Dino