Pokers, as a shape, don't have any specialty in blends. However, like most pipes, they can be matched up with blends that they favor, pipe by pipe. I have a LaRocca with folksy carved rustication of interlocking loops; I saw it and thought it was too much, went away, and came back two weeks later and bought it. Its specialty is faster burning burley like Tabac-Manil Semois and Five Brothers and many other burley blends, a tall deep bowl on a fairly light weight pipe. The sitter aspect is always handy. I think I have three or four pokers, depending on how you designate the shapes ... the LaRocca, a Parker, a Jerry Perry Mountain Laurel, and maybe one or two more. I'm not a Dunhill guy, but foggy's poker is probably my all-time favorite from the 'hills.