What's Your Best Smoker?

[warren]

I'm in the same group as sablebrush52. If a pipe doesn't smoke well, out it goes. If I favor one it's my Millville, the only artisan pipe I own, great balance, nice shape, fits my fist and handles everything I stuff in it with poise. And it really makes me look good!

 

[cmdrmcbragg]

My best smoker is a 1950s KBB Yello-Bole Chesterfield. The stem is a replacement after the original yellow dot p-lip bit the dust. The fishtail mouthpiece, the dry system, the large bowl with thick walls and a nice carbon cake buildup make this not only my best smoker but my cheapest at $6.
I have some more expensive Savs and Petes, but I'd never trade this pipe for them or any other. That is saying a lot.

 

[barleynbaccy]

My Peterson straight Dublin. It's an Aran model so not the most expensive pipe I own, but it would burn to the bottom by itself I think.

 

[lochinvar]

I have two that are phenomenal smokes.
My Ashton pebbleshell xx billiard brings out the best in any English mixture, draws well, and smokes super cool no matter how carried away I get. It also balances easy, so I can stick it in my jaw and not have to worry about it.
The other is a massive French Algerian briar straight bulldog, that is my Virginia et all pipe. As long as there is no Latakia in the mixture, it is the Rocky Marciano of my pipes. It is particularly sublime with Rattray's Old Gowrie (or Glaurung) and Marlin Flake. It was part of a collection my local, The Gatlin-Burlier, bought from a tobacconist's widow. All the pipes were new stock, the shop had been closed in 1969 and stayed in storage till 2009. The tobacco gods smiled on me that day

 

[briarpipeboiler]

Bjarne Freehand.

Thing just goes and goes and goes. Trouble-free smoker for sure. Love it.
It's for sale right now in the B/S/T sub-forum. Re-visiting all this pipe talk might convince me to keep one or two!!

 

[brdavidson]

I don't have any experience with anything considered high grade at this point, I've mainly stuck with well known factory made pipes in my first year of pipe smoking. I think in the end this was a prudent decision as I didn't know what I liked in a pipe and just often picked based on how the thing looked. I'm sure my tastes will be more refined moving forward. That being said, my best smoking pipe is my Brigham Chinook #426, which I would consider a mid grade factory pipe. It has nice thick walls and the bowl is conical in shape. I can smoke literally anything in that pipe and it smokes beautifully, I've tried every type of tobacco in it and all has performed exceptionally well. The second best smoker I have is a cheap little Dr. Grabow that never gets hot, never gurgles no matter how hard I puff. I only smoke English tobaccos in it but it is just a great little burner. Here is the Brigham

 

[pruss]

Interesting question.!
My best Virginia (and VaPer and VaBur) flake burners are from opposing camps. One is a group 1 Dunhill Shell, it is a small bowl, but it loves Virginia flakes. The second is my 1940s Kaywoodie king sized lovat. I'll grab the 'Woodie for longer smokes and the Shell for sampling
For latakia forward and heavy oriental tobaccos I have been enjoying two pipes. One is my recently acquired Pete Rosslare 80S, and the other is a giant Peretti Blasted Canadian. Both have big bowls, hang well, and really carry the flavour of a spicier and heavier flavoured tobacco.
Sorry pal, I can't pick just one.
-- Pat

 

[numbersix]

doctorthoss, I happen to have a Dr Grabow Royal Duke that ranks right up there with some of my best pipes. It is a standard drug store pipe from the 70s (purchased unsmoked last year). Not high quality in terms of manufacture, but exceptional briar and perfect drilling. Here's a before and after pic:

However, my best smoker is probably my Peterson Kapp Royal (106). It smokes just as well as my Dunhills and has the added advantage of being a military mount (second one from the left):

 

[cmdrmcbragg]

Love your straight pipes, Six.