Whats Your Pipe Style?

[atomic]

That's why you clench them.

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Precisely the reason they aren't for me, at least at this moment in time. Thankfully I concluded that quickly enough. I look at your pic and consider that clenching an amazing feat! Nice pipe BTW.

 

[mso489]

Like many, I'm big on variety here too. I might be inclined in several ways. For example, I like a variety of sizes. I think most pipe smokers would find use for at least one or two really large bowled pipes, and the same for small (Group 1 or 2), for sampling, short smokes, and longer smokes with flake/coin/plug/rope. I have a true admiration for some lower end factory pipes when they are good examples of industrial design, that is designs that translate well to factory production but are still works of art. Iversson and others did those. Anonymous carvers did as well. Some Kaywoodie, Yello-Bole, Dr. Grabow, etc., are traditional classics. Some pipes I wouldn't care to own or smoke I still admire for their imaginative design, like Mummerts and some Ser Jacopo. In the artisan category, I really like the Colfax, N.C., pipe carver Jerry Perry. I find his work distinctive and subtle, little allusions to Japanese, Danish, and U.S. factory pipe design, and something of his own in there besides. I've been buying his pipes since 2002, some made of Mountain Laurel.

 

[STP]

I have more bent billiards than anything else, but my favorite is Savinelli‘s bent bulldog 673. Looks great, feels great, and smokes great ?

 

[PipesRock]

Classic straight shapes. Billiard, Dublin, Canadian (under 6.5 inches), full size cobs (bent or straight).

 

[bent1]

I have a weakness for pipes shaped like a Kaywoodie 99b (1/4 bent bullmoose /squat Rhodesian), and Canadians. Many other styles are interesting too, and my racks are a bulging. So, I try not to look.

 

[Mr.Mike]

It's funny how things go. When I started I was fascinated with freehands and Danish styles which I find revulting now. Until recently I smoked mostly bents but now I'm attracted to straight classic shapes like billards. I wonder what I'll be into next?

 

[warren]

Classic shapes on stems bent to some degree or another.

 

[Tommy Boy]

I have been leaning towards sandblasts lately. I just love how a deep sandblast feels in my hand. But i have smooth, blasted, rustrated, meerschaum and cobs most with some degree of bends.

 

[bullet08]

As long as it's Peterson, I'm fine. I think I have more 999 than anything else. Rhodesian seems to draw me. But almost any Peterson will do. Do have some Morgan nose warmers, but rarely used them. Ordered two MM corn cobs, Carolina Gent, but no idea at all regarding cobs. Straight or bent doesn't really matter. They both seems to work for me. If the finish is smooth, I like interesting grains. Most of my pipes are smooth. Lately, been finding sandblast rather interesting.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I do have a specific interest sub-collection, but it's just fascination over a particular shape.

 

[lraisch]

Over the course of 50+ years of pipe smoking, my tastes have ranged from smooth finished straights to sandblasted full bents and everything in between. I've gotten away from freehands and if I have a favorite right now it's probably a quarter bent apple.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Prefer: Traditional shapes, including the artisan pipes I have. Don't like nose warmers nor churchwardens. All finishes except mixed.

 

[Scottishgaucho]

Must admit despite being a pipe smoker since the early 70's I knew very little about pipe shapes until I joined a pipe smoking forum a few years ago....I honestly hadn't a clue what the difference was between a billiard,zulu, pot or dublin shape. I was so used to only smoking Falcon pipes.
After I joined a forum I began to buy estate pipes and if I liked the look of it and it said England or London and the price was right I'd buy it.
Most of my purchases have turned out to be straight stem and on the smaller bowl side...bullcap, prince shapes. I do have one Barbic billiard pipe which to me has a gigantic bowl....I do love it but rarely smoke it as it takes too much baccy to fill it and takes forever to smoke it.

 

[kurtbob]

I have a few bents, meers, briars and cobs but mainly straight Lovats and Canadians

 

[Parsimonious Piper]

I make a distinction between what I want and what I admire. I appreciate the art of a well-carved artisan pipe regardless of its shape. What I want and buy are classic shapes.

 

[Celius]

British pipes: Small pipes group size 1-3.
Classic shapes, mainly straight and bent billiard, smooth finish.
Also pipes with army oor silver mount.
Basicly the very classic vintage pipes.

Italian: Big, rusticated, with unusual shapes, but billiard as well.

 

[didimauw]

I prefer the classics myself. No crazy shapes, no crazy colors. Simple. But I also smoke Carter hall out of a cob 90% of the time.

 

[mso489]

I really like chasing's collection of 904's (hope that's the right number). I like that shape, but I feel he owns it. I'll make do with my Stanwell 32's and Peterson B11's, two of each.

 

[B_Rock]

My collection consists of a variety of shapes - billiards, bulldogs, a Dublin, a Zulu and Rhodesian. Most are rusticated bent - either full, 3/4th or a slight bend. My only straight pipes are 2 bulldogs. Does that mean I need a classic straight billiard or Dublin (or both) to round out my collection??

 

[heathandleaf]

Small/petite overall size with small to average sized bowls (.65 - .8”). If it’s over 30 grams it has to be special. Classic French/British shapes, mostly straight and no longer than 5.25”.
Also, straight grain or very nice flame grain is always acceptable but cross grain and birdseye really do it for me.

I'll ditto on the weight and length parameters. I love some fine grain but tend to lean more toward the blasts, likely due to clenching and klutzing around. Love the feel and visuals of a good blast.