When Did You Start Smoking A Pipe?

[bphilli75]

A while back, I posted Brian L's Fast Five Final Questions from the radio show. It was a lot of fun to read all the posts. In the same spirit, how about a thread on...
When did you start smoking a pipe, and what sparked your interest?
Ready?
Go! :D

 

[mso489]

After I was married, when my late wife was chain smoking nails. I stopped by the Tinder Box at the mall.

My dad chain smoked a pipe, then cigars for a while, then back to a pipe, as I was growing up, and his

dad always had a pipe rack and tobacco jar by His Chair in front of the fireplace, so there was a family

tradition. I was in my early thirties. Before that, I smoked cigars now and then. Cigarettes only episodically

as a grade school and high school kid, with buddies. From my father and grandfather, I had pipe smoking

down pretty well the first time I lit a pipe. It was ingrained.

 

[bphilli75]

I started about four years ago, at age 35. I actually thought I would try cigars but found I was more interested in the pipes when I perused online and visited a local B&M. My wife and boys were very encouraging, and the rest is history.
When I was a kid, 14 or so, I carved a couple of pipes out of segments of vine and used thin, hollow vines as stems. Then, I bought some Captain Black at a drug store and snuck out into the woods to do my best impression of Huck Finn. My parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and older brother all smoked cigarettes all my life. I dabbled of course but dropped them when I was about 20.
Now, I really enjoy pipes and pipe tobacco. I especially love that my family enjoys that I enjoy them too.
Bill

 

[philobeddoe]

I bought a pouch of Borkum Riff Whisky and a full bent Dr. Grabow at the local Hooks drugstore when I was 16, been puffing ever since.

 

[condorlover1]

All the males in my family smoked a pipe and I just followed suit around the age of 17 I think although I experimented with a pipe when I was younger than that but went full on around 17 and I have never looked back.

 

[smokeytay33]

I picked up pipe smoking almost two years ago now. I have an old soul, despite being 23 years young (21 at the time,) so pipe smoking was right up my ally. I was sitting on a bed and told my (at the time) fiance that I wanted to get a pipe. I originally just wanted to smoke it on Christmas and Thanksgiving as a holiday treat. But soon after I got my first pipe it was a couple times a week and now its on a regular basis. No regrets! ::

 

[papipeguy]

In 1970 as a college freshman and I'm still learning thanks to the good folks here. Sherlock Holmes was my primary inspiration and others like Cary Grant. I figured they were pretty good role models.

 

[darwin]

I started at the un-ripe young age of 19 in 1967 with a two dollar basket pipe and a box of Grainger from a local drug store. I didn't know a single relative who smoked a pipe. It just seemed like a good idea at the time.

 

[puffy]

I started in 1971 back before most of the negative press.I'm happy to see that folks are still taking up the pipe.The more of us there are the better.

 

[ravkesef]

1959, when beginning my freshman year at university.

 

[deathandtaxes]

I took up the pipe about 4 years ago. I was training up for the FBI Special Agent physical fitness test and decided to give cigarettes the boot. Bought an estate pipe from smokingpipes.com and gave it a whirl. Smoked the pipe off and on until I decided to go full bore about 2 years ago. It's been a great hobby!

 

[groovesmith75]

Almost 2 years. Sept of 2012

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

April 11, 2011 I went to the local tobacconist and picked out a basket pipe, two ounces of Lane 1Q, a tamper and pipe cleaners. The journey started from there. I had already been smoking cigars for a while and I had always wanted to smoke a pipe, so I decided to give it a go. I've really enjoyed my experiences with the hobby and the many friends I've made because of it.

 

[bphilli75]

It's great to see the replies so far. Interesting how often folks start smoking a pipe for no other reason than that they just suddenly felt like it. Good stuff.

 

[ericthered]

I started Spring of 2013 (I was 36 at the time). I had been wanting to try out pipe smoking for a few years due to general curiosity and fond memories of my late grandfather's pipe. While on vacation in Buffalo, Wyoming I picked up some cheap but good condition pipes in an antique store, walked across the street to the B&M tobacconist and picked up an ounce of something called "Vision Hunter" (average) and an ounce of Mac Baren's HH Highland Blend (still my favorite). I love all the variety of tobaccos available and look forward to years of sampling all that there is to offer.

 

[mrcloud]

I just started a few weeks ago. I quit cigs 2&half years ago. Had a stressful time on a family vacation and bought a cigar. Kinda took a liking to cigars but soon after bought a MM legend cob and love it. Now I own a mini cob and an MM Ozark. Wish to one day get a briar, but financially a cob suits my wallet. My wife is tolerating my new hobby. I am 40.

 

[redbeard]

I started smoking a pipe about the time I joined the forum. My dad had a collection that I always loved to just look at and when he passed I was given the pipes. They sat in my room collecting dust but I always wanted to give them a try. Well, I finally did and have not looked back since. I wish I started earlier, but I guess better late than never!

 

[greengrass]

When I was 5 years old I was at my grandparents house and for some reason grandad's pipe was in the toy box. I thought "cool!" and put it to my lips. I still remember how sour it tasted, I guess he was pretty old school and seldom cleaned his pipe. That experience put me to about a 15 year hiatus.
But a serious answer, when I was in the Finnish army about 5-6 years ago they sold these corona cigars in there. I guess they were for when you got out you could celebrate and smoke up. I bought a few sometimes when I got a leave. After I got out I bought a humidor and some cigars. Then I figured I could get 10 bowls of pipe tobacco to one decent cigar the old scrooge in me lifted his practical head and I bought a pipe. I still remember my first light, it was MacBaren Golden Extra. No turning back now.

 

[derfatdutchman]

I first started with a pipe when I turned 16. My grandfather smoked a pipe, so I picked up a Dr. Graybow and some cherry tobacco. I smoked my old Graybow through high school, then I put it away during collage and my turbulent years that followed. Fast to the late 90's when I got married, one of the things I found in moving was my old Graybow. Finding it re sparked my interest in pipes and cigars, this led to more pipes and a humidor. Its been down the slippery slope ever since.

 

[chordof3]

I first started smoking a pipe my freshman year of college. I grew up in a home where neither of my parents smoked and smoking was generally frowned upon, because both of my grandparents on my mother's side died of lung cancer from smoking cigarettes. I did have fond memories of my dad's grandfather smoking a pipe. So, I started smoking in part as minor rebellion and in part as trying to emulate my great-grandfather.

I bought a cheap Dr. Grabow and a pouch of Captain Black. The first time I smoked it I packed the bowl so tight that I could barely draw any air through the pipe. I got tongue bite so bad that I couldn't taste anything for a week. Eventually I tried again and through persistence succeeded in packing and smoking the pipe in a way that would not burn/bite my tongue. If I could go back and tell my younger self to slow down and enjoy the moment I would have saved my self a lot of pain and frustration. Oh well, we never stop learning.