For the safety and well being of all my fellow pipe smokers, I alone shall carry the burden of disposing all of those filthy Castello's. I don't need any thanks or sympathy, the work is it's own reward.
Why Buy a New Pipe After Smoking Used Estate Pipes?
- Thread starter Chasing Embers
- Start date
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Never bought an estate pipe, don't have anything against them..that's all that I have to say about that.
Back when I was young I tried smoking a pipe more than once. I'd been smoking cigs since I was 13, on a regular basis, so I was tobacco curious. Too bad I didn't 'get it', and part of my 'problem' I think, was that I was smoking new, cheap, pipes.
Cheap isn't the real issue here, but new, is.
I've really enjoyed the hunt for good smokable estate pipes, and once in awhile I'll win an auction that yields an unsmoked briar. I've got about 12 of em, by now and I am loathe to smoke them.
I read that Samuel Clemons hired guys to break in his pipes.
The ONLY new pipe I've smoked since I began in earnest to smoke a pipe, (3 yrs) are corn cobs.
Cheap isn't the real issue here, but new, is.
I've really enjoyed the hunt for good smokable estate pipes, and once in awhile I'll win an auction that yields an unsmoked briar. I've got about 12 of em, by now and I am loathe to smoke them.
I read that Samuel Clemons hired guys to break in his pipes.
The ONLY new pipe I've smoked since I began in earnest to smoke a pipe, (3 yrs) are corn cobs.
I have had great experiences with estate pipes and some terrible ones. Sometimes a new pipe catches my eye and I fall in love. I nurture it into being a great smoker. Sometimes an estate pipe catches my eye and I have accept it for what it is.
I'm good either way. When I'm shopping, I'll begin looking for a new pipe, but if nothing catches my eye, I'll start looking at estates. Quite often you can find a great estate pipe at a fraction the cost of the same pipe brand new.
I very much enjoy the refurbishing of estate pipes. I like to fix things. So, I will continue to stalk deals on ebay. I have two briars and a pile of MM cobs that I bought new. The rest are estate pipes.
I snagged these ladies on ebay yesterday for 11 bucks shipped. One Willard, one Whitehall, two Kaywoodies and an unknown checkmark pipe. I am a sucker for bents and checkmarks are a favorite.
I snagged these ladies on ebay yesterday for 11 bucks shipped. One Willard, one Whitehall, two Kaywoodies and an unknown checkmark pipe. I am a sucker for bents and checkmarks are a favorite.
I like the character and patina of an estate pipe. I enjoy thinking about the life the pipe has had before it got to my novice hands. BUT there is something to be said for new, that I am the first to enjoy it.
I used to insist on buying new and "training" my pipes personally. Now I like everything about estates; my wife does that queasy face scrunch when I call them used. Researching/pondering the history, cleaning, finding what smokes best in them and seeing if I pick up any different nuances from any of the regulars. When I want something new, I have a couple bags of cobs for that..
I buy, smoke and enjoy both, but if you asked me to pick out my 10 best smokers,maybe three would have come by the Estate route. And it seems of late that desirable examples and shapes of the Italian brands I favor are fully priced when they come up on eBay, at least compared with what a new one goes for from an Italian retailer (an alternative I am completely comfortable with, though I know some aren't). That said, I just sprung for a very nice estate Castello Old Antiquari on eBay the other day and, by my own measure of value, put a snipe in that was 20% higher than I would have entered for most Old Antiquaris of that size, and was pleased to win it for about $3 below my maximum.
After a little over a year back in smoking and buying pipes, I have come to the same conclusion that I guess I had formed back around 2001 when I had 20 years experience - there is value to be had in both markets. I actively pursued pipes in both places then, and I do the same now.
After a little over a year back in smoking and buying pipes, I have come to the same conclusion that I guess I had formed back around 2001 when I had 20 years experience - there is value to be had in both markets. I actively pursued pipes in both places then, and I do the same now.
I'll lean towards an estate pipe 90% of the time. Obsolete choices are available and if you choose properly the quality is high. I also hate breaking in a new pipe (unless it's an oil-cured NOS Ashton...)
I might add, I've never found a new pipe particularly problematical. I have bought new pipes (or unsmoked estate pipes) that smoke okay at the beginning but improve distinctly over time. But most unsmoked pipes smoke quite well from the beginning and get somewhat better with development of a carbon layer -- I don't build cake, wipe them out after each smoke. But this business about suffering a long disappointing stretch of inferior smokes until the pipe finally gets right, I just don't experience that. In fact many pipes are great from the first bowl on.
+1
Been many years since I actually had a new pipe that was positively unpleasant when first smoked.
The price point of estates are what keep me coming back. I would have about 1/3 the pipes I do now if I only bought estates.
And after spending 22 years in the Army with all its field environments and deployments to various crapholes around the globe, I don't fret much about gungyitis on an estate pipe...
And after spending 22 years in the Army with all its field environments and deployments to various crapholes around the globe, I don't fret much about gungyitis on an estate pipe...
I’ve bought new and estates. Most of the estates turned out to be a good purchase; a few of them ended up having tough to get rid of ghosts or other issues that required time & effort to fix. For me, it comes down to what other tasks I have going on at the time. If an estate catches my eye and has a good price, I might buy it. At other times, I’ve been so busy with other things that I didn’t want to take on an estate. They may turn into a project.
I love all sources of pipes, new ones, custom, estate, hand-me-downs, etc... But, I enjoy the "breaking in" process. The first aroma that you get of first warned virgin briar, the honeymood (so to speak), where the little hairs burn and mingle with the flavors of a bright Virginia, and you get to know the pipe's preferred sensitive spots, and preferred cadence that make her purrr just right for me. That spicy sweet pipey smell. I wonder sometimes if I enjoy smoking the pipe more than the tobacco. Sure, sure, I love the ease of getting to know an estate pipe that has "been around the block" a few times. But, smoking a brand new pipe, imprints that briar's DNA on me. I start to notice more of the aromas and mystique that the briar imparts into the smoke. Taking the pipe from the creator and just savoring in the molestation of that once so pretty smooth briar bowl interior. I like to take something perfect, beautiful, and destroy it as I make it my own, an extension of myself, so to speak.
But, sure, estate pipes are nice too. :
:
But, sure, estate pipes are nice too. :
:
What a depressing thread for a pipemaker to read....Clearly, I need to change my marketing strategy- henceforth, I shall presmoke all pipes I sell and include a nice soft leather bag and copy of my health records...
Having said that, there's nothing like the nutty taste of high quality briar for the first few bowls...that's the caviar of the pipe world...
Having said that, there's nothing like the nutty taste of high quality briar for the first few bowls...that's the caviar of the pipe world...
Well we know that Chasingembers is speaking a little tongue-in-cheek because of his annual Bruce Weaver commission.
As to the original question, I buy new pipes for lots of reasons.
Here are a few:
1) I like the pipe maker and their work and hope that by buying a pipe or two, or four (Alden I'm looking at you here), that they'll keep making pipes.
2) There is a new release design, shape, look or colour that strikes my fancy (stupid Christmas pipes).
3) Because aldecaker scared the bejeezus out of me.
Ok the last one is made up. I've purchased, cleaned up, and brought back into service so many damned estate pipes over the last five years that I'm definitely not afraid of the pox.
I like a well traveled estate as much as brand new briar. I also like breaking in a pipe, and have no issue with tuning it up.
$0.05 in the bucket.
-- Pat
As to the original question, I buy new pipes for lots of reasons.
Here are a few:
1) I like the pipe maker and their work and hope that by buying a pipe or two, or four (Alden I'm looking at you here), that they'll keep making pipes.
2) There is a new release design, shape, look or colour that strikes my fancy (stupid Christmas pipes).
3) Because aldecaker scared the bejeezus out of me.
Ok the last one is made up. I've purchased, cleaned up, and brought back into service so many damned estate pipes over the last five years that I'm definitely not afraid of the pox.
I like a well traveled estate as much as brand new briar. I also like breaking in a pipe, and have no issue with tuning it up.
$0.05 in the bucket.
-- Pat
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