Why Do Bulldogs Make Us Crazy?
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IDK, but I think they look good too. There is a thicker wood where the tobacco begins to get hotter which does help them feel cooler. The heat of the bowl does effect the mood of the whole experience.
To be honest I hated bulldogs in the beginning, because of their looks. Manly? Maybe. Elegant? Not at all, it looked bulky, heavy, and awkward. However having tried a few bulldogs, I can't argue with what a good smoke they produce. Over time I started to love them. Though I prefer rhodesians to bulldogs.
I always liked the classic look of bulldogs and own several. I had Dan Chlebove of Gabrieli Pipes make this one for me a couple of years ago and love smoking it.
Nailed it. I just think they look cool, like AR15s and pickup trucks.
I'd also say, for those who like Jungian symbolism:
If you just can't find the right Rhodesian, there is really no reason to not buying a bulldog. I do love a bent or straight Bulldog and own several versions from British makers (and one Italian).
Well, the fact that the are an old, classic shape turns my crank. I've got a bit of a thing about Victorian and Edwardian pipe shapes. And they feel right in my hand. The Blatter & Blatter bent bulldog in my userpic is one of my two favourite pipes.
All mentioned, plus... They fit my hand perfectly. I love the history and it's beginnings in automatic fraziers. The shape also lends itself well to interpretations by pipemakers, pushing and pulling the proportions to make new designs within the perimeters of the genre. As a focus for collecting, it can lead to a rather eclectic collections all within the genre, all looking totally different, but still the same characteristics, if that makes any sense.
Cosmic, that makes perfect sense. It's been the exact focus of my collection for the last ten years. (I do permit Rhodies even though some think of them as the bastard step child). I prefer to think of them as cousins. I couldn't have said it better. Well done!
There's just something about a diamond shaped stem that I like. I like pencil thin shanks on my dublins, and I'm not crazy about fat stout shanks on any of my pipes, but on the double cone shaped bowls of a bulldog, my eye goes for a bulldog over a Rhodesian. I think it just keeps the pedigree that way. Rhodes are too mix and match for my aesthetic, like seeing a puff ball tail on a German Shepherd or something. But that's just me.
When starting I bought various shapes to round out the clan so to speak. Really did not know what floated my boat. Over time though I favor the Rhodes and Bulldogs, each to their own.
My bulldogs' attributes....
1) Sound engineering. They consistently deliver solid smoking pleasure and nothing's wasted in their design.
2) Longevity. A GBD #269 Virgin bulldog I bought in 1971 still delivers superb smokes. I'm on its fourth stem.
3) Aesthetics. Finely cut rings and smooth shape transitions give them an intrinsic eye-appeal beyond grain or surface treatment.
P.S. Rhodesians work well for me also. Maybe it's the rings.
1) Sound engineering. They consistently deliver solid smoking pleasure and nothing's wasted in their design.
2) Longevity. A GBD #269 Virgin bulldog I bought in 1971 still delivers superb smokes. I'm on its fourth stem.
3) Aesthetics. Finely cut rings and smooth shape transitions give them an intrinsic eye-appeal beyond grain or surface treatment.
P.S. Rhodesians work well for me also. Maybe it's the rings.
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