Your best pipe...

[jaytex1969]

My second "real" pipe was this Viking Classic (slightly) bent Dublin. I bought it at my B&M shop for 70 clams.
I thought it was "OK" until I later got into Old Dark Fired and VA flakes. Then, this pipe began to shine.
Once jammed with a folded and stuffed flake, this pipe enters its zone and always satisfies.
In the event of a house fire, the things I'd grab would be my military DD-214, Mrs. Jaytex and this pipe. I'm uncertain of the order... :mrgreen:

 

[bnichols23]

Until a few months ago there'd have ene no question -- my beloved Caminetto New Dear Oom Paul that I've had for 45 years.

However a few months back I bought a Winslow Crown that has absolutely *THE* best draw of any pipe I've ever had.

It would be an almost impossible choice between the two, but if it got down to it I think I'd probably have to go with the Winslow. And as much as I dearly do love the Caminetto, that's saying an absolute ton.
Bill

 

[jaytex1969]

SO, Bill, that Oom Paul is almost broken in, then?
Nice pipe.

 

[alaskanpiper]

For me it would be my Savinelli MEGA (EX) 121.

I have a 121 EX as well (not mega though), that and the 122 are some of my favorite pots. If I had to pick the one for me forever though, I would probably have to go with one of my 4 Savinelli 315KS pipes. Probably the Spigot Sterling Bordeaux. It would be hard to leave my Castellos behind, but this sucker is so versatile, smokes like a dream with any cut, and I find them very aesthetically pleasing, particularly with the sterling spigot mount. I can pack it with plug or flake and make it last 1.5 hours, or loose with ribbons for a 20 minute smoke. I love it. Savinelli just released a Qandale version of the 315KS that is 8.5 inches long. I may or may not have bought one immediately.

 

[haparnold]

I'm seeing a lot of apples represented here. I'm a huge fan of the shape, and it doesn't surprise me to see three of us list an apple.

 

[alaskanpiper]

my beloved Caminetto New Dear Oom Paul that I've had for 45 years.

It must be a hell of a smoker, because that thing looks like it came out of the business end of Jabba the Hutt.

 

[jaytex1969]

It must be a hell of a smoker, because that thing looks like it came out of the business end of Jabba the Hutt.

So, it came from Jabba the Butt? :rofl:

 

[alaskanpiper]

So, it came from Jabba the Butt?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oShTJ90fC34

 

[bnichols23]

almost broken in

Jes' about, jay, yeah. :puffpipe:

business end of Jabba the Hutt.
So, it came from Jabba the Butt? [:rofl:]

You guys are messeded up, you know that, right? Yeah, it's, er, ugly, butt, er, but I love it. It was the first Caminetto I picked up when I was working for Tinder Box back in the mid-'70s. I forget exactly how much it was, but around $60, which at the time was a VERY outlandish amount for me to spring on a pipe. It's my second-oldest next to a GBD bent billiard Virgin, & really my most cherished pipe.
B

 

[p40warhawk]

REALLY hard to say with so many good pipes.

Off the top of my head, my very old Erik Nording 925 Dublin that was made by him when it was just him, its just stunning. It was given to me by a dear old Pipe Master before he passed. For regular smoking, my go to Pipe these days is my Peterson Sherlock Holmes, Smooth Baskerville FT. Funny, I almost sent this back because the vulcanite stem bend was a tad bit off. Maybe that imperfection makes it a perfect smoker??! :puffpipe:

P.S. That Caminetto is a stunner!! :clap:

Dan

 

[lawdawg]

You guys are messeded up, you know that, right? Yeah, it's, er, ugly, butt, er, but I love it. It was the first Caminetto I picked up when I was working for Tinder Box back in the mid-'70s. I forget exactly how much it was, but around $60, which at the time was a VERY outlandish amount for me to spring on a pipe. It's my second-oldest next to a GBD bent billiard Virgin, & really my most cherished pipe.

I think it's a good looking pipe, Bill. I like heavily rusticated pipes that basically look like a chunk of a tree. I've got a heavily rusticated Savinelli with that look, and it's one of my favorites ::

 

[hauntedmyst]

Nearly all my pipes smoke really well (which is why I keep them) so I'd have to pick a pipe I like looking at. Maybe my Astley. Plus it fits in my pocket well.

 

[seldom]

Yeah, it's, er, ugly, butt, er, but I love it

I'll echo lawdawg. Bill, judging from your posts and your avatar photo, you are a man that knows how to have a good time. That Caminetto looks like it would perfectly accent your good time vibe.
To answer the question from the OP, mine would be a little old billiard. The silver hallmarks date it to 1899 (BBB Own Make). It's been abused in the past but I love smoking it. It smokes very well but beyond that I like contemplating the history. I got it very cheaply here in Germany. This little pipe survived two World Wars and who knows what else. Nevertheless it brings a calming, contemplative smoke.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I don't have one single pipe that stands out from the others. In fact, I've gone through iterations of weeding out inferior smoking pipes and selling them. I would say my best smoking pipes are from Artisans and to my taste, all smoke superior to a handful of Castellos I have. I couldn't pick one from the Rad Davis, Ryan Aldren, Jose Rubio and Martin Cermak pipes I have. And I'm in fact delighted with that.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Perhaps it would be this Castello collection, though some of my Old estate Britwoods performs nearly as well , regardless they are not the highest end product ,

 

[burleyboy]

Paul, that is such a nice looking Castello. I especially like their Canadian shape pipes.

 

[nunnster]

I guess that really depends on what tobacco I choose from the last thread. If it's an English/Balkan then hands down my Comoy blue ribbond. If it's a va/vabur/vapur then I would have to say it's my Ben Wade, but that might get over taken soon with a recent addition to my collection, an Edward's billiard. And, if I'm only gonna smoke aromatics, well, I've yet to find a pipe that makes every aromatic shine, but if I had to choose out of what I have currently, I'd choose I think my Comoys "tigers eye" would probably suit me well.

 

[irishearl]

If by best pipe you mean best smoker, at least half my pipes smoke equally well, which is good. If by best you mean favorite pipe, then, being a Peterson guy, I'd say it's the Pete Hungarian, 2015 Founder's Edition pipe.

 

[lochinvar]

My best is probably my '50s French Colossal. A straight saddle stem bulldog, it's a giant chunk (group 6ish) of parchment colored Algerian briar, that is light as a group 3 and stays iceberg cool. If its a Virginia or VaPer, it shines, no matter the cut. It is particularly sublime with the much loved, much lamented McClelland Virginia No. 24. The pipe was in a lot that the guys at my local bought from a man whose father was a tobacconist and passed in 1959. His mother had all the pipes and accessories in the shop moved to her house, and they stayed there until she passed in 2000, and their son had to clean out the house. It cost me about $50, and I wouldn't sell it for ten times that.

 

[bnichols23]

think it's a good looking pipe, Bill. I like heavily rusticated pipes that basically look like a chunk of a tree. I've got a heavily rusticated Savinelli with that look, and it's one of my favorites

Thanks, dawg, & you also, seldom! Yeah, even though I do really enjoy an out-there experience a lot of the time, some of the *really* wild & off-the-wall designs I don't go for; the kind that look like a rotten oak branch that fell off, got run over by a '48 Ford 1/2 ton pickup, & then had a hole "drilled" in it with a hammer & 10-penny nail, they're just not for me. Even some of the Cam New Dears aren't my style, but this one is just me, crazy but not too. Just right for a high-functioning lunatic. And of course you *know* you had me at rus & "Savinelli." I prefer a rus that is closer to a blast than a grinder type, but either's good.
(Oddly enough, the Lorenzo Elba Imperia finish is one I'm really fond of; the combo of the orange lucite with fat bowls with deep carving just does something for me, not sure why. Had one of the Elbas out for a nice bowl yesterday. Gooood stuff... Sorry, off-topic ramble off, I'm quiitin' now.)