Your Favorite Pipes?

[Hillcrest]

Erica (Pete 2nd) System XL Hand Made with orific mil stem
Erica System 302 with orific mil stem
Irish Seconds XL339S
Savinelli 2614 KS
Vauen Olaf 4873 bent egg (current workhorse)
Algerian Sitter (Believed to be J.Waille hand cut)

Reviewing my list ... I stand by it but if I had to go to the "deserted island" I would grab the Erica System XL hand made and the additional 9mm military mount stem and would also grab my Barontini Gran duc 203 both of which are the finest smoothest smoking pipes I have. Always good smokes never a bad one.
The rest are excellent but those two are "perfect" for me so far.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I would probably be fine with just this one.

 

[The Clay King]

You know Dan it is a blessing that you chose the Medieval period as the model for your flat. I am curious how that fits in with the whole Redcoat thing but I suspect it is best not to ask. I suppose we should be grateful that you didn't go in for a 1940s style apartment whilst at the sometime doing WW2 re-enactments as I would suppose you would have then modeled your whole home on the Fuhrer Bunker in Berlin!

@condorlover1 I'm interested in a few living history / re-enactment periods such as Vikings, Medieval / Knights, English Civil War, Redcoats & Revolutionaries etc. The full-on Medieval Knights Great Hall was designed when I was training with Swords of Mercia before the other members agreed I was unsuited to them. Maybe I'm too good for them

 

[Kirklands]

My go-to pipe is this early Custom-Bilt. The stem has been shorted (and is perhaps a replacement) and there's a hole near the bit that I need to repair, but I sure enjoy it.

 

[The Clay King]

You know Dan it is a blessing that you chose the Medieval period as the model for your flat. I am curious how that fits in with the whole Redcoat thing but I suspect it is best not to ask. I suppose we should be grateful that you didn't go in for a 1940s style apartment whilst at the sometime doing WW2 re-enactments as I would suppose you would have then modeled your whole home on the Fuhrer Bunker in Berlin!

@condorlover1 My only connection to the Nazi Germany / World War 2 era is my lifelong interest in Volkswagen Beetles Porsche designed the Volkswagen for someone else long before the National Socialist Party came to power in 1933; the Volkswagen became popular in the 1950s & 60s after the war. Found out that Vietnam has built a car factory in America; they were at war with them 50 years ago!

VinFast North Carolina Manufacturing Plant

Plant will have capacity to build 150,000 vehicles a year, create thousands of jobs RALEIGH, N.C., March 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VinFast and the government of North Carolina announced the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the establishment of VinFast's first North American...

vinfastauto.us

 

[sparker69]

My go to would probably be my Brebbia Serie 1960 billard or one of my Blatters - in particular these days, the Canadian. (oh - and maybe my new Peterson Irish Made Army Dublin.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

My most reliable and constantly well smoking pipes are Craig Ashtons but my most beloved ones are of course still overpriced estate Dunhill's as this classic NOS long billiard which is no more new but repeatedly being smoked by Sundays.

 

[tobefrank]

This is my old faithful. A Stanwell Shape 124. The only estate pipe in my collection. I hunted it down after seeing the revival shape years ago. They didn’t ship to Australia, so I had it sent to my parents in the Netherlands who sent it to me. This is the one I grab if I want no fuss. It always seems to work for me.

 

[GatorElGato]

Great thread, my favorite pipes are actually a lot of 5 Unsmoked El Morjane Algerian Smooth Briar Pipes. Cheapest pipes I've ever bought. Rounds out to around $3 a pipe. Best smoking pipes I've ever purchased, they never run hot and are a satisfying smoke everytime. I got them off of this eBay buyer. Would highly recommend.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

I've been very fortunate to gather some wonderful pipes, but it is this Peterson 305 that I would be lost without. I love the crazy grain pattern, the stem has the most perfect bend of any pipe I've found, and there is something just intangibly perfect about it. It is my all around favorite driving, walking, adventuring, and relaxing pipe.

 

[Cyxelsid]

I am partial to an estate Nordine I picked up from Blue Room Briars.

 

[telescopes]

I can't give a complete answer, because I only have three brands of briar pipes. But hell, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Ser Jacopo again, I have one, and it's fantastic. View attachment 239109

And what are the other two? Any older American Brands that trip your trigger, LOL.

 

[JOHN72]

And what are the other two? Any older American Brands that trip your trigger, LOL.

My dear friend telescopes. American pipes are incredibly beautiful. Although it is true that I have one more briar pipe, the one you gave me. A beautiful Lee pipe. And I am using it for English blends. Always grateful for the gift of the pipe, and its rich homemade tobacco.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I would probably be fine with just this one.

View attachment 240418

I’m shocked! I did not expect yours to be a briar… A lovely blasted saddle bit billiard. Who made it?

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

View attachment 240607
My go-to pipe is this early Custom-Bilt. The stem has been shorted (and is perhaps a replacement) and there's a hole near the bit that I need to repair, but I sure enjoy it.

I have a nearly identical Mincer era CB, a fantastic pipe for sure! It’s probably one of my top 10. I think your right about the stem being a replacement, Mincer era CB’s had a very sharp shoulder on the saddle.

 

[AroEnglish]

I’m shocked! I did not expect yours to be a briar… A lovely blasted saddle bit billiard. Who made it?

Looks like that new Morgason with a juma stem.

 

[Kirklands]

Mincer era CB’s had a very sharp shoulder on the saddle.

Thanks for the tip; good to know. I have another, larger CB from the same period that I also suspect of having a replacement stem. On a side note, looking again at the Pideadia article I noticed for the first time a note about geometric shapes on the shanks, so I examined the shanks of my CBs - the smaller CB has a triangle and the larger a rhombus. Interesting but cryptic.

 

[telescopes]

Those old Custom-Belts remind me of Marxmans. I always wonder why this particular style seemed to be in so much vogue. I have quite a few NOS Marxmans that use standard shapes and finishes. The three that I smoke, however, look very much like the CBs above.

My dear friend telescopes. American pipes are incredibly beautiful. Although it is true that I have one more briar pipe, the one you gave me. A beautiful Lee pipe. And I am using it for English blends. Always grateful for the gift of the pipe, and its rich homemade tobacco.

I am glad you are finding it useful. I have two Lee pipes in my collection that regularly use. If I recall correctly, your Lee is a Pot styled Three Star third generation pipe- but a fine smoker for sure.

These Custom-BIlts shown above or a Marxman like I gravitate toward make mighty fine smoking pipes. The Algerian Briar of a Marxman is best enjoyed while wearing a Moroccan Fez purchased by a Moor living at the end of the block. Or so I've heard.

 

[HRPufnstuf]

My favorite smokers are my MM cobs. They smoke well and I seem to reach for them most of the time.

My daily work pipe has been an inexpensive MM Legend for the last five years. They last, they adore abuse, and their simple character flatters my image of myself . . . blue collar and humble.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Thanks for the tip; good to know. I have another, larger CB from the same period that I also suspect of having a replacement stem. On a side note, looking again at the Pideadia article I noticed for the first time a note about geometric shapes on the shanks, so I examined the shanks of my CBs - the smaller CB has a triangle and the larger a rhombus. Interesting but cryptic.View attachment 244281

Believe it or not there was a whole book written about Custom-Bilt. It was written and self published by Bill Unger. Copies are hard to come by these days though.