Your Magic Pipe

[Chasing Embers]

Spring 2015, forum member Sparrowhawk started a thread revolving around his eventual purchase of a Moretti volcano pipe. During the course of that thread, I was perusing eBay for other volcano (my favorite shape) pipes, and came across an unsmoked Don Carlos. Winning the auction, and having it in my collection for nearly two years, it has settled into being the pipe that I smoke Mac Baren's Symphony in, but during the journey, I discovered it could smoke anything flawlessly. Any tobacco I loaded it, with regardless of cut, type, or blend, the cylindrical chamber smoked it cool and dry like a charm. If ever there was a magic pipe in my collection, this one would be it, and I'm taking the time to celebrate it with this thread, and a bowl of Symphony.
Any other "magic" pipes out there?

 

[blueeyedogre]

I have a Big Ben Barbados egg that smokes everything wonderfully. It seems impossible to pack it wrong, smokes cool with very little re-lights. I have bought other Big Bens, both from the Barbados line and others and none smoke as well as that egg.

 

[blendtobac]

My "magic pipe" started out as one of my least favorites. I was given a great looking Peterson Sterling Silver Zulu with outstanding bird's eye on both sides. Unfortunately, the button was terribly uncomfortable and it smoked wet and hot. I didn't want to give up on it, but it wasn't enjoyable at all. One day I gave it to my co-worker Dan Chlebove (maker of Gabrieli pipes) and asked if he could do something to make it useful. He trimmed the button, opened up the draw and slotted the end of the airway, and now I can't make it smoke badly, no matter how hard I smoke it. The button is now the most comfortable of any pipe I own. I'm glad I didn't trade it or sell it.
Russ

 

[blueeyedogre]

One day I gave it to my co-worker Dan Chlebove (maker of Gabrieli pipes) and asked if he could do something to make it useful. He trimmed the button, opened up the draw and slotted the end of the airway, and now I can't make it smoke badly

Funny how a little tweek can turn a zero into a hero.

 

[Chasing Embers]

My biggest surprise was how an impulse buy turned out to be an amazing smoker! I will agree though that little tweeks can make all the difference.

 

[tschiraldi]

Mine is an old Comoy's Golden Grain! EVERYTHING smokes well and tastes great in it.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

My one single Sav 320 (Oh you can bet I'll be getting more of these bad boys) smoked like a dream at first light. Why did it take me so long to get one? Truly a magic pipe. Also my first Peterson XL90, the Saint Patrick's Day 2013 (my first ever Peterson at that) is another one that was sprinkled with magic dust by the pipe fairy. And another would be my first churchwarden, a no name stamped only "Italy" is another one that has never let me down. My first commissioned pipe from William Anderson (freaking amazing pipe) could probably smoke old shag cut Doc Marten leather boot like a champ.
Duane, that volcano is a beauty. I've yet to add one of those to my collection, but hope to soon. That one is fantastic!

 

[clickklick]

I have pipes that smoke english well, pipes that smoke virginia well. . . but a true magic pipe has to smoke everything well.
I have two, one is a David McCarter Brandy, I'll try and get some pics of these. The other, no joke, is a pipe I made early on that turned into a shop pipe, ugly thing.
I've been through about 300+ pipes with a focus currently on Rad Davis and Stephen Downie. . . So I consider myself lucky. Some people never find that magic with triple the number of pipes I've owned.

 

[mso489]

Not to be too zany, but I find that the magic seems to move around among my pipes. Most of them are good smokers or I would have traded them away. But from time to time, a particular pipe will burst forth with perfected flavor from the chosen blend, an even burn with few if any re-lights, and a generally exalted experience. This happens with my "crown jewel" pipes but also with my mid-range and some of my low-end briars, and of course with cobs. It's partly with the pipes and tobacco, but I'm sure that my mood and attitude are also central. Suddenly the old Yello-Bole Checker is a $1,500 prize.

 

[voorhees]

My Growley Squat Rhodesian. Won it in a raffle. I was not into the shape at the time, but it became a great smoker and the button work is fantastic.

 

[derfatdutchman]

I have some great smokers, but the one I would say is magic is my Peterson Wicklow 80s. This squat little bulldog smokes every thing from English blends to Virginia blends extremely well.

 

[sablebrush52]

To tell you the truth, I don't believe in magic pipes. I've had a few duds over the years but the vast majority of my pipes smoke very well, pretty much anything I put in them. I do favor certain pipes for offering a slightly more pleasant experience, such as the Von Ercks, several of the Barlings, and a few others, but really, they all smoke very well.

I do believe in the maxim that "It's 25% equipment and 75% technique".

 

[ashdigger]

I agree with Sablebrush. I was recently getting ready to sell some pipes to thin the herd and buy more.... :crazy: ....In the process I came upon I pipe i put in a drawer that I had deemed unsmokable, well curiosity had the better of me so I smoked it. Damn, it was my crappy technique and not the damned pipe. It's now back in rotation. It's amazing what happens after smoking daily for a few years.
Oh, but if pipes are magic then my Meers are the All-Star Magicians, they even forgive my crappy technique.

 

[fitzy]

I don't think I have a magic pipe yet. My pipe from William Anderson is damn good. So that's maybe the closest that I have.