Your Most Unmistakable U.S. Made Pipes

[mso489]

My most unmistakable U.S. made pipes would start with my two Dr. Grabows. Dr. Grabow is, as far as I can discern, the largest U.S. maker of briar pipes, and possibly the last of the large U.S. factory briar pipe companies. I also have three Kaywoodie pipes that fill the bill, as does my Yello Bole. To me, U.S. factory pipes are like 1950's American (U.S.) made automobiles, exuberant if showy in design, rock solid when they'r good, and extra shabby when they're not. What are your most distinctly American/U.S. pipes?

 

[warren]

Mine? Corn cobs of course.

 

[ashdigger]

Bertram

 

[dixie]

My collection of Oversized Kaywoodie Handmade pipes:

 

[fireground_piper]

Bertram and a Tom Howard

 

[jpberg]

Right there. Everybody else can suck it.

 

[philobeddoe]

My Custombilts.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Not sure.

 

[greeneyes]

The one with the aluminum spacer between the stem and shank that's stamped "imported briar."

 

[bullet08]

Several MM cobs are about it. Not finding the shapes I like from Dr. Grabows and others. I distinctively remember Dr. Grabows with shape very similar to Peterson 9BC, but not finding it. Remember my father's only pipe and my 9th grade home room teacher having those with spade on the stem.

 

[Toast]

Probably my two Paul Perris. I can't imagine them having been made anywhere else in the world.

 

[ssjones]

Dammit, hard to top that 1980 KW Lake Placid, thats gold. I'll throw my 8783B out there

 

[canucklehead]

The classic Missouri Meerschaum corn cob pipe, not merely a hollowed out vegetable bone, this is a serious piece of Americana in all of its drywall plastered, yellow varnished, Elmer glued, amber plastic-stemmed glory.

 

[Chasing Embers]

 

[danish]

When pipe smoking was common, most pipes sold here in Denmark were made locally or somewhere else in Europe. Cheap US cobs were sold everywhere but mostly used as an emergency, if you eg had forgotten a 'real' pipe when out and about...

 

[Old School 3319]

I have around 20 pipes 4 MM cobs 2 Nording's 1 Medico, and the rest are all Dr. Grabows. I smoke my Golden Duke all day

 

[newbroom]

I see the cob as quintessential Americana, whatever that means. I just think 'em, and don't always have an explanation.
Qualify American Briar and Grabow is right there with anyone. I have a few LHS, a CPF, some Kaywoodies, Yello-Bole, Medico, and of course cobs. I like the older Grabows, but really only have experience with Estate Grabows anyway. I have some Chicago made pipes (Linkman's era, some Westbrooks in wire brush bark finish, and a few of their other models. I love their stems

 

[kurtbob]

American made vs an 100% American product in design and materials kinda make it a tough choice but, I’m going to go with my MM cobs!

 

[sablebrush52]

Unmistakably American? The cobbs, Kaywoodies, Von Ercks, and Piersels in my motley collection.

 

[mso489]

I've never considered MM cobs temporary or disposable pipes. I buy the special editions with acrylic stems, and my older ones are fitted with Forever acrylic stems. With a large rotation of pipes, and if you treat them well, they last for years or decades.