Pipe Smoking

[wildturkey8]

You could order a Blakemar Briar online straight from the manufacturer in England. Best pipe for the money. www.blakemar.co.uk

 

[Jesse Jack]

My favorite pipe is a Britannia, it was like $50 in a retail store. The $100+ pipes are really out of my price range but I didn't want to settle for something really low-quality, and this was a good find. I guess they are seconds from either Comoys or Dunhill, which are both really good manufacturers. So $50 is a steal, I think. The only thing I dislike about it is that it had oxidation on the stem when I got it and after every smoke it's turning brown again. But I just get in the habit of rubbing a little chapstick into the stem after every smoke and it polishes it right up.

A good starter tobacco, I think, is the Carter Hall burley you find in a drug store. It's my "every day" smoke and I recommend it to beginners for one big reason: it's easy. It doesn't taste like cookies or smell like vanilla cupcakes, but it's good and it's a no-worries blend. Some other tobaccos aren't as forgiving; they're hard to keep lit, they bite ya, and it's discouraging for newbies. CH is a really easy smoke and I say smoke your first couple bowls with that, and once you get the hang of it, venture out into other blends. A lot of people pick up a more temperamental blend for their first try and get really frustrated and give up because they think that all tobaccos are like that. A straight burley like CH is also best for caking up a new bowl.

 

[Doublegun]

Finally picked up a pipe. A great looking briarwood Britannia. It was in the baskets of seconds - fit the bill perfectly. Also bought a small bag of "Jamestown" that was recommended as a good place to start. Haven't fired-up yet but I will soon.

 

[Jaguar66]

I'm completely the opposite. I can have a pipe or two a week or a month and enjoy them immensely without ever "needing" it.

In spite of the learned opinions above I quite enjoy a cherry cavendish.

I envy folks that can do this. I have admitted long ago that nicotine was my drug of choice, and I have tried to use a pipe occasionally, only to end up smoking a pack of day of Marlboro Lights, within a short while.

 

[John in Covina]

I envy folks that can do this. I have admitted long ago that nicotine was my drug of choice, and I have tried to use a pipe occasionally, only to end up smoking a pack of day of Marlboro Lights, within a short while.

Addiction is addiction, few people that were alcoholics can switch from liquor to 3.2 beer with out abusing it either.

 

[Doublegun]

Just dug out the old pipe from my parents home. The pipe is marked Marxman "Jumbo" and appears to be in pretty good condition. I tried to run a cleaner through the stem and it was blocked so I pulled it apart and there is a small metal piece that fits between the two parts and which appears to be some sort or regulator limiting the amount of smoke/air that significantally narrows the air passage.

A quick Qoogle search turns up a picture of a Marxman catalogue from 1947 that shows pictures of pipes virtually identical to my "Jumbo." Anyone familiar with the pipe and/or the "regulator"?

http://www.goantiques.com/scripts/images,id,891678.html

Thanks,

DG

 

[LocktownDog]

Its not to limit the air or smoke, but the moisture. They do make the pipes a pain in the proverbial butt to clean though. Quite a few can be removed easily without damaging the shank. They either pull straight out or unscrew.

Marxmans are decent smokers.

 

[mercuryfelt76]

I've been smoking a pipe for 5 years and have built up a bit of a collection, including a few nice Meershums. I don't go for the aromatic tobaccos as they seem to burn too hot and I personally prefer the smell of a nice Virginia smoke. My preferred tobacco is Players Navy Cut (I understand J R R Tolkein used to smoke this one) it really burns cool and long. I can smoke a whole bowl without the pipe going out or heating up too much. My favourite pipe at the moment is a sand blast Parker - I like the way it looks aged before it's time.

Are there any good threads for posting pictures of our pipes?

 

[mercuryfelt76]

Enjoying reading the thread. I didn't know they were for reducing moisture. In one of my regular cigar and pipe specialists they call that metal part a filter. I thought they meant to filter the smoke like a cigarette end so I always removed it.

 

[James71]

Its getting chilly here of a night, coming into winter. I enjoyed a pipe of Dr Pats last night through my churchwarden. I love the cooling effect of the long stem, but it is strictly a fireside smoke. For out in the field something more robust, like my Falcon with rusticated apple bowl lives in my hunting bag.

The flavoured cavendish style tobaccos get a hard time, but I will be brutally honest here and admit that sometimes when I am in the mood a nice aromatic Borkum Riff Cherry Cavendish is just what I feel like. It has to be fresh though. After being open a week it loses its sweetness. I keep it in the freezer.

 

[Renault]

I have been smoking a pipe for over 30 years. Generally I only smoke on outings to the woods, reenactments, and in camp. Love to smoke while I bird hunt, fish, or watch the fire at night . Just don't have the urge to smoke around the house. Love my Kaywoodies! Have a few favorites. But I really don't collect. I've smoked Special #2 from the chain store here "Pipe World" for just about all of those 30 years. Unless I was out in the wilds and had to settle for something at the local grocer when I ran out. I'm not an expert. Really don't get into the science of it all. Just enjoy my pipes!

Renault

 

[James Willeford]

In my opinion, smoking implements enhance a man's presence or we probably wouldn't be drawn to smoking in the first place. A cigarette says the smoker is indifferent to authority, a cigar says the user IS authority, and pipes just speak to a higher level altogether. I much prefer a pipe to a cigar for its refined aroma and taste, as well as the aura the aroma and implement itself lend a man. I am an active guy and prefer a sophisticated-looking pipe that I can grip between my teeth. Big Ben pipes accomplish this very well.

Tobacco -- I prefer a blend from a local tobacconist in Jacksonville, North Carolina, sweet but not strong-sweet and very pleasant on the draw, lots of white smoke. But then, there are a lot of different tobaccos out there and I'm sure I could enjoy a different blend just as well. So beginning pipe-smoking is like learning to shoot: Pick yourself a firearm you like and then get good with it!

James

 

[Doublegun]

Well, I've been messing around with my pipes for about 6-weeks and I am getting settled. I had a professional clean my Marxman and I find it to be the better of my two pipes. It's a little smoother to smoke and just feels better. As for tobacco, I started with a house blend called "Jamestown" which I really did not care for. It burned a little hot and had a spicy finish. From there I went to Vanilla Black Cavindish,another housebrand. Very moist and a richer almost sweet taste. Then I tried a tin of Devil's Holiday which smells almost good enough to eat. I really enjoy both the tobacco's that have a lighter, sweeter taste. They taste better to me and those around me have commented positivly about the smell of the smoke. I have received only a coulpe of snarky comments and several fellows have actually commented that they have always wanted to try a pipe.

Thanks again for the guidance and support. I don't have cravings to fire up a bowl and I don't intend to make it a daily ritual but I do enjoy it from time to time.

Cheers,

JDG

 

[Allen]

I have a Savinelli that I purchased a while back, and have smoked it probably four or five times in the time that I've had it. It's building up a nice cake and is breaking in well. One thing I like about Savinelli's pipes are the filters that they use. As opposed to a small, one inch long plastic tube about as big around as a pencil eraser, they use a triangular piece of balsa wood. Due to it's absorption qualities, the wood helps to regulate the moisture inside the pipe. They're definitely worth a try.

 

[Doublegun]

Ok, the next step: pouches for carrying tobacco and pipe stands. How about sharing some advice and photos? I did buy a pouch today. I've been alternating between "Devil's Holiday" which comes in a tin and Vanilla Black Cavendish which comes in a plastic bag. The tin is cool, as is but I got tired of carrying around a ziplock with tobacco. I stopped carrying around ziplock's with smoking material a VERY long time ago.

 

[Steven180]

A new member, but very happy that I have found an arena for those with such common interests.

As mentioned, and I think most would agree, that burning a pipe is a very personal experience that provides value to all in different ways. Appreciate the insight, opinions, and advice offered here. This thread has taught a great deal to a modest, eight-year pipe burner. A pipe is a rare find in today's society, but a pipe marks a rare find in today's society.

Just a quick note of gratitude for serving as such a good example of the culture and camaraderie of this site.

M.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I smoked pipe for awhile, and gave it up when I moved. Now, I'm back at it and cannot figure out why I ever gave it up!

 

[Trenchfriend]

My loungers, what would you recommend?
Restart maybe 50/60 year old pipes from Pa or just buy a brand-new one?

I don't want to become a real pipe guy, you know. Just a bit "sniffing" into the topic.

PS:
A bundle of cleaners are still by the pipes.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I don't want to become a real pipe guy, you know. Just a bit "sniffing" into the topic.

Buy a Missouri Meerschaum corncob pipe with a hardwood plug in the bottom of the bowl. You can learn the techniques of packing, lighting & cadence with it. Don’t know about in Germany but they are inexpensive & you can even buy a mixed bag of factory seconds from Missouri Meerschaum. Don’t buy a new drugstore briar pipe. If you take to it then you can learn to clean, sanitize & smoke “Pa’s“ pipes without harming them.