So what kind of pipe guy are you?

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:23 pm

I have a wide assortment of pipes and have never focused on any one thing. If I like it and can afford it I get it. Sometimes I keep them sometimes I let them go. The only ones that I will not let go of are my Brissetts. Mike's pipes are some of the best smoking pipes that money can buy and at a heck of a price too! I have a few Brissetts that will stack up against any pipe carver in the world for all around quality. Two the most beautiful pipes that I have ever seen and own are Brissetts. Don't get me wrong I have or have had a lot of other ones that I really like. American, Danish, Italian, English, Belgium, Dutch and French marks. I have yet to own any German marks. Probably of today's carvers the most expensive pipes that I own are Rinaldos, Cavvichis and soon to arrive Tinsky.

Lately my tastes for the practicallity of smoking has been leaning toward bent billiards and like traditional shapes. I can see now why they were designed as such decades and now even centuries ago, because of their smokability. Comletely staight pipes have never appealed to me. I have never been smitten by the allure of a Dunhill or a Castello but now that my taste for smoking purposes is leaning more toward the traditional it will.

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:35 pm

Having started in the 60's, my 150+ pipe assortment started with GBDs, Comoys, Savinellis, Sasienis, BBBs, Barlings, a few Charatans, numerous seconds of all the aforementioned, and a bunch of Meers (thanx to my all-expense paid travel coutesy of my Uncle Sam!!). Working in a good pipe shop in the 60's didn't help either!! Later I got into pre-1970 Dunhills, older Sasienis, Caminettos (early, gold moustache), Castello, Loewe, old/4-stinger Kaywoodies, Ser Jacopo (coral dots), better Comoys (Blue Riband, Royal Comoy, etc.), Don Carlos, Ashton, Ferndown, Upshall, and old (real old!) BBBs, GBDs, Meers, amber-stemmed pipes, etc. I have an eclectic group; tending toward very "English" traditional shapes. Sizes range from Group 2/3 to 6/ODA. I tend to like'em larger. And, yes, I have several "yard pipes" and a few Danish/freehand-style pipes, plus the usual assortment of clay, olivewood, cherrywood, corncobs, maples, and applewoods!! My most cherished pipe is my great grand-fathers hand-made cherrywood poker. A large pipe with thick walls, fully 3-31/2" across the bowl, with a 15+" arched, hand-drilled stem!! I love smoking this big ol' boy!! Lately I have been picking up the occasional Tinsky, a Curt Rollar handmade, a Tim West, Elliott Nachwalter (superb briar), a Colin Fromme handmade Castleford (a smoking beauty) as examples. Problem is, I see more I want!!!!!!!!!!!! And you people do not help by pointing out more sites for me to look at!!! I can resist anything but temptation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FTRPLT

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:03 am

The bulk of my collection is estate Stanwells. Much of the rest in my collection is also Danish: Refbjerg, Nording, W O Larsen, Bentley (Former), Kriswill, Karl Erik and Danbark.

I have a bunch of Savinellis and Petersons as well, but they don't get nearly the same amount of attention as my beloved Stanwells do.
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Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:16 am

My personal goal since entering the hobby has been to have one fine example of every available pipe carver's pipes.Being what it is,I don't tend to get hung up on any specific maker.It's all about the variety...

Best,
Dock

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:55 pm

I smoke a pretty eclectic mix of pipes, several of the "standard" Italians and English brands, and seem to change my preferences (for both pipes and tobacco) every few months. Right now, my favorites are the new Brissett that arrived today, kind of a Lavot/poker I had him make for me (great job, Mike) and a Bosi quarter bent cracked egg. Having met the carvers makes their work kind of special to me.

However, to show my more barbaric side, I smoke Kirstens a lot. I prefer the larger straight body (Lancer, I think?). Mike Brissett has carved me probably two dozen custom bowls over the years, and they make all the difference. I also seem to be becoming more attracted to straighter pipes; Lavots, Liverpools, Canadians, and the such. Wouldn't you know, most of what I own are half or full bents!

Natch

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:13 pm

I started out with Kirsten pipes and had Mike make me a few bowls for them. Then I had to own a couple of his pipes. Always very pleased with his work.
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Jason

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:40 pm

Like Jack, most of my pipes are my own rejects. Though I have some that were gifts and some that I bought. Right now, if I buy a pipe, I'll commission it from a pipe maker with a set of basic instructions:

Blasted.
Group 5 or 6 in size.
Bent, but not more than 1/4.
Your take on a dublin.

That's about it.

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:55 pm

Even' All, Pre-dominant marq is Castello 9-10, then dunhills, some danish that i prolly will sell, some fine old Webers, my old S.S. Pierce pipes, other Italians , Cavachhi's Ser Jacs,Ardors a grat smoking marq. Ken.
Pacem en Puffing! santa

Joined : 22 Dec 2007 Posts : 9 Location : Lubbock, TX

I focus more on the shape and feel of a pipe. I like billiards and apples with bamboo shanks.

Joined : 22 Dec 2007 Posts : 9 Location : Lubbock, TX

Ah the dreaded double poster!

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:52 am

I mostly gravitate to bent pipes, in fact only two of the approx 60 pipes in my "rotation" are straight. Makers are all over the board; a lot of Savinellis and Stanwells a couple of Dunhills, a couple of Castellos and a few Alpha made in Israel that I got years ago and still enjoy smoking and some of the other Italian makers as well a couple of "no names"
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Joined : 23 Dec 2007 Posts : 35

I have been smoking pipes for over thirty years now and have owned a very extensive variety of brands over the years. I have kind of narrowed my collection to Dunhills, Ashtons and my beloved Heeschens. I also have pipes by Joao Reis, S.Bang, Chonowitsch, pre-trans Barlings, family era Sasieni's, Ascorti and a few other odds and ends. Over the years I have kind of settled on straights or 1/4 bents but also own a few 1/2 to full bents. Straights smoke dryer for me. Like TJ I would have to say the Billiard is my top shape. I also like Apples and Bulldogs

Joined : 25 Dec 2007 Posts : 26 Location : N.C.

Mixed I would say. In my rotation I have Several of the following:

Adam Davidson.... great pipes for sure with super smoking qualities.
John Crosby... excellent as well.
Talbert Pipes... great smokers and I love the blast.
Castello
Dunhill
Sasieni Family era... outstanding smokers
Old Comoy's
Jacono's

Pipes of which I have many:

Old Kaywoodies with push stems and 4 hole stingers... these pipes started my love of this hobby. They are fine smokers and tough as hell.

I have others but these are the ones I can think of now.

Pipes I would like to add...

S. Bang
Matzhold
and others.

For the most part I am a smoker rather than a collector.

I enjoy the estate market and am always looking to add to my rotation from this area. Keep me in mind.

Peace.

Robert

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:01 pm

I am going to have to come down there and see some of those beauties one of these days Robert!
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