So what kind of pipe guy are you?

Subject: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Sun Dec 09, 2007 8:39 pm

Some fellows lean heavily towards Dunhill, some towards Castello, others place their loyalty in the Danish carvers such as S. Bang or Chonowitsch. Do you have a specific carver or carving house that you find rings your bell more than any others?

I love pipes and find beauty in many different styles and carvers, but apparently I lean heavily into the Castello camp as my staple since 25% of my high grades are Castellos.

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:00 pm

I started off wanting to collect American carvers. Now I'm focusing on Peterson bulldogs but I'm also thinking I may start collecting Tsuge as well. I've always like the Japanese carvers. In the long run I think I'll have several small collections (6-7 pieces per) being I absolutely no rhyme or reason to what fancies me at any given moment. Laughing

Italian Stallion Joined : 09 Dec 2007 Posts : 2102

Eight Dunhills

Three Castellos

Trend is toward Castello Sea Rocks because of price/performance. D'hills are getting too pricey.

Preferred shape/size is grp 5/6 straight billiards,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,always seem to deliver a good smoke.

I DO have a Pete and a Stanwell,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,both are excellent smokers.

tj

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:36 pm

My best smokers are, Tinsky's, Ruthenberg's, a Castello natural vergin, a Rad Davis, Crosby's, Ser jacopo's, modified Ben Wade's, Wally Frank, and a mix of lesser pipes. LL has a bunch right now. They all share a good draw.

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:02 pm

Right Now my modest collection includes:
2 Castello's
2 Cavicchi's
1 Dunhill
4 Peterson's
I really like the last 2 Castello's I picked up. I just might look for another #55 Sea Rock, Although I've had my eye on this Beauty, I've been into billiards of late but this pipe's calling my name...

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Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:03 pm

I used to be strictly Brigham... now I have an eccletic assortment...
-Paul

Subject: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:14 pm

A thought-provoking question. At the end of a long evolution (possibly, devolution) in taste, a rescue mission pipe guy. The largest charge is to come up with a nice, older, completely overlooked-unrecognised-unvalued pipe (or stummel) on fleabay for very small bucks and get the Woofster to put it back on the road again with a dent-steam, a roro-root and a new stem. An odd ecological niche to inhabit, perhaps. But one with a heart.

And when all is said and done, once the down-to-bare walls re-cake again, that old briar is a joy to smoke. At the moment, it's Sheherezade spinning one of her inimitable tales in a group 3.5-size Pete billiard that was probably breaking in the first time as WW I broke out. You may be able to match that with a shiny new Wetchamuhkallit if you go up high enough on the food chain -- I don't know. I probably never will know. And that's cool. I'll never know if that secretary in Admin is as much fun up close and personal as her vibes tell me she probably is either.

Not all niches are confining in a bad sense. Some are downright pleasent -- as my distant forebearers would say, gemutliche Very Happy

Edit to add : Plus, truth be told, there is an element -- a teensy element -- of old fuddyduddy billiards and bulldogs being kind of a finger in the face of "modernity."
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That's why they're cliches.

Guest

Excellent thread idea, JD. I've owned a footlocker full of pipes over the years, some not worth the space they occupied and some pretty nice ones, too. I currently own a couple of Brighams, 4 Stanwells, 3 or 4 Charatan seconds, 4 or 5 Ben Wades and about 30 Charatans. There's just something about the style and feel of Charatans that feels right to me... from their conservative styling to the way the vulcanite stems are cut, I just have a sense of rapport with Charatans that I don't get with any other pipe. My personal favorite models are the skaters (perfect size for me), dublins and bent bell dublins.

JT pirat

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:43 pm

I've become a Danish nut,I own more Danish pipes than any other, but I don't know when it happened. Winslow,Bjarne,Stanwell,comprise most of my pipes.
I prefer non-classic shapes but I'm not a big fan of the to-wild stuff. Horns,flowing Dublins, Big Platue Rims are cool. Cavalier Blowfish naw you can have em, take the snail with ya as ya go please. Hey drop that Elephants Foot, I didn't say nuthin bout carting that off.

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:58 am

I guess I'm a "whatever's at hand" kind of pipe guy. I own a handful of Savinellis, a Peterson, two Boswell's, a Nording and a few other miscellaneous brands. I unfortunately have none of the pipes I'd really like to have, e.g. Tinsky, Talbert, Rad Davis and some of the other American makers I drool over when I'm cruising for pipes. Since I got curious about making pipes several years ago, most of my "fun money" goes towards buying materials, so I get to smoke quite a few Hazmat brand pipes Laughing

at the expense of only admiring others from afar.

Guest

I have more Castellos than any other brand and consider them a benchmark for quality. However, my Danish and German pipes are very stylish and just as well-made, and many other Italian brands are excellent in both quality and value.

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:57 am

The majority of pipes that I have are from North American carvers, though I have a sprinkiling of Danish, German, Italian, and English pipes. I love 'em all and that's a problem.

I'm trying to talk myself into selling my Danish pipes, but I doubt that I'll listen.

I've also got a few Japanese pipes and I really like them a lot. But that's a whole other focus and the big dog - Tokutumi - is one I just can't afford to try and collect, unless that's all I collect.

Obviously, I like the zulu shape and I'm trying to collect a nice array of zulus from all over the place and at various grades. I'm doing okay with that, but I'm distracted by other pipes and shapes that I like.

My friend, Cliff Melick, developed his collection around the idea that he can't collect every pipe maker in the world, so he decided to make some choices. I'm trying to wrap my head around that idea.

American carvers I've got:

J. Alan: Love his pipes. Want many more. Fantastic shape-designer, IMHO.
John Crosby: Another carver I think is a comer and I love how mine smokes.
Adam Davidson: One fantastic pipe and I'll definitely acquire more. He's a comer.
Jody Davis: I've got a small but good collection.
Rad Davis: Small group but love each one. No question collection will grow.
Stephen Downie: One great pipe. Hard to get more due to popularity and people like Melick.
Alexey Florov: A small collection that is going to grow. I love his work.
Jack Howell: Just three pieces but I love every one and will add more.
Todd Johnson: Just a few pieces but I love what I've got.
Tyler Lane: Have a small collection but given how few of them out there pretty good.
Mike Lindner: Not a big collection at all but some real nice pieces.
Brad Pohlmann: Love his pipes. Want many more. Will take awhile.
Will Purdy: I love love love his work and I've got to get serious about getting more of them.
Larry Roush: Had a big collection but now just have one that I love.
Brian Ruthenberg: I've got a damn fine collection of his smooths, probably the best around.
Trever Talbert: Have a small representative collection. Fantastic to smoke.

It's a bit of a heartbreak that, since I decided to collect North American carvers, that prices have really gone up. They are still pretty great values but nothing like they used to be. Some of the carvers have literally tripled to quintupled their prices. While I say hooray for them in terms of making a decent living, it sure has put a dent in my ability to build my collection. Not only that, my taste seems to improve (at least to me) and I find myself stretching financially beyond my means and good sense more often.

On top of everything else, I love a great smoker and those crop up from all kinds of places with all kinds of names on 'em. Like some of you, I love Sea Rocks. I love Dunhill patent Shells. I love Blue Ribands.

When it comes to pipes, I'm ADD. lol!

Joined : 11 Dec 2007 Posts : 49

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:42 pm

CP got me hooked on Italian pipes and makers. I am also partial to American Carvers such as Perri, Brissett, Bosi, Tim West and Tinsky. One of these days when I can afford it I'm sure I will get a Rad Davis, Brian Rutherford and John Crosby.
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Arizona, where the temperature is always warm but the pipe smoking is always cool. Mikem

I highly recommend Scott Bundy at www.piperestore.com for all of your pipe cleaning and restoration work.

Subject: Re: So what kind of pipe guy are you? Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:06 pm

Jack with as nice as the pipes you produce are I have a hard time imagining you smoking junkers. Does the old analogy of a mechanic hold true? Their car is usually the worst on the block. Laughing