LIPIPE, I see what you're getting at and I feel that we agree on the point that if you want a cigar, smoke a cigar. A pipe is not a cigar, but if you want a pipe, smoke a pipe because a cigar is not a pipe. I enjoy my cigars, and I have a humidor full of them and as of late I smoke about one a week, more or less. I don't think using cigar leaf in pipe tobacco is a waste of cigar leaf, I'm not looking for a cigar taste, just what the leaf adds to the blend. It may not taste like it would as used in a cigar, but a corona of a certain cigar line will also taste slightly different than a churchill of the same line. My opinion is, though, that once a cigar has been rolled...I feel it's a shame to cut it up to experiment. I also think if you were to take maduro leaf and add it to just any base tobacco (say McC 5100) it would have a different profile than adding criollo leaf or regular conneticut. That's what I'm curious about, blends that may do this or how the blends change. What I'm not wondering or looking for a pipe tobacco blend to taste like a cigar.
I'll definitely try your suggestion though, next time I have a damage corojo or cameroon wrapped cigar, I'll grind it up in the coffee grinder. I'll be separating the wrapper from the binder though. It doesn't do much good if I have non-specific leaf mixed in if I'm experimenting with certain leaf flavors.
Tiltjlp, it's awesome to hear you use different cigar leaf for different blends. I cant wait to try the others. It's unfortunate that cost seems to be prohibitive with using cigar leaf in pipe blends.
Kyle, that sounds like a great way to pick up plain cigar leaf...I wonder if Finck's in San Antonio would allow someone to purchase plain leaf from them. May have to inquire some day. I'll second the steak sandwich bit, depending on the cut of steak,definitely worse ways to prepare it.
Preppy, I've never seen that in the cigar shops I've been in but that's a really good way to move damaged cigars and not let them go to waste.