Kirsten Catalog

[BigCasino]

I found an old Kirsten catalog with some of the stuff I got with all those Kirstens, it's a bummer some one blacked out the prices, I don't know if the pipe shop was charging the guy more for them or if maybe it was an old catalog with old prices when the pipe shop handed it out

I tried to elave this imaged the same size as the catalog in case anyone wanted to try and print their own catalog, for reference when the catalog is open it should cover a standard 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper, I hope they don't post super huge

 

[zonomo]

Too bad the current ownership refuses to make new ones. I dont get this...

 

[allyby]

Some great looking Kirstens there Harry, would love one of them myself.
Just out of curiosity, how do they smoke compaired to a Falcon.?

 

[BigCasino]

I'm not real sure Ally, I haven' really given them a chance I have a few falcons laying around and a few grabow vikings too, and I havent smoked any of them, for me I just dont feel the love I get from Briar

 

[zonomo]

Some great looking Kirstens there Harry, would love one of them myself.
Just out of curiosity, how do they smoke compaired to a Falcon.?

Although this wasnt asked of me, I'll answer since I have both and smoke them quite frequently. I think overall, I like the Falcon better because its lighter and less bulky. The bowl doesnt seem as secure as the Kirsten since there is a screw on the K bowl. The Kirsten has a somewhat labored draw (or maybe thats just mine but I've tried others too), where as the Falcons draw is like any other pipe. I like the Falcon so much that I've started to keep it in my jacket pocket so when I'm out and about, I just it out and light. All that said, I do love the Kirsten a lot too. I happen to be smoking it right now.

 

[BigCasino]

good answer Zo, I like the looks of them which is why I have them, I tried the kirsten twice didn't really like the draw as you said it feels restricted, but I am sure learning to pack it differently and changing your puffing habits might make for a better smoke out of them, they just don't appeal to me as a smoking vessel

 

[allyby]

Some great looking Kirstens there Harry, would love one of them myself.
Just out of curiosity, how do they smoke compaired to a Falcon.?

Although this wasnt asked of me, I'll answer since I have both and smoke them quite frequently.  I think overall, I like the Falcon better because its lighter and less bulky.  The bowl doesnt seem as secure as the Kirsten since there is a screw on the K bowl.  The Kirsten has a somewhat labored draw (or maybe thats just mine but I've tried others too), where as the Falcons draw is like any other pipe.   I like the Falcon so much that I've started to keep it in my jacket pocket so when I'm out and about, I just it out and light.   All that said, I do love the Kirsten a lot too.  I happen to be smoking it right now.

Thanks for that, i love my Falcon.

 

[Briar Spirit]

The Esquire is adorable, nice share there Harry.  :cheers: :sunny:


*edit*

Check these out Harry: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Don-Warren-Lg-Freehand-Bowl-360-Vert-UNSMOKED-fits-Kirsten-pipe-USA-DW0316-/121243173306?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c3aa801ba

 

[BigCasino]

I actually kept the cavalier style kirsten I think they are cool in a weird way

I have seen those freestyle bowls, the problem is the stinger I think I was wondering if I could remove it and not damage the pipe, it doesn't look like it would come out with out a fight and I would rather keep it and not smoke it then to "ruin" it

 

[Natch]

I've been a Kirsten fan for decades. I bought my first at their shop/factory in the Seattle area and it was the poster of their founder that convinced me to buy. That is a dead ringer of my grandpa, and he was a fantastic man.

My advice (for what it's worth) is if you want to try a Kirsten, get the largest body size you can. The medium and small sizes, in any of the shapes, just don't cool and dry the smoke the way the larger ones do.

Natch

 

[RobJ]

An older thread I know but thought I'd chime in. I have a Kirsten Esquire I bought maybe 15 years ago, I really enjoy it. Yes it does draw a little less easily than a traditional briar but it is a really great smoke. I just smoke it differently than a traditional. I like to fiddle with mechanics and certainly this pipe has lots of parts, this might be part of the appeal to me at least.

The "stinger" is integral to the stem, it would be tough to get out I think without breaking the rest though I suppose it could be cut off. It is also part of how the moisture flashes off and drains to the bottom of the larger aluminum body. Mine has the bent stem, I find I really need to make sure to run a pipe cleaner through it when I put it down if for no other reason that to keep it fully open or the draw gets even tougher.

I have a Flacon that I got many years ago that I enjoy too but I prefer the Kirsten and I'm thinking about ordering one of their straight(er) models like the Lancer or Horizon.