My journey into pipedom truly started back in my late teens/early 20's. Unfortunately that was pre-Interwebs time and I had no mentor. So, drugstore pipe & baccy. Was OK, and I kept with it for a while, but then moving and such I left it behind.
I've been smoking cigars somewhat regularly (ie, 4-5 per summer week) for about 2 years now, but for the winter months the sticks weren't doing it for me. Too cold, and even indoors the flavor profile fits me better in warmer weather. Maybe it's the image of plantations in my head..
So last Nov. I started looking into pipes again, and found a wealth of info out there. I like the full gambit in cigars..something for each mood, so I was attracted to the many profiles of pipe baccy. Anyway, I get a hair across my ass and go to the only tobacco shop I know of in Philly (Holts) and get a basket pipe..kinda oom-paul shaped. And contrary to what it was I was saying, the clerk (fitting word) steered me to some aro blends. I made him give me some VA flake, though, too. Honestly, the blends were pretty good. The whole time I was there I had my eye on the Churchwardens, so come closer to Xmas I went it and got the "ladies" Peterson Churchwarden. I really dig that bitty pipe, so even though I got raped on it ($25 more than I should have), it was an OK experience and I got a couple more lat blends going out of it.
What does all this have to do with Boswell? Well I figured I'd be a couple of pipes per guy and rotate them...so, of course, I needed more pipes! I think it was on alt. something or other (one of those text type sites) that I heard mention of Boswell and that he was in PA. So, jumping over to his site I saw the variety of pipes he had and the spectrum of price ranges. Gee...a handmade custom for less than a Peterson factory..I'm interested.
I started small...and now I'm up to seven...the first a 3/4 bent fluted pipe for around $70. Man did I/do I love that pipe. I'm a confirmed bent guy, and you'll see it in my collection. I was so into it, that 2 weeks later I drove from Philly to Chambersburg...no mean feat if you see the route. I got there and the Misses musta talked my ear off for a good 45 mins while I picked pipes and tobaccos. In the good way, mind you. So, while I really wanted a bulldog, the only one he had didn't suit my taste. Much to my surprise a freehand with a red bit (never thought I'd get a colored bit, but I have a few now..it just "worked") called to me for around $80. I was going to get another freehand w/plateaux rim, a larger pipe, but felt like I was making a concession. That's when Gail mentioned a cart and pulled it out. That's when I swapped what I was holding for the freehand plateaux w/saddle bit you see in the pic. Big and deep..a manly pipe. Some say funny, as I'm a smaller guy, but suits me just fine. I actually read you should pick your pipe to suit your face...I pick 'em to suit my MOUTH.
From there, next came the Churchwarden in my avatar...the redish one in the pic. That was about $130. Next came the big ole 3/4 bent chipped finished with the orange bit. I got that unused on the bay for $110. Another big, man-sized pipe that's lovely to hold...just like the fluted bent and the 'warden. Hell, there all nice to hold, but I do like a rounded bowl in my hand. Then, since I didn't think my first 'warden was bent enough, I had to get another one. That's the black rusticated with smooth shank and rim one. This time I figured I'd get a small saddle bit with it, too (you can just make it out on the top of the pic). I was getting too many pipes that I couldn't take out of the house, so the extra bit helped keep that one in rotation more. The red bit from my second freehand also fits the red 'warden, so I could cycle that one out, too. I love the bend on the second 'warden..very LOTR-ish..makes me smart and wise just holding it. With both bits this one was about $160..a little pricey for me, but I got the extra bit..and am glad I did.
My final stop was a call asking when some more stubby nosewarmers were coming up. They weren't due for a bit, so he put my name on the board and emailed my the last Boswell I got. Another sweet rustic with a white bit swirled with light brown (and here I was only going to ever have black bits!). Deep bowl and a sitter, too...not a flat bottom, rounded but wide enough that she sits like a champ. This one was $120. I will admit I had a little trouble forging a bond with this one...and of course it's the one I wanted to bond with the most and the most quickly. Unlike most of my Boswells, the drafthole wasn't at the very, very bottom. Also, she didn't really take to lats very quickly...I kept getting a sweet underpinning that I didn't really dig. I kinda gave up on her, and was having some hard feelings. Put her up over the summer, as I did with all the pipes...seems like it's a cooler weather thing for me like cigars are warmer. Anyway, I was looking at it hard the other week, feeling a bit down, and emailed Dan about it. Of course right after I did, I had to try smoking it again (why do I always do things backwards?). The taste was more to my liking and I didn't seem to suck as much ash and bits as I had remembered. Since it's a deep bowl and I'm a slow sipper, I was under packing it and paying the price of trying to smoke it right to the bottom. When I had first gone to their shop, they gave me a new pipe smokers instruction sheet. As luck would have it, I came across it on the floor of my car the other day and re-read it for fun. A bit of their advice is to not smoke all the way to the very bottom. Since the others have a drop dead drafthole, I just got into the habit of doing that. Anyway, long story short, I packed the bowl the way it was meant to be and after a 1.5+ hour smoke, got near the bottom and just dumped. And, surprise surprise, a pleasant smoking experience was had by all! The flavor of the pipe is coming around, too, and was probably also a product of not fully packing it up.
Well, that's my discourse on Boswell pipes. I must say, visit the store. If I still lived in Lancaster, PA I'd probably head up twice a month just to smoke in the amazing atmosphere they offer. Friendly as all hell, nice, knowledgeable....down-home folks like you used to meet every where so long ago. Eh, the email skills aren't their strength, but who cares..call them up or pay a visit. You'll hardly regret it. I've read some put downs of JM, calling him a hack and his shapes uninspiring. If you're a snooty only guy (and you know if you are), maybe these pipes aren't for you. There are many fine artists out there that you can support. If you're like me, and like the gambit of experiences, from the small mom & pop type places to the finest 5 star restaurants, and you know going in what to expect...you certainly will not be disappointed. JM is an artisan of the finest caliber. If you're unsure of the difference between the two, read up on the definitions and go in knowing what to expect. I love my JM Boswells.
To round out the rest of my collection, there's a Peterson Donegal 80s ($70)(with a poor drafthole) and a wonderful Yakslon pipe by Yuriy. A fine work of art with the thinnest, most comfortable bit ever held by these teeth. A work of art ($200) worth every penny...he calls it a Rhodesian and who am I to argue. Lastly is a L'Anatra ($145) from the bay (second in on right on top). I just love the raised duck head (very secure) and wonderful round bowl. That would be my dress pipe, along with the Yuriy, were there any places you could still dress and smoke pipes. Another wonderful smoker.
Funny how I say $160 is pricy, but then spent close or more on two more pipes. As much as I'd like to keep exploring, I have enough variety and pipes to cover my rotations (aro, VA/VAPar/non-Lat blends, and Lat blends), and have cashed myself (happily) out of the market. I look forward to enjoying what I have for a very long time.
Boswell blends:
Bear Blend - Aro with a tiny kick
Boswell's Best - Fine aro
Magnum Blend - American English, as most refer to them now. Or a crossover blend - OK
Northwoods - Another cross over - OK (to be honest I have too many crossovers by accident..I thought the Frogs were more English, so I have to come back to these Bos blends to give them a fairer shake down the road)
No Bite Delight - Another fine aro
Twist Flake - I'm sure it's PS, but was glad they had it for me to try. Love that and led me to Escudo.
Boswell's Burley - A sweetish burley. I find it good for when I don't want to go full aro (which is often...only 2 pipes are aros). Much along the line of some straight Orientals, where they have the sweet & sour thing going on. The burley is more sweet and hay/baccy.
Yakslon: