WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIPE AND WHY?

opipeman

Most of us have several pipes. Many may have dozens. Have you ever thought about which one is your favorite?

Selecting a favorite can be very difficult. The reason for your selection might be for any number of characteristics; shape, size, feel, the way it smokes, visual appeal, or some

sentimental attachment, etc. My selection encompasses all of those reasons. I've narrowed my selection down to me Savinelli Cricket leather covered Saddle Bit 127. Savinelli no longer makes the Cricket Series The sentimental reason dates back to a college professor I took a technical writing course from in 1964. He was a retired Army Colonel and was an excellent teacher as well as very entertaining. I admired him and thought he was really cool. He smoked a leather covered saddle bit(make unknown). I was just starting to explore pipe smoking and through the years searched for one similar to his. I went through some really bad examples before I found this one. I purchased this one before I retired and like it so much I purchased another. It is still in the box and has never been smoked. So if any thing happens to this one, I have another. Never the less the selection was not a slam-dunk. I have 6-8 other pipes that are close seconds.

mfresa

I hate to admit it, but my favorite is the bent egg that Abb Brown made.  The reason?  the mouthpiece is nice and thin.  Mine are a bit thicker.

RockyMountainBriar

I guess mine would have to be my own RMB Liverpool.  Why, because I made it and in a size and shape I gravitate towards.  I might pick my RMB Dublin, but the Liverpool was first, and it has a slightly larger bowl capacity.

vtgrad2003

I own about 20 pipes, mostly Savs as you know, but my Grabow Grand Duke is really my favorite. Nothing fancy, nothing flashy, it's simply an awesome pipe. 
(By the way, I'm still not smoking right now because of esophageal erosion issues; once I recover, I'll pick it back up again.)

opipeman

@vtgrad2003;
Savs are great pipes. If I hadn't promised you I wouldn't buy anymore pipes, I'd buy another Sav. I have a couple Grand Dukes and I agree they are great pipes.

opipeman

@RockyMountainBriar;
If I had your talent and could craft my own pipe, it might make my selection harder. I would guess that you may own more pipes than any of the rest of us Brothers. I'm surprised you responded so quickly.

RockyMountainBriar

@opipeman
There are a lot of my pipes I like, there are a bunch of good ones of all qualities, manufacturers, etc., but I was tasked with picking one favorite🙂

Zouave1864

For years I have always gravitated to my GBD bent billiard. It's getting a little long in the tooth now, but I still love that pipe. 

johnspecht

I agree, the choice is a difficult one due to a plethora of candidates. (Word of the Day is obviously workin' for me!) Strangely, my current favorite is the Norman Rockwell edition that I know you have all seen advertised for sale lately. I have no idea who made it, but it appears to be good quality and a good smoker. It is a recent acquisition (which my better half allowed me to purchase for Father's day a couple of years back). I love the styling, which is said to be typical of popular 1950's and 1960's era pipes. This despite my preference for bent pipes over straight. In the end, there's just something special (to me) about it. It has a certain...Je ne sais quoi!




P.S. - I'm told that Je ne sais quoi means "I don't know", which pretty accurately describes my reasons for most of the things I do lately!

PappyJoe

Like my children, I don't have a favorite. They are all special in their own way.

opipeman

Brothers;
Outstanding responses so far. It is amazing(to me), but shouldn't be a surprise the variety of selections. I guess that's what makes a horse race.
@johnspecht; That pipe looks like a pipe Norman Rockwell would smoke.
@PappyJoe; I have to respect your answer. I've just got some really bad smokers.
@Zouave1864; An old pipe can be like an old friend.
@mfresa; A thin mouthpiece wouldn't last a week in my alligator jaw grip. I envy you that ability.

Londy3

This one is easy for me.  My favorite pipe is my first Savinelli.  I love the shape, the feel, how it looks, how it smokes and this story behind it. What's more its very difficult to find if they even make it anymore.

opipeman

@Londy3;
Savinellis are great pipes.

opipeman

When I started this discussion, I asked for your favorite pipe, knowing it would be a difficult decision for a lot of us. It wasn't easy for me and I mentioned I had a few that were close seconds. Here my closest second place a Savinelli Eleganza 111KS. It has the same attributes as my first choice with the exception of the former professor memory.

Balisong

My favorite pipe is the cob I happen to be smoking. If I don't feel that way about the pipe into the trash it goes and out comes a new one!

mapletop

My favorite pipe is a rusticated Peterson 303 System P-lip.

It has a perfectly sized saddle stem, I smoke while driving most of the time so the bowl size is perfect for a commuter drive, fantastic smoker, light weight and bent perfectly to just hang in the mouth. Own 3 of them

2nd favorite is a Stanwell # 15.  Cool smoking, great hand feel, never gets too warm, ratio of bowl depth to diameter id perfect, nicely sized saddle stem and bit, my best smoker. Own 4 of them

Why do I own so many copies you ask, two reasons, the first is to prevent depression in case I lost one; the second reason is the same as if someone asked why you have so much ammunition, answer: you can never have too much.

opipeman

Did you ever pop open a tin of tobac and the smoke was so good that you forgot which pipe was your favorite? I may be getting a little senile in my old age?

Londy3

I think everyone knows the answer to this question for me.

opipeman

@Londy3;
Damn, that's cold, Brother.