Is there a decent low cost pipe for new smokers?

wvdumpling · March 2018

I am looking for a decent, low cost ie: cheap, pipe as a beginner. The number and prices of pipes available is simply overwhelming.
I am just looking for something to sit back and relax and enjoy a smoke. My biggest problem is that I am disabled and on a fixed income. I cannot justify the cost of an expensive pipe. I know that maybe I should look at it as an investment, but that really doesn't help when you simply cannot afford an expensive pipe. With that said, there has to be a good smoking pipe that would not break the bank.
Maybe what I am asking is an impossibility, but I thought I would try. Just so you know, I am looking for something cheap, VERY cheap.
I have looked at pipes on ebay, but since I don't know what to look for, I have not purchased anything.
Is there a good maker, or a good material or type of pipe I should look for?
Thank you for your patience.

motie2 · March 2018

@wvdumpling --The best advice in your situation is spend your money on better tobacco, and smoke it in a good cob.

Oddjob27 · March 2018

@wvdumpling I agree with @motie2, Better tobacco in a good cob would be your best bet. I would go check out @Aristocob's site aristocob.com for cobs. If you can afford it, my personal choice are the Country Gentleman. But you can't ever go wrong with a Legend, I personally think it's the best value in terms of dollar to size.

PappyJoe · March 2018

@wvdumpling - @motie2 makes a good point. Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cobs are good, inexpensive smokers and you can buy a bag of seconds directly from Missouri Meerschaum for $33.99. You get 10 very smokeable pipes that are only seconds because of cosmetic issues.

I would also have you check pipesandcigars.com. The have a Taste of Excellence package where you get 5 different tobaccos, a pipe, pipe tool and pipe cleaners for $50. The link for that is pipesandcigars.com/excellence

They also have Barricini's, Butz-Choquin, Forseti by Stanwell, and H.I.S. pipes in their catalog starting at $39.95. You can also look through their discount pipe listings and find some under $50.

smokingpipes.com usually has starter pipe kits starting around $40 also.

ghostsofpompeii · March 2018

@wvdumpling I second the idea about getting a good inexpensive cob, but also suggest scouring the second hand, consignment, and antique shops around you for a good, cheap second hand Estate pipe. I've bough nice name brand pipes for an inexpensive price. And with a little simple cleaning and minor restoration they'll smoke good as new ... and better in most instances since they are already broken in. I picked up my vintage Custom-Bilt made sometime in the late 30s' for $5.00. I've seen Dr. Grabows, Yellobowls, and Kaywoodies for as little as $5.00 as well. With a little clean-up and sanitizing ... and possibly reaming out the bowl and giving it an salt and alcohol treatment you'll have a pipe to be proud of. Without the tools of the trade I've been able to revitalize several old Estate pipes with hand tools and a little wax and elbow grease. Bringing a pipe back to it's original glory is much more satisfying than buying a new Peterson. Those old pipes have a lot of history to them and by bringing them back to life and making them part of your life's history adds to the legacy of the pipe. As a guy living on a fixed income I've learned a lot of ways to get nice things on the cheap.

motie2 · March 2018

Four out of my ten pipes were used/estate pipes won or bought on eBay for under $20.00 for each one.
I've attached a two page .pdf document for buying pipes on eBay.

Kmhartle · March 2018

I agree with all of the advice given. A Missouri Meerschaum cob is very inexpensive, smokes great and will last a long time with proper care. eBay can be a great place to find inexpensive briars if you are patient and willing to scour through thousands of listings. I recently purchased an $8 estate pipe that had never been smoked and I received in the mail today an $18 Savinelli 611 Kansas that needs restoration. It retails for $105 on Smokingpipes.com.

motie2 · March 2018

Nice starting place. Set it up to show you lowest prices first.
https://www.ebay.com/b/Collectible-Estate-Tobacco-Pipes/4119/bn_3023444

Kmhartle · March 2018

You can also filter your eBay search by a specific price range. This eliminates a lot of listings that are above your budget threshold.

BlueCollarBastard · March 2018

Morgan Bones Pipes.

Bonanzadriver · March 2018

I'm obviously an estate pipe fan, having collected and refurbed over 70 or so of them over the last 1 1/2 years.

But, if you're not into estates I'd recommend Dr. Grabow. Made right here in Sparta NC and can be had for around $30 & up.

wvdumpling · March 2018

I went to Aristocob and ordered a couple of pipes. I'll check the others mentioned. Thanks for all the help.

jfreedy · March 2018

@wvdumpling — Totally agree with the many suggestions toward Missouri Meerschaum corn cob pipes. For the $$ nothing comes close. Specifically, the Country Gentleman pipe which is a lot of people’s favorite. Large bowl, good stem size. I’d also second purchasing from Aristicob. Scott is a nice guy and his videos are great.

If if you want a good quality briar pipe for around $20-$30, I really like Dave Whitney’s eBay store. He literally wrote the book on pipe smoking on a budget. His ebook, Old Briar: pipe smoking on a budget, talks all about the benefits of smoking older pipes. Dave finds old pipes (most of them aren’t fancy or high end), cleans and restores them, then sells them at his store. Some of my very favorite smoking pipes are old (60s, 70s) restored Kaywoodie drugstore pipes that I found on eBay for less than $15. Cleaning and restoring them was a lot of fun too. Dave does the work for you and his pipes are both old with seasoned briar and also clean and ready to smoke.

What kind of pipe shape/design are you looking for? I’d be happy to keep an eye out for one as I search the net.

Jayhawk422 · March 2018

What everyone has said is great advice, I strongly second the Missouri Meerschaum grab bag. Also I’m a fan of clay pipes, I use them quite a bit of trying new blends, good smokers and Inexpensive.

mfresa · March 2018

Pipes & Cigars has a decent pipe for $49.

judandhispipe · March 2018

Missouri Meerschaum is a great place to start if you are on a tight budget.

mseddon · March 2018

It depends on what you mean by low cost. If $20 or under is your goal, I agree about Missouri Meerschaum. If you can go up to $50, I have had great success with Ropp pipes, or some of the Rossi pipes. I have a Rossi Rubino that I absolutely adore, and it was $45.

wbradk · March 2018

Personally, I enjoy Mr. Brog pipes from Poland, which are very reasonable on Ebay. Some of these are even less expensive than some of the great Missouri Meerschaum corn cob pipes. The several Mr. Brog pipes that I enjoy are made of pear wood. At first, I was hesitant about trying such a pipe, but was very pleasantly surprised. As for the pipe in the photo, it is #48 (I believe) and I have two, one as pictured and one that is honey colored. The have two great qualities besides being fine smokers. They are great sitters, being wide and flat so that they sit on a table nicely, and the bowl is so thick that it never gets too hot in the hand. I got one from Ebay, and ordered one directly from the Mr. Brog website. Of course, as others have noted, those Missouri meerschaum corn cobs are fine, as well. In any case, it is always better to have a number of pipes so that they have a chance to rest between smokes. Good luck!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029410/uploads/editor/ad/rt7ds9inoiae.jpg

wbradk · March 2018

Of course, hunting for old estate pipe bargains can't be beat. I once got a 1904 Peterson bulldog in great condition on Ebay for about $30.00 or so, but admittedly that was some years ago and such bargains seems to be just a fond wish these days...but you never know...

motie2 · March 2018

@wvdumpling -- You ought to take a look at
http://www.notsoboringlife.com/food-and-drink/pipe-smoking/
and
https://www.alpascia.com/moments/d/tips-for-new-pipe-smokers-i22386.html

Both are excellent resources.......

xDutchx · March 2018

I would agree with the above suggestions on cobs being the logical choice. They smoke fantastic, and the more you smoke them, the better they taste.

If you want to step up to briar, you might want to check out Mario Grandi pipes on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2499334.m570.l1311.R1.TR3.TRC1.A0.H1.XMario+Grandi.TRS0&_nkw=mario+grandi+pipes&_sacat=593

wvdumpling · March 2018

@jfreedy
I don't really know what I am looking for. I like the look of a bent stem pipe. Having said that, a straight would work too. I just want a decent pipe that I can enjoy.

motie2 · March 2018

How To Select A Pipe

https://www.smokingpipes.com/information/howto/selecting.cfm

motie2 · March 2018

Estate Buying Guide

https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/estate-buying-guide

wvdumpling · March 2018

Thanks for all the info and help.

Is there a decent low cost pipe for new smokers?

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How To Select A Pipe