I smoke 14 or so different pipes. The majority are ebay and second hand sales. I am thinking about a new pipe for 100 or so. I’m thinking Peterson, Savihelli, Brebbia, Nodding, or bjarne.
All of those seem to be good quality pipes and I would imagine it really depends on what reaches out to you. Pipes are a pretty personal experience and as long as you find enjoyment in the pipe is really all that matters… Having said that, I will say that I have a Savinelli 320 which is probably my favorite pipe. You can find that model in a bunch of finishes, some around $60-$80.
I love my brebbia. It’s a pipe that smokes perfectily. I don’t know much about other brebbias though.
Peterson fan myself, although I’ve got my eye on a rather beautiful Stanwell Poker…
So many choices at that price…You can find Peterson Harps for 109 as well as St Patrick Day pipes for less than 100. Nordings can be had for under $100 if you like freehands. I’ve had some good Chacom pipes as well for less than $100.00
I’m a Peterson man myself, best bang for your buck IMHO. Savinelli also makes great pipes for a good price
I not done collecting Peterson. Just received two in the mail today. My favorites are the 80s and 999 . I prefer fish tail over the P lip.Nothing wrong with a nice estate pipe. But if you need to buy a new pipe I go with the Harp series , Very classy.
I have been eying a couple Harps. I think CI.com has one for under 80. I found a savinelli Punto Oro 320 on eBay I’m considering. It’s an estate but it is nicely restored. I really like the root briar Sav I have , I guess another estate pipe can’t be bad.
I recommend Tsuge pipes. Their handmade pipes are really expensive, but they also offer inexpensive pipes (but still very good quality) for under $100. http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/tsuge/index.cfm
I thought all Tsuge pipes were out of my price range! That’s good to know thank you.
Tsuge pipes seem really interesting. The funny thing is people I’ve asked who smoke pipes who live far away from Tsuge say they’re great, people I’ve talked to near were they are made seem to have this strange notion that only europeans know how to make a good pipe. Seriousily it’s just the people I’ve talked to and they have said they’re no good they’re made in the wrong country. Would love to try one, I think they are beautifull pipes.
I’m partial to Bjarnes and Petersons. No matter what I pay for one (and, like you, several of mine are estate pipes bought on eBay), I have not found a bad smoker in either brand. It shouldn’t be at all difficult to find new Bjarnes and Petersons for less than $100.
I agree about Pererson and Bjarne pipes turning out to be good smokers. I have a couple Petersons and a Bjarne that seem to smoke better than average. I smoke them each a couple times per week and they always deliver a good smoking experience. The Bjarne freehand I found second hand is my current favorite.
I only have two Petersons but they are both great smokers and they were less than £40 each. Perfect for smoking some Lakeland flakes while walking in the countryside and not risking a more expensive pipe.
Brebbia, Savinelli and Stanwell
I have 3 Stanwell’s and am happy with them, same goes for my 2 Peterson’s, my one Bjarne and my 2 BC’s. Didn’t Bjarne just go out of business or change hands, or their master carver passed away or something- maybe a year or two ago?
Bjarne Nielsen passed away in February 2008. I don’t have any information on who inherited his workshop, but I know Bjarne pipes are still being offered for sale. I know he had quite a few carvers working for him. I assume one or more of them is running the show now.
@Mr. O: I believe you are thinking about the Johs brand. Lifted from smokingpipes.com: “Mogens ‘Johs’ Johansen lives and works in Frederikshavn, Denmark and makes about two thousand pipes each year. Many of his shapes may seem familiar, and this is because he carved many pipes for Bjarne. After Mogens drills the tobacco chamber, mortise, and airway, he fits a preform vulcanite or acrylic stem (each having a tenon turned on them, though some are fit with a separate tenon) and works insanely fast, which is part of the reason that his pipes are so affordable.”
Thank’s for the info! I’ve seen some Bjarne’s around, but thought they were perhaps just old stock. Whatever my pal said, I think it was about the Bjarne company itself…think I’ll give him a jingle to recover the memory. I must check out Johs’s pipes!
I am looking to buy first pipes. Two Peterson Killarneys, #86, & XL90. What do you think? $82.00 each. Good choice? Good price?
@Chef_Dean Pete’s are great pipes and that is a great price! Do it!
I started with cheap estate pipes, moved on to Petes, then up the ladder. Don’t smoke the cheap estate pipes much any more, but still like my Petes. Can’t go wrong price/performance-wise. I like cobs, too, especially the natural one that has no plaster fill, smokes clean and dry; I bought an acryllic ‘forever’ stem for them and reach for a cob nearly as often as a Pete.
Stanwell and B.C. make some nice reasonably-priced ones too. I’ve got some from all three, and they seem comparable in quality.
@Chef_Dean I am a Peterson pipe collector. Pipe smoking is a joy and as with snuff it takes practice and patience ,Aros are sweet but burn hot and will scorch your mouth. pipe tobacco has to be packed with just the right amount of pressure and sipped on at the prefect draw to bring out the best in the tobacco. Too fast and ruin the bottom of the smoke and possible the bowl. You should get a several used pipes like a dr.grabow omega for under $20 and learn how to use a pipe.Breaking in a new pipe is a task ,you need to smoke very tiny amounts and let the bowl rest to build up the kake needed for long life of the pipe. This is why you need several pipes. corn cobs are good to start with also. Buy the Petersons but also buy some estate pipes to start out with. $160 a month to spend on pipes sound about right then your going to need storage jars ,pipe racks, pipe tools, large ash tray and good tobacco, add $100+ a month ,Well at least your not smoking cigarettes and pipe smokers live longer that non smokers.Enjoy, any questions PM me
@basement _shaman Looks like I won’t be saving money by quiting cigarettes. LOL Much Thanks
@Chef_Dean You save in the long run, You can’t sell used cigarette butts, used Pipes you can if you can part with them. PAD IS SERIOUSLY REAL and you really only need less than a dozen pipes. Briars ,Meerschaums,corn cobs Oh my! Clay pipes are cheap and won’t ghost, but break easy and are bad for your teeth. + smoking a pipe is classy. Where cigarette smoking is shunned now adays
I have well over 100 pipes. All kinds and from a number of makers. Tend to use quarter or full bents or a good Oom Paul. But my particular passion is a well built Meerschaum. Smoke cool and have such a fabulous array of options, they smoke cool… and as they age and are used the colors change giving more character.
Seems harder these days to find a nice new oom paul. Maybe they aren’t making as many at the moment, used to have a nice blond GBD one- damn I hate losing a pipe!
PAD is a disease!! Just can’t stop snatching up those wonderful old English estates on ebay!!
I need an intervention for the same problem, @furious
@Mr_O I really like the way a good Oom Paul just hangs fairly effortlessly while smoking. Less stress on the teeth and jaw which then equates to less/fewer bite marks on the stem and frankly the bowl is closer to your nose allowing you to subtly ‘scoop up’ that ‘room note pleasure’. Add to that the fact that it is out of your line of site if doing something with your hands, say working in the shop, gardening or fishing and it is a perfect choice…for me.
churchwarden are my favorite and no you don’t have to warden a church to enjoy one.
Thanks gentlemen, I am learning so much. Oom Paul, love this photo:
I also like a good churchwarden, but mainly as an end of the day sit back and reflect option.
I might convert a nice, basic, prince into a churchwarden, since the tenon got snapped anyways. Really though, it seems tough to find a nice, new oompaul these days. Yes I do have some estate pipes, ones that caught my eye, but somehow I usually prefer buying new pipes- or un-smoked old ones.
@kaiser_wilhelm Isn’t it such a thrill to pick up a pre-trans Barling or patent Dunhill for $50?? In fact, within the last month I added one of each as well as an old Leeds Ben Wade for about that amount. Great stuff indeed.
I’m certain it is an international conspiracy @Mr_O…What are they thinking making it so darn hard to appease those of us who love a good Oom Paul?
You know, I think you might be right stogie! One positive possibility, there’s a pipe maker I know who’s never made one, we were talking about it and maybe I can call dibs when he finally does.
I’m a bent pipe kinda guy. They just make more sense to me. For one, you can easily see what your lighting, saves the rim. For two, they hang from the jaw, free up your hands, and are easier on the teeth. As far as a quality starter pipe, i’m very happy w/my Savinelli. Truth be told, its actually my first fresh pipe, everything up till now has been estate. I really do notice a difference, and i’am more inclined to care for it properly.
@Mr_O if he comes through and makes more than 1 (since I assume you will have first dibbs) let me know, I would be interrested!!!
Sure, no prob! He’s here in MN, Frank Storm, he’s made some cool pieces, he also does repairs for a good price.
Ended up with a few more estates, Stanwell,pioneer and GBD. I think I have a decent number of pipes to rotate now, so when I fancy another one ill pinch a few pennies and buy new. Hopefully I can work towards something nice.
I like a bent bulldog when time is important other than that give me a large bent apple
I just remembered, Benton pipes are nice for the money…