Best value or bang for the buck

[Pittacus]

For me, it's the Baronet Bruyere series from Savinelli. I've collected five of these beauties over the past couple of years and I love 'em. Bought a Trevi author recently, also a very nice pipe for the price. Since high-grades are typically out of my price range I can't speak to the merits of say Dunhill vs Charatan or Ser Jacopo vs Radice but I'd be interested to hear what you guys think.

Cheers

 

[shootist51]

I smoke mainly vintage Charatans purchased, both new and used over the years and find them to be the most consistently best smokers.
I am like you, with a pretty restrained budget for smoking, but have managed to pick up some pretty nice pipes on E-bay and the highest I have paid is about $100. These include Tinsky, Spanu, Castello, Radice and Downey, to name a few.
I am continually shocked by the prices I see listed by the various carvers and e-tailers, it seems the going prices for wood start at about $150 and the sky is the limit.
Years ago, when I started, an expensive pipe, Dunhill or Charatan, could be had for $35 to $60, a tin of tobacco ran about $2, tops. Now I know the price of tobacco has been inflated by taxes and good briar gets scarcer each year, but to spend $800+ for a pipe just floors me. How much better can it possibly smoke?
I know that many of the most expensive pipes crossover and are actually pieces of art, but that's not what I'm about. I want a pipe that has a good draw and won't burst into flames while being smoked and these can be readily had for a fraction of the cost of "Artisan" pipes.
One of the best deals I ever encountered, I found a small B&M in Evansville, In. that had Savinelli "seconds" for about 15 bucks a piece. I have seen these more recently on Iwan Reis, the prices have gone up, but what hasn't, and these were good smokers.
I will tell you this, it is my experience, that if a pipe smokes good, and most do, and you keep it clean and well cared for, you will experience the same enjoyment as any other smoker, regardless of how much they spent on their pipe.
Years ago, there was a TV commercial featuring a gent that was the state champion trap shooter. This fellow used a custom made English over and under shotgun and belonged to the same gun club as I did and we shot to gether regularly. He was also regularly beaten, not just by myself but by several other members. I can't speak for all the competitors, but when I beat him, it was using the same $150 Remington 870 that I used for hunting. Often, it's not the gun but the shooter, with pipes, it's often the smoker, not the pipe. If, as I stated, you maintain your pipes and they are good smokers and your technique is good, your enjoyment will equal or surpass anyone else.

 

[Pittacus]

"I know that many of the most expensive pipes crossover and are actually pieces of art, but that's not what I'm about. I want a pipe that has a good draw and won't burst into flames while being smoked and these can be readily had for a fraction of the cost of "Artisan" pipes."

Absolutely and amen, brother. And that 870? Probably the finest all-around shotgun ever made, regardless of price!

 

[Doc Manhattan]

For an unsmoked pipe, there is nothing better dollar-for-dollar than a Missouri Meerschaum cob. Good smokers in their own right, and given the price and frequency with which you can smoke one, it's hands down the best value.

For estate briar, seconds and low-grades from the big British houses pre-1980 have a lot going for them.

For new briar, I've found reputable Italian mid-grades are underpriced for the quality.

 

[Guy]

For me, I just can’t bring myself to smoke a pipe from someone else’s mouth even if cleaned, unless it was my dad's ...(a possible subject for another thread). I have many "first" plateau briars, they were collected in a different era, these days I will not pay $400+ for a large Freehand smoking pipe even with perfect dense grain.

I think Peterson & Savinelli are great values for the price. That is what I have been buying in Briar recently .

 

[msmith1956]

For a high quality pipe at a reasonable price, it's hard to beat a Savinelli IMHO!

 

[WaydeG]

For a high quality pipe at a reasonable price, it's hard to beat a Savinelli IMHO!

I'll second that. I love my rusticated Trevi. I might go as high as $100 for a pipe but it had better be something really special. Fellow Texan David Jones come to mind. By far my favorite pipe is a pre 60s GBD prehistoric from Mark at Pipecraft.org. It is nothing short of fantastic.
Re: MM? Just ordered 4 from Mars Cigars. Diplomat, Gentleman, Patriot and Great Dane.

 

[tslots]

For me, I just can’t bring myself to smoke a pipe from someone else’s mouth even if cleaned ...

I'm curious ... does this mean you bring your own utensils when eating out?


For me the best bang for the buck has been older Kaywoodies. I've purchased new and used off Ebay for as little as $5 ea.

 

[docwatson]

The new Handmade Kaywoodies are a bargain and excellent smokes IMHO. And they make pipes in the $35.-$50. Range that are also hard to beat.

 

[Guy]

For me, I just can’t bring myself to smoke a pipe from someone else’s mouth even if cleaned ...

I'm curious ... does this mean you bring your own utensils when eating out?

I am very fussy, I only frequent fine restraints and NYC night clubs I perform in and I do wipe the silverware. To me a used pipe is like wearing someone else’s used underwear. Sorry but that is just the way I feel.
If you like used pipes go for it.

 

[Puff Daddy]

I felt that Stanwell made the best pipe for your dollar when they were made in Denmark, but now that they are not..... :suspect:

Peterson is now making some fine briars with acrylic mouthpieces, though the prices have crept up.

Savinelli has had the reputation of making $100 pipes with 25 cent stems, and my own experience hasn't disproven that.

At present, I think, aside from scarfing up the last of the Danish Stanwells, I'd buy the Petes with acrylic stems, even at the somewhat higher prices.

 

[Frost]

For an unsmoked pipe, there is nothing better dollar-for-dollar than a Missouri Meerschaum cob.

Doc's got it right there. Can't beat the value you get from a MM dollar for dollar.


Other than that, you can find a "good" smoke from a pipe in just about any price range you want to pay. You can probably find a bad one too though.

Consistency is a different story. After a certain point your paying for quality control, attention to detail and consistenly good craftsmanship. A little further up the ladder you start paying for style and an extremely high level of skill in addition to the aforementioned aspects. Finally you start paying for the name as well as the rest of the stuff.

Other than cobs, for a $50-ish or lower pipe new, I'd look at seconds and basket pipes but wouldnt' expect too much. Better would be to just hold out for a deal via forum or lucky ebay score on an estate Stanwell, old Brit make (BBB, Charatan, Barling, GBD, Ben Wade, or their seconds lines, etc) or perhaps a Pete. They can be found with patience and a keen eye.

I'd pick an estate british make or new or estate danish stanwells for a sub $100 pipe (have yet to come across or even hear of a made in italy stanwell though). Their bits tend to be a little nicer than the Sav I've got and the Pete I had, and the Sav was pushing right up to $100 anyway. I may give Pete another shot at some point though.

After about $150, I look to certain individual carvers rather than brand names usually. If I came across a Castello, Radice, Ser Jac, Ardor, etc that I liked the shape of for $150 though I'd get it without a second thought.

Over $250, I'm looking for a pipe from a fairly limited number of carvers in a shape that I realy realy like. I've got no qualms about spending that much or more if it's one of those rare occasions when I have got the money and find what I want though.

 

[Harlock999]

Other than that, you can find a "good" smoke from a pipe in just about any price range you want to pay. You can probably find a bad one too though.

Consistency is a different story. After a certain point your paying for quality control, attention to detail and consistenly good craftsmanship. A little further up the ladder you start paying for style and an extremely high level of skill in addition to the aforementioned aspects. Finally you start paying for the name as well as the rest of the stuff.

Over $250, I'm looking for a pipe from a fairly limited number of carvers in a shape that I realy realy like. I've got no qualms about spending that much or more if it's one of those rare occasions when I have got the money and find what I want though.

This, I agree with.
Wish I could articulate like the Frost man!

 

[jmwill]

I just picked up a Cassano Forte for $65.00 and they are so underrated. They smoke considerably well and smooth. Best buy for me right now.

 

[Zeno Marx]

To me a used pipe is like wearing someone else’s used underwear.

I'm embarrassingly OCD and a bona fide germaphobe , but this made me laugh.

 

[riff raff]

I'm in the restaurant business. Sadly, even in some of the finest restaurants, you would not want to spend much time in the kitchen with someone who is familiar with food-service sanitation. I'd rather smoke an uncleaned estate pipe than eat off the plates in some "fine NYC" kitchens...(or anywhere else for that matter. I'll take my chances with an estate pipe from a reputable seller (ie preferably from one of these forums). I've worked closely with the NYC Health Department inspectors and there are many who I would not let "inspect" my dogs food bowl.....

For me, I just can’t bring myself to smoke a pipe from someone else’s mouth even if cleaned ...

I'm curious ... does this mean you bring your own utensils when eating out?

I am very fussy, I only frequent fine restraints and NYC night clubs I perform in and I do wipe the silverware. To me a used pipe is like wearing someone else’s used underwear. Sorry but that is just the way I feel.
If you like used pipes go for it.

 

[Guy]

I seem to be out numbered on this issue. However, as I said, enjoy your used pipes. If you want to clean or have cleaned another smoker’s sludge and saliva from porous briar or old vulcanite (Don’t know if that is a realistic comparison to dense metal in flatware or porcelain in dinnerware, whatever) all I can say is enjoy. Used pipes are not for me, I will buy mine New. I guess "estate" is Politically Correct for Used ~ sounds like seller spin jargon. Thanks for the heads-up those $300 dinners for two are adding up.

 

[Zeno Marx]

After the kitchen staff has returned from the bathroom, not having washed their hands to medical standards, if at all, and then picked something off the floor in a common, non-chalant manner or moved a trash can out of their way, etc. Or countless other likely, very realistic scenarios when it comes to food service, I'm betting the bacteria count on a freshly cleaned plate or piece of flatware, after being handled to bins to chefs to waiter to patron, is far above a cleaned estate pipe. Also have to keep in mind that the inside of the bowl is experiencing long exposure times to extreme heat. If there is anything bad in the bowl itself, it probably isn't around for too long. The stems can be thoroughly washed and sterilized. There are a couple of good youtube videos on various procedures. One of them includes letting stems soak in bleach water overnight. Nothing can live through such a process. Hospitals use similar procedure on surfaces.

I don't say any of this to be argumentative. I have plenty of irrational stuff go on in my mind as I battle OCD and germaphobia. I'm no stranger to your line of thinking. I get it.

 

[forsooth]

I just like the Peterson System Pipes, and I am now focusing on only 2 models: the XL315 and the XL305. My mouth "enjoys" the P-Lip and its rounded edges.

As for used pipes, I clean them myself and so therefore confident of their cleanliness. I soak the stems in alcohol for 24-36 hours and perform a thorough reaming and salt treatment on the bowls. When I finish, the pipes are at least as clean as when new.

However, I do understand what Guy is saying. When I first thought about smoking a used pipe, my first objection was, "Well, what about Prions? Ya' can't kill those." (Prions are misguided proteins associated with some transmissible spongiform encephalopathies -- mad-cow disease.)

BTW, anyone with a reasonably-priced XL315 or XL305 P-Lip, let me know.

 

[Mikem]

I second some of the other pipe brands mentioned such as Peterson, Stanwell and Savanelli. I would also throw in Mastro Beraldi/Mario Grandi (Italy), Jirsa (Czech) and Vauen (Germany) for new pipes. They have some great smoking pipes in the $80 to $120 range IMHO.