Briar vs Meerschaum

[Tim in Ohio]

Brothers,
I thought maybe some of you more experienced pipers could weigh in on this and possibly help me at least sort thru my current feelings about meerschaum pipes. I've heard that they provide a cool smoke. and hence the reason some briar pipes are lined with meerschaum. From a functional perspective, I can process this. And Lord knows I have seen some pics of beautifully carved Meerschaum that flat out qualify as accomplished works of sculpture. Here's my thing: my life experiences, movie choices, social programming, etc have all worked in conjunction to create an image of a briar pipe in my mind when I turn to the entry marked "pipe" in my mental dictionary. Various shapes and sizes of briar, but always briar. (Well... ok... corncob too when I think rural.) While admire the artistry that is clearly present in a well carved Meerschaum... I just can't get my head around the idea of sitting in my den in front of the fireplace, wearing my smoking jacket and ascot, and puffing away on a pipe that has been carved to look like Richard Nixon's head or SpongeBob Squarepants.
No disrespect meant to those who do. Anybody else feel this way? Or am I alone in my prejudice?
respectfully,
Tim (PS- I made up the part about the smoking jacket and the ascot )

 

[jhuggett]

Tim, I think meerschaums biggest bonus is that it's neutral in flavor and imparts no other taste to the tobacco. I've never really been drawn to them enough to invest much money so I don't have a lot of experience.

I will offer this, you will probably find your tastes in pipes change quite a bit over the years so I would never rule anything out. I've purchased pipes that I thought were the **** at the time but I hardly pick them up now and others I've turned my nose up to before that I now desire as much as anything I've ever purchased. It's a strange hobby we have that seems endless. :lol:

 

[Hermit]

Brothers,
I thought maybe some of you more experienced pipers could weigh in on this and possibly help me at least sort thru my current feelings about meerschaum pipes. I've heard that they provide a cool smoke. and hence the reason some briar pipes are lined with meerschaum. From a functional perspective, I can process this. And Lord knows I have seen some pics of beautifully carved Meerschaum that flat out qualify as accomplished works of sculpture. Here's my thing: my life experiences, movie choices, social programming, etc have all worked in conjunction to create an image of a briar pipe in my mind when I turn to the entry marked "pipe" in my mental dictionary. Various shapes and sizes of briar, but always briar. (Well... ok... corncob too when I think rural.) While admire the artistry that is clearly present in a well carved Meerschaum... I just can't get my head around the idea of sitting in my den in front of the fireplace, wearing my smoking jacket and ascot, and puffing away on a pipe that has been carved to look like Richard Nixon's head or SpongeBob Squarepants.
No disrespect meant to those who do. Anybody else feel this way? Or am I alone in my prejudice?
respectfully,
Tim (PS- I made up the part about the smoking jacket and the ascot )

They don't have to look like SpongeBob.

 

[PegLegEd]

The Two pipes pictured are beautiful, look to be well made, will give the owner to opportunity to really taste the tobacco smoked in them (and IMHO everybody should allow themselves that opportunity and privilege). Or You could just look at them hold and caress them knowing they belong to You. Meerschaums smoke like no other in the world experience the joy if you can you won't regret it!

 

[Winslow]

If you stay in this hobby for a time,your experiences and tastes will change.You may come
to love good meerschaums.
Meer lined briars are usually cheap unseasoned briar that would taste just horrid,that's why
they are lined with meerschaum.
My latest meer that smokes like the Devil!

Winslow :twisted:

 

[Tim in Ohio]

If you stay in this hobby for a time,your experiences and tastes will change.You may come
to love good meerschaums.
Meer lined briars are usually cheap unseasoned briar that would taste just horrid,that's why
they are lined with meerschaum.
My latest meer that smokes like the Devil!

Winslow :twisted:

Winslow... this wood be an example of one of the AWESOME ones!

 

[Tim in Ohio]

They don't have to look like SpongeBob.

Nice looking pipes. These shapes are what my brain naturally registers as pipes.

 

[Hermit]

I just ordered this one:
http://altinokpipe.com/detail.asp?Product_ID=IMP107
(I can't post a picture, 'cause the Altinok site won't allow right clicking.)

 

[Centurian 803]

I may be a bit strange. In fact a lot of people say I'm very strange. But, I love the meershaums I have primarily because they don't impart any flavor to the tobacco. They are wonderful to try new blends in. And there is something special about smoking Peterson's Sherlock Holmes in a pipe that looks like Sherlock Holmes. :shock:

 

[ftrplt]

I have many meerschaums. None look like Nixon or Spongebob!! They all smoke great!!!! FTRPLT

 

[Joseph76]

A superior meer pipe made with the highest quality block will be neutral in taste and give you a true flavor of the tobacco.

A magical piece of briar will actually add an element to the smoking experience and elevate the flavor.

The problem is... a magical piece of briar isn't easy to come by. But when you find one you realize why briar is such a special material.

I love both briar and meer pipes; it just depends on my mood.

If you are going to venture into the meer pipe world, I would suggest only buying a pipe made of the highest quality block, and make sure you are buying one that is properly engineered.

my 2c.

 

[Anonymous]

I like the one Lee Van Cleef smoked in "For A Few Dollars More".

 

[Tim in Ohio]

I have many meerschaums. None look like Nixon or Spongebob!! They all smoke great!!!! FTRPLT

FTRPLT: I'm sorry to report that you, sir, have been had. You can't have real meerschaums that aren't either Nixon or SpongeBob. I thought everyone knew that. Seems that you've fallen prey to some pipe hucksters.

 

[Natch]

"Nixon OR Spongebob"? I thought Nixon was Spongebob. :lol:
Natch

 

[Tim in Ohio]

I enter into evidence Exhibit A:

 

[Anonymous]

My kids would think a Sponge Bob pipe was the coolest, most awesomist thing around.

Don't know about smoking a Tricky Dick pipe. :scratch:

 

[Doc Manhattan]

Don't know about smoking a Tricky Dick pipe. :scratch:

If Gerald Ford didn't have one, nobody does.

(Lincoln would make a great figural meer... stovepipe hat for a nice tall bowl.)

 

[David Of California]

I enter into evidence Exhibit A:

I have the same one. It was my Dad’s. Oddly, it is the only one that does not smell of his normal Cherrywood blend. It was stored in its own box and was only used when he visited his musician clients in SF’s Haight-Ashbury district.