Disappointed by a Kaywoodie. Anyone else?

[SPUD 15]

I have to agree with doc, my first pipe that I purchased was a Kaywoodie white briar bulldog which did gurgle alot due to the fact that I was smoking the aeros of the day which if you let dry all day they would still be goopy. The comment made about poor fitment, shellac, and fills and alignment of the stems I personally have never seen except for stem alignment epecially on 01 yacht shapes which is a easy fix to realign. Below are pictures of three of my grandfathers Kaywoodies cheap ones of the day the top one is a drinkless suntan 1933-1938, The second is a Drinkless 1932 syncro pat applied for, and the third is a 1932 8 panel Drinkless pre syncro pat pipe.None of these pipes have fills or shellac bowls are all round stingers are intact, and the stems have always been aligned they all have good draw and smoke very well. MIKE





I hope the pictures do them justice as they are lovely pipes.

 

[docwatson]

Mike,
Those are some very nice vintage Kaywoodie's. Thanks for sharing the photos. The newly made Kaywoodies without the filter systems are also some fine smoking pipes today and can be had for very reasonable prices.
The new pipes are also push tenons.

 

[DoverPipes]

Mike,
Those are some very nice vintage Kaywoodie's. Thanks for sharing the photos. The newly made Kaywoodies without the filter systems are also some fine smoking pipes today and can be had for very reasonable prices.
The new pipes are also push tenons.

I have to concur with Andy. I own six or seven Kaywoodies. All of them are very good smokers. All of them are without stingers. The most recent ones are the pipes from the Kaywoodie event back in December. Bill makes a decent pipe. I'm not just saying that because I know him, my Kaywoodies are part of my rotation and I smoke them proudly. Go on and take the plunge and grab one of the POY's or larger freehands.

 

[Anonymous]

As for rectifying problems, I do not alter an original pipe!!!! It's the same with firearms. Anything to me that has been altered has lost its collectibility. So if there is a pipe that does not smoke well, I will give it away and explain that it didn't smoke well for me, and it may be just fine for someone else. I know of many folks that will snip off the ball fitment/stinger for a better draw and being able to pass a pipe cleaner. I have acquired some of these pipes over the years and find that it does work well but also loses collectible value. Being a collector and a smoker as I previously stated my preference is to collect and smoke all original Kaywoodie pipes.

Undoubtedly a good thing to know if you end up with an old, original one.

But while sound advice re. any collectable, it must be a KW collector thing. Reason being that virtually all old Britwood came equipped with "fitaments" that were immediately discarded -- without this seeming to affect their desirability to smoker-collectors today in the least.

:face:

 

[Stinger4me]

I have five or six Kaywoodie pipes and all of them are older pipes. Three of my favorites are the Super Grain Hand Made versions and they may date to the late 40's. They were passed on to me. I had quite a few others and passed them to others so they could enjoy them. One of the Hand Made pipes had to have some repiars to the stem. The repair guy made a push stem and put the logo onto the the new stem. It is the best smoking pipe of the three. The "collectable status" of these pipes means less than the smoking qualities of the pipe. I enjoy them for what they are, pipes to be smoked. I am not a fan of the stingers and all of them have been removed. Soon another pipe will be going in for a new stem and I am fairly certain with a push stem it will be a good smoker. I have not purchased a new briar pipe in ten years or more. The older pipes to me show more workmanship and pride than many of the newer pipes. Just my $.02.

 

[RDPipes]

I can't stand 'em myself. I'll take an open draw and no contraptions over the stinger any day.

I agree wholeheartedly sir!

 

[phillpsych]

Brothers;
I have not posted on here in quite some time. For various reasons. And for other various reasons, I'm back, and glad I am.
I have dozens of Kaywoodies. My passion is very old, pre-WWII, unsmoked Kaywoodies. I have several, and they haunt me, because I want to smoke them. But I have broken in a few old ones, and it's an experience. One must be patient. When one is, one is rewarded.
The old Kaywoodies, pre-WWII, were made from a stockpile of OLD briar assembled by Kaywoodie that was the envy of the pipe world back in the day. Some of the 1930's and 1920's pipes I own were made from 300 or 400 year old briar, and they are damn near a 100 years old POST manufacture.
Consider that.
There are some in the pipe smoking world who consider briar that old to have unparalleled smoking qualities. Mr. Books, the fine tobacconist in Oregon, can't praise OLD Wood enough. Kaywoodies are fine smokers. Of course there are some that don't smoke well. I've had some VERY EXPENSIVE high grades that don't smoke as well as some of my older Kaywoodies, and some Kaywoodies that are pure junk. But for the most part, the fact that they are American made, the fact that they have served pipe smokers well for decades, the fact that there is a huge nostalgia factor, the fact that there are thousands of them available, and the fact that many many of us collect them... make a very strong case for the brand, the pipe, and the respect Kaywoodie deserves.
I'm no expert by any means. In my Chicago club, there are some who know way more than me. But, few who love them as much. And for a really interesting hobby... collect some old KBB pipes, or old KBB Yello-Boles. I have a cheap old, 1940's Yello-Bole Thorn that is HANDS DOWN the best smoking pipe in my collection. I bought it for 5 bucks and refurbished it. HANDS DOWN the best smoking pipe I own.

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

Kaywoodie is one of those brands that sings "CHEAP" in my ears. I know others have a different opinion but I doubt I'll ever buy one.

 

[radio807]

I have three Kaywoodies: one from the late 1920s, one from around 1955 and one from the 1960s. The newer one is an Oom Paul that I'm not thrilled with, but the other two are fine smokers. I will likely add others. As to the impression of "cheap," well...whatever.

 

[phillpsych]

Dull is one of those personalities that sings "ignorant" in my ears. I know others have a different opinion, but I doubt I'll ever take you seriously.

 

[lifeon2]

For everyone that looks down on Kaywoodies or doesnt want to own a cheap inferior fitment pipe, God bless you all. More for me

 

[Brewdude]

My late Pap smoked Kays. Seemed pretty happy with them. At least I never heard him complain about them.

He was also a one brand 'baccy man. Always Uhles 255. Never any other.

A man of simple tastes, but he knew what worked for him. God rest his soul.


Cheers,

RR