Horns

[DrumsAndBeer]

Anyone smoke them?

For my birthday, I was gifted and very nice IMP latticed horn. Since IMP is no longer, I am seriously considering keeping it, but at the same rate I am wondering if I should return it. I just don't see how this pipe can possibly smoke well.

Any tips, tricks, or thoughts on this shape?

 

[MisterE]

The horn is a shape that has grown on me over the last few years. I used to dislike them intensely. Funny how those things go!

Because the bowl is forward canted, they have the tendency to burn down the wall above the draught hole. I try to light it toward the front of the bowl to keep it burning more evenly. Also, getting a cleaner to fit all the way to the bowl can be a challenge, so pack carefully! A chunk of tobacco clogging the hole can be disastrous. I usually make a well-engineered grate out of a piece of tobacco flake to fit in the bowl before packing completely. That keeps anything from getting down there usually.

It's mostly about practice. Good luck!

 

[RDPipes]

Horns have never been my favorite nor even on the list of so so's.
There built wrong, heat rises UP and that's were the upper part of the bowl is.
So that said it'll heat the upper part of the bowl and lead to maybe scorching and burn out.
Unless of course you hold it in your teeth while directly looking upwards to the sky.
This is just my opinion and I have no proof just that science has led me to this conclusion.

 

[Brewdude]

I like horns from an artistic viewpoint. Yet virtually all of them present possible problems from a practical sense, some of which are noted here. 

Hope your IMP smokes great for you Chris. Let us know how you get on with it.


Cheers,

RR

 

[Dutch]

I think the horn is a fantastic couch pipe, especially if you enjoy the supine position while watching television. It is usually necessary to have a horn crafted with an artisan stem however, in order to avoid gravitational condensation.

For me, the main challenge has always been the blind light, as I am a fanatic about not charring my rims. It does take some practice, learning exactly where your flame will fall, but once you get the hang of it, it is very rewarding to smoke an entire bowl while completely avoiding a rim char.

As for the issue of burning out your draft hole, I would suspect that a meer would be the perfect material to avoid the scenario.

For me, smoking the horn shape, has always been a lot like spinning a basketball on the end of my finger. It won't necessarily improve your game, but if you can pull it off, it's generally an impressive feat.

 

[Richard Burley]

I have exactly one. They sort of look cool, but I reserve mine for smoking outdoors in a strong wind. With a little luck, maybe it will burn up and I can justifiably toss it. Or maybe put it on eBay as "slightly used."

 

[monbla256]

I had a Charatan 162 Huntsman and it was the only pipe I ever got a burn out in the side of the bowl. I'll NEVER have THAT shape again !! :twisted: :twisted:

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

I guess with quality block meerschaum, which this pipe seems to be made from, I should be more concerned with it cracking than burning out. If I decide to smoke it, I'll certainly make a concerted effort to take it slow. It definitely doesn't seem very practical and I certainly wouldn't have chosen this shape for myself.

I am surely going to need something other than my usual BIC lighter and kitchen matches I want to avoid scorching the rim. Hmmm...To smoke or not to smoke, that is the question.

Thanks for the replies..

 

[AJ]

Horns have never been my favorite nor even on the list of so so's.
There built wrong, heat rises UP and that's were the upper part of the bowl is.
So that said it'll heat the upper part of the bowl and lead to maybe scorching and burn out.
Unless of course you hold it in your teeth while directly looking upwards to the sky.
This is just my opinion and I have no proof just that science has led me to this conclusion.

^^^^^^This +1^^^^^^  

AJ

 

[Jevverrett]

I ever went in for that shape bc it seemed to be structurally flawed in shape. I have an IMP. And it smokes like champ, so it's probably a good pipe. And it won't burnout on you. Heck, an unsmoked IMP may be worth a fortune some day. I'd sit on it either way.

 

[puros_bran]

I'll pm my address to anyone who may wish to part with their Horn pipe.

I have two that I cherish, possibly three if one is lenient with the shape chart as some are so inclined. To the guy that has 500 pipes this may not sound significant but I very few pipes, 4-5 of them comprise 95% of my smoking enjoyment and all of the above mentioned are included in that 4-5.

There was one particular horn in that group of IMP that I was sorely tempted to purchase. I ran every reason not to through my head multiple times. When I decided I would regret not purchasing it someone had very wisely bought it.

 

[juanmedusa]

I always imagined if I bought a horn pipe I'd have to buy a hammock to smoke it in. Horns and hammocks, makes sense to me.