Let's Compare, Shall We?

[Rusty Mouse]

Hello all,
For those who didn't see my Welcome Wagon entry, I'm a future pipe smoker, present collector, so having only observed the world of pipe smoking for 2 years with absolutely no experience smoking I ask you this as I am torn between a pipe from Claudio Cavicchi and one from Erik Nording. The Nording is a completely unfinished freehand and the Cavicchi has yet to be chosen.
Let's compare these two brands, shall we?
Any comments as to why the bare briar of the Nording might be a good or a bad thing are appreciated as well. Personally I like the idea, I save money and it'll develop completely unique characteristics as it takes on elements from its environment.
It's great to be in a place of such a rare, unique and proud people.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

"Shameless" and "proud" are probably not interchangeable here... :lol: (...well, they could be...)

I own three Nordings, and no Cavicchis. I love the classic shapes of Cavicchis. Most Nordings are about half the price (or less than any Cavicchi. Nording tends to be good at more "Danish" freehand and whimsical shapes.

I'm not sure the purpose of your question. If you want a quality, cheap pipe to smoke, Nording works great. If you want a high-quality Italian briar that will smoke great. The rest is preferential. Both will be great to look at if you spend another two years collecting and not smoking. :lol:

Problem solved: buy both.

8)

 

[Cigar2you]

Problem solved: buy both.

8)

Then you can sen the Nording to Kyle and the Cavicchi to me and well will help you decide while we break them in for for you

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Then you can sen the Nording to Kyle and the Cavicchi to me and well will help you decide while we break them in for for you

Remember my "shameless" versus "proud" comparison, Rusty? This would be a good example of "shameless."

And that's why we're here. :twisted:

 

[Cigar2you]

See Kyle, like a true brother, I dont mind sharing

 

[Kyle Weiss]

See Kyle, like a true brother, I dont mind sharing

I ain't gonna complain! Next Cavicchi's mine, though.

 

[Cigar2you]

See Kyle, like a true brother, I dont mind sharing

I ain't gonna complain! Next Cavicchi's mine, though.

Agreed :cheers:

 

[Rusty Mouse]

"Shameless" and "proud" are probably not interchangeable here... :lol: (...well, they could be...)

I own three Nordings, and no Cavicchis. I love the classic shapes of Cavicchis. Most Nordings are about half the price (or less than any Cavicchi. Nording tends to be good at more "Danish" freehand and whimsical shapes.

I'm not sure the purpose of your question. If you want a quality, cheap pipe to smoke, Nording works great. If you want a high-quality Italian briar that will smoke great. The rest is preferential. Both will be great to look at if you spend another two years collecting and not smoking. :lol:

Problem solved: buy both.

8)

:| I just posted this big long reply and for whatever reason, the bugger didn't post! So let's try once more. As I said, this 2 year process of "Should I, Shouldn't I?" has come to an end, I'm choosing to finally enjoy the second half of owning a pipe and that's to smoke the darn thing! Now I guess the purpose of this thread is find out if the smoking qualities of the two brands are really that different. I understand the price range is distant, I'm just concerned that some companies jack their prices for no apparent reason, am I going to feel ripped off with a Cavicchi? I have absolutely no problems paying for quality, just not for a name.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

I'm going to go out on a limb here (and provided we don't finagle you out of your pipes :twisted: ) and say that before you're really going to notice the difference between a Nording and a Cavicchi you should go through the nuances of smoking a pipe in a general sense first. You have tobacco, technique, patience and practice to master.

At least with you starting with a Nording and/or a Cavicci, you're in good hands in the quality department. Don't trouble yourself (or your pocketbook) needlessly. Changes can always be made later. As I usually say "This ain't a race, it's pipe smoking." 8)

 

[puros_bran]

Cavicchi is quality.. think of it as a nice volkswagon, the high end $42,000 one, not the bug....
There will be a little roughness here and there but to the average guy that doesn't handle many high grades you won't notice...


Erik Nording is ok, but it's a different group than high ends... kinda like a F150.. it'll get the job done, it's dependable, but it's not flashy and it wont hold its value..

 

[Cigar2you]

Pipe prices range for a variety of reason, the carver, the demand for his pipes, the number of pipes he produces a year, the quality of the briar, the type of finish, and the size to name a few. I think the you would be happy with the smoking qualities of each pipe even if these quality are different with each pipe. I tend not to by pipes based so much on who makes it but on whether or not it appeals to me. on some occasions I smoke several different blends out of the same pipe and it never smokes the way i like it too so i trade it and move on, then on the other hand some pipe I just fall in love with after just one bowl.

 

[Rusty Mouse]

I'm going to go out on a limb here (and provided we don't finagle you out of your pipes :twisted: ) and say that before you're really going to notice the difference between a Nording and a Cavicchi you should go through the nuances of smoking a pipe in a general sense first. You have tobacco, technique, patience and practice to master.

At least with you starting with a Nording and/or a Cavicci, you're in good hands in the quality department. Don't trouble yourself (or your pocketbook) needlessly. Changes can always be made later. As I usually say "This ain't a race, it's pipe smoking." 8)

You've made one hell of a point there. I'll be keeping that in mind whenever that little "Buy more pipes" voice goes off in my head. I guess I just want the best first time experience possible.

 

[Rusty Mouse]

Cavicchi is quality.. think of it as a nice volkswagon, the high end $42,000 one, not the bug....
There will be a little roughness here and there but to the average guy that doesn't handle many high grades you won't notice...


Erik Nording is ok, but it's a different group than high ends... kinda like a F150.. it'll get the job done, it's dependable, but it's not flashy and it wont hold its value..

You're a car guy I bet, ain'tcha? :lol:
Thanks for the analogy.

 

[Rusty Mouse]

Pipe prices range for a variety of reason, the carver, the demand for his pipes, the number of pipes he produces a year, the quality of the briar, the type of finish, and the size to name a few. I think the you would be happy with the smoking qualities of each pipe even if these quality are different with each pipe. I tend not to by pipes based so much on who makes it but on whether or not it appeals to me. on some occasions I smoke several different blends out of the same pipe and it never smokes the way i like it too so i trade it and move on, then on the other hand some pipe I just fall in love with after just one bowl.

Like Kyle was just saying, I haven't even got to the point of being able to appreciate any qualities other than visual and how it feels in my hands so right now it's buy what looks pretty and hope for the best later. That may bite me in the future, but hey, you've gotta start somewhere.

 

[Cigar2you]

If you dont like the way pipe smokes after you have been smoking for a while there is always someone willing to by or trade. That the great thing about buying quality easy to find a new home for it an try something different.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Okay, car analogies.

Believe me, if you get into tobacco, you're in a WHOLE different league right there. Makes pondering the simplicity of the humble pipe by itself look like kid's stuff. 8) That's part of the reason why right now, I'm going for cheap quality (the Ford F150's) as a majority but still keeping a few entry-level Porsches (screw newer VWs, owned one, never again :lol: ) so I can know what to expect. Eventually, I'll have a nice Bently or Aston Martin I can baby.

Honestly? My most surprising, eye-opening moment was the humble Missouri Meerschaum cob. The Honda Civic of pipes...cheap, beat the crap out of 'em, but they're damn good. They'll teach you how to smoke a pipe. Let the expensive ones wait for you until you know how to handle the clutch and want to show off a little. 8)

 

[Rusty Mouse]

Okay, car analogies.

Believe me, if you get into tobacco, you're in a WHOLE different league right there. Makes pondering the simplicity of the humble pipe by itself look like kid's stuff. 8) That's part of the reason why right now, I'm going for cheap quality (the Ford F150's) as a majority but still keeping a few entry-level Porsches (screw newer VWs, owned one, never again :lol: ) so I can know what to expect. Eventually, I'll have a nice Bently or Aston Martin I can baby.

Honestly? My most surprising, eye-opening moment was the humble Missouri Meerschaum cob. The Honda Civic of pipes...cheap, beat the crap out of 'em, but they're damn good. They'll teach you how to smoke a pipe. Let the expensive ones wait for you until you know how to handle the clutch and want to show off a little. 8)

That's one pipe I forgot to mention, an old Missouri Meerschaum I have that belonged to my grandfather, unsmoked, but it's got an ever so small crack at the rim of the bowl, I'd hate to make it worse so I'll have to pick up a few with my next purchase.

 

[plumbernater]

We need to see pictures of your collection

 

[Cigar2you]

MM pipes are great workhorses. Perfect pipe to start with because the are very forgiving when it comes to smoking.

 

[Rusty Mouse]

We need to see pictures of your collection

I should have known that would be a request sooner or later. I wouldn't call it much of a collection yet but I'll snap one later on to avoid the cowbell. Does the cowbell exist in these parts or do I just sound ridiculous? :clown: