Northern briar pipes

[Trekkerdude]

Does anyone have any experience of this brand of pipes? I have been looking at them and I fancy something like the second one on this page: The pipe shop northern briars the Regal number five. It has that nice dark finish that i like and the celtic silver band adds a nice touch. Not that cheap but if it's a good brand then it's going to be worth it I think.

Thanks in anticipation

 

[Kyle Weiss]

That Regal 5 and this one:

...were particularly nice, I have to agree.

I don't know about them myself, but a couple of guys over on tampandpuff.com sure like 'em (lot more Brits/Scots over there)...

...some of their designs are almost Boswell-like in shape.

 

[dshpipes]

I had one for about three weeks. Eh. It was fine. It didn't blow my world apart or anything.

 

[monbla256]

The Smooth Rhodesian and the Bamboo Panel do it for me To bad one can't find 'em here in the US!!

 

[Trekkerdude]

Yeah the bamboo one does look like a pretty good design and the Bruyere Premier Bent Dublin

 

[Blue Max]

I liked 'em all just about. Lots of nice pipes and they look like they'd smoke well too.

 

[mattia76]

Try
pipes2smoke.com
They usually have a good selection of Northern Briars.

 

[Trekkerdude]

Well after having browsed the other forum suggested by Kyle, it seems that they are pretty good smokers so I think thats what I'm going to go for next payday.

 

[riff raff]

Uberhubermans's comment puts me off a bit. A few owners on another forum seem to love theirs. (don't seem them a lot)

Park Lane in NY usually has a few. I was helping a very attractive woman pick out a pipe there in December, and the clerk had put this plain looking bent billiard out. I was impressed with the way it was built and almost bought it myself. (she ended up with a cheaper Stanwell freehand I didn't much care for...) Those UK prices seem a bit better than these. This one was $195, now on sale for $165.

http://cigarsandpipes.com/pipes/pipes-n-z.html

 

[user 2031]

*

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Uberhubermans's comment puts me off a bit.

He just does that for fun.

 

[Wet Dottle]

Looked at a few about one year ago (perhaps a little more). Found them a bit.. how should I put it?... less refined than I would like in a pipe of that price range. I don't know how they smoke, because in the end I didn't buy any. Maybe I'm just too picky...

 

[docwatson]

Ian Walker is a wonderful gent, and attends several pipe shows in the USA every year. He brings a fine assortment of his pipes in all price ranges and I personally enjoy their smoking qualities very much. Here's a photo of a Regal that I've had for several years and is one of my favorite pipes.

 

[riff raff]

Ian Walker is a wonderful gent, and attends several pipe shows in the USA every year. He brings a fine assortment of his pipes in all price ranges and I personally enjoy their smoking qualities very much. Here's a photo of a Regal that I've had for several years and is one of my favorite pipes.

Wow Doc, now you are talking! The Cumberland stem really makes that pipe jump. I took the Park Lane pipe apart, yes, it was a little plain, but very well constructed. It ran a cleaner through it with no problem, I bet it would have smoked wonderfully. If that one had a stem like this, I would have bought it. From everything I've read, Mr. Walker has a sterling reputation.

 

[Boulder]

Very nice Doc. :cheers:

 

[riff raff]

Pipes2Smoke has this one, which is shaped very much like a special Comoy pipe someone posted here a few months ago. I love this shape. Alas, $220....

 

[dshpipes]

Uberhubermans's comment puts me off a bit. A few owners on another forum seem to love theirs.

I can understand that. Rereading that post, it was pretty terse and offered no insight. My apologies.

I did own a Northern Briar for about three weeks. I had heard fantastic things about the line as well, and I managed to snag one for a wheel of a deal. I smoked it a few times, and it was honestly a very good smoke. The thing that wound up getting it booted only a few weeks later was a) the size (Northern Briar pipes can be pretty hefty), b) the chamber in relation to the size (enormous for me), and c) after I'd had it for a few weeks, I discovered that it just didn't appeal to me.

Ultimately, what it came down to was that I'd chosen an Ian Walker pipe hastily because I wanted to try one instead of buying one because it spoke to me. It really had nothing to do with the quality of the pipe or its smoke-ability. The pipe just didn't fit me. I think that an investment in an Ian Walker pipe is a sound one, as long as you pick one that's right for you.

Uberhubermans's comment puts me off a bit.

He just does that for fun.

All part of my charm.

 

[docwatson]

Thanks for the comments gents. I highly recommend Ian's pipes.

 

[riff raff]

Uberhubermans's comment puts me off a bit. A few owners on another forum seem to love theirs.

I can understand that. Rereading that post, it was pretty terse and offered no insight. My apologies.

I did own a Northern Briar for about three weeks. I had heard fantastic things about the line as well, and I managed to snag one for a wheel of a deal. I smoked it a few times, and it was honestly a very good smoke. The thing that wound up getting it booted only a few weeks later was a) the size (Northern Briar pipes can be pretty hefty), b) the chamber in relation to the size (enormous for me), and c) after I'd had it for a few weeks, I discovered that it just didn't appeal to me.

Ultimately, what it came down to was that I'd chosen an Ian Walker pipe hastily because I wanted to try one instead of buying one because it spoke to me. It really had nothing to do with the quality of the pipe or its smoke-ability. The pipe just didn't fit me. I think that an investment in an Ian Walker pipe is a sound one, as long as you pick one that's right for you.

Uberhubermans's comment puts me off a bit.

He just does that for fun.

All part of my charm.

No apologies necessary, it is certainly fine not like a particular pipe or maker, and your detailed explanation makes sense. I have a Cavicchi, that at the moment, I'm not certain works for me.

 

[danindayton]

I have three of Ian Walkers pipes that I bought at the Columbus pipe show. Mr. Walker is a gentleman of the old school and his lady is absolutley a delight.

My Northern Briars are in my constant rotation and I have to be careful to about letting them rest. I like them that much. I will buy more. I really like that bamboo shanked one.

danindayton
ilurkalot