Please enlighten me...

[CipsterX]

Just buy a Savinelli they all smoke great.

 

[SpeedyPete]

Just buy a Savinelli they all smoke great.

Yes!!!  :bounce: 

 

[pepesdad1]

From my limited experience...owning a number of pre-Cadagon Comoys that are wonderful smokers, in comparing them to an artisan pipe such as Briar Spirit Pipes...I find that Kirk's pipes smoke equal to or better than these seasoned warriors.
I think the "soul" that an artisan pipemaker puts into his/her pipes makes the difference in smoking.
I have found Kirk's pipes to be superlative in enjoyment and beauty.  They are a boost to one's moral when you are feeling low.

 

[raf66]

too many factors to generalize... quality of the engineering of either pipe would be the largest factor  but also the type of briar, size of airways, type of stem material, size of tobacco chamber

^^this^^

 

[KevinM]

Guarantee?!? There ain't no steenkin guarantees. Also, it is problematic to make a distinction twixt D'hill and basket pipes, because much depends on quality of materials, care in craftmanship, smoker preferences . . . as others have aptly said. When I had a B&M nearby, the owner would alert me when he was replenishing his bargain barrel and would steer me to the picks of the litter.I got some great pipes and lessons on what to look for. Two thoughts to mull: I've often had my ankles chewed for saying a piper can forecast how a given pipe will smoke simply by examining it. A little puff of an unlighted pipe will tell you how open the draught hole is, and whether it will double as a dog whistle. Are the walls thin or thick? Is a pipe an ample hunk of briar, but does it still feel light in the hand? Has the pipes style forced compromises in performance? How big is the chamber? Shape of the chamber? Where does the draught hole hit the chamber?. . . Also, I contend that the reason for the oft-stated preference for estate pipes is that they've been used and, with a modicum of care, good briar likes to be heated and cooled repeatedly over a period of time. In my opinion. It tempers the briar, or something. The comparison with watches is a good one. It is very likely that the production pipe you hold in one hand will smoke as well for you as the artisan pipe you hold in the other. The artisan pipe will, however, score more points in the "pride of ownership" category, for which you will pay a premium price. It's your money and your choice, as they say.