Threshold...

[SpeedyPete]

Something which has not been defined in his whole thread - the definition of a NEW pipe. If it is meant a new, never smoked pipe that has NEVER had tobacco in it or a "new to me" ESTATE pipe!!! :twisted:   :twisted:  As far as "breaking in" goes, an estate pipe though cleaned of all cake has had the thermodynamics of smoking performed on it and as such is ALREADY "broken in", kinda like when having sex with a virgin in ones youth and enjoying it with a divorced older woman   :twisted:   :twisted: 

Why divorced?  :twisted: 

 

[gravel]

:|

I feel like I just walked in on someone else's grandpa.

 

[MisterE]

As Ken Collins once wrote, "just smoke the new out of it."  8) 

 

[i.keenum]

I normally light mine right up in the store. Kind of seals deal and makes for get about getting back the money I just spent. If I don't smoke em I normally give them away after a little while.

 

[Hawker]

I just thought pipes were meant to be smoked? So I smoke em.

I have a friend who I gave a knife to years ago that doesn't use it because of all the work I put into it he say's it's to fancy to use. Had I known that I would of used different materials. I prefer seeing one of my other buddies that's really hard on things beat it with a 2x4 or what ever he deams is needed and use it however he see's fit (can always be re-sanded) rather than see it sit on a shelf or sit in a drawer.

I'm sure some pipemakers feel the same way. If they built a using grade pipe they expect it to be used for what it was made for. If they built an art piece they'd probly prefer it be appreciated for what it was.

But to each their own and it all comes down to self choice, it's your pipe do what YOU want with it and don't feel guilty or selfish about it. Life's to short to worry about material things.

 

[huffelpuff]

For the most part a pipe is a tool to consume tobacco and that's how I treat most of them. However I have two that I will probably never use. One is a clay Princeton graduation pipe from 1897 that was supposed to be smoked and broken during the commencement exercises but is unsmoked and intact. The other is a meerschaum cheroot holder with real amber stem that is unsmoked from sometime in the 1800's. I have considered smoking both but just can't bring myself to do it. Am I wrong? I don't know but my gut says leave them be.

Jim

 

[mark]

I have considered smoking both but just can't bring myself to do it. Am I wrong? I don't know but my gut says leave them be. Jim

My gut agrees with your gut.