I’m re-evaluating the whole pipe collecting thing.
I’ve recently had a bit of a cull, giving some pipes to my noob pipe-smoking son, and thinning the herd considerably. Apart from my 1879 Peterson and a hand made Ronny Thuner, I have little that could be described as worth a great deal, and that’s the way I like it.
I have Petersons, Barlings, Stanwells, Bjarnes, etc. but possibly my best smokers are a Hardcastle billiard I refurbed to new, and a Dr Grabow Westbrook. Both look stunning, with beautiful grain and they smoke perfectly. I also own just one Dunhill Bruyere, which I’m about to sell because frankly I never smoke it, and I only keep it because I bought into the myth that everyone should have one. In fact it’s only ever been smoked twice, so make me an offer!
Why am I selling it? Because many of my other pipes smoke just as well, look just as good (if not better) and I don’t have to be nervous about them. Besides, who am I impressing? Most of the time I smoke I’m alone in my own space.
I’m removing myself from the snob aspect of piping and starting to enjoy it more as a result. I look after my pipes meticulously, regardless of cost or their perceived value. If I sell the Dunhill I might be able to afford a couple of decent Peterson’s which suits me just fine.
I will probably continue to accumulate pipes, but concentrate on recognised good smokers like Blakemars and (wait for it…) Big Bens, which I’ve always found do the job perfectly well. I’ll buy them new and spend less than £50 a time. I really need to build up tobacco stocks, just so I’m ready for the ban! And a pipe is just a way of enjoying the tobacco, which I’m sure we all forget from time to time.
I will always look at, and enjoy the real high-enders, so I’m not an anti, but as a smoker whose all time favourite style is any type of billiard, I don’t feel I need a Jules Verne Reverse-Bulldog Blowfish to enjoy my smoke.
A man after my own heart. As long as the pipe smokes reasonably well it matters not what the stamp is. The name on the pipe doesn’t make the smoke better any more than the name on the car makes the surroundings more enjoyable when you are out for a drive.