The official pipe smokers thread. Vol 1.
Discussion
I'm never one to avoid ridicule, anyone who's seen me dance will know that, there's been a few pipe threads on here, but unlike the cigar thread there doesn't seem to be a decent pipe thread.
Possibly due to me being the only one......
But if you are a pipe smoker this is your safe space. What do you smoke, what are your stories?
I've smoked a bit most of my life, but I only smoke for pleasure, mainly the odd cigar, sometimes I smoke when on a really good drive just on my own with my own thoughts and music, but I bought my first pipe from blakemar briars in 2019 with a very bemused friend that such places still exist, and I got a second from Cogolin France last year, both bought from the man who made them which seemed like a nice bit of contact with a bygone age, which I think is part of what I enjoy about smoking a pipe, it's a chance to break the day up occasionally and just go back to a simpler time.
My first pipe tobacco was dunhill London mixture. Found it a bit sharp, but generally an ok smoke.
Second was bought on my honeymoon in Miami and is Davidoff danish mixture, absolutely love this, bought on a whim because I like their cigars, it's fragrant and I get strong chocolate notes from it.
Latest purchase is Peterson Sherlock Holmes. Not that impressed with it. If I smoked constantly it might be a really good choice, but it's a bit like cigarette tobacco, mild and a bit tasteless, easy to smoke but I don't want to smoke constantly, just an occasional treat. I keep meaning to go to a local tobacconist and buy some loose, I might buy some much stronger and mix it to use it up. Although considering my first tin lasted me from 2019 to now, I can't see me using it up fast!
Let's see if this sinks or swims. Or rather how fast it sinks!
Possibly due to me being the only one......
But if you are a pipe smoker this is your safe space. What do you smoke, what are your stories?
I've smoked a bit most of my life, but I only smoke for pleasure, mainly the odd cigar, sometimes I smoke when on a really good drive just on my own with my own thoughts and music, but I bought my first pipe from blakemar briars in 2019 with a very bemused friend that such places still exist, and I got a second from Cogolin France last year, both bought from the man who made them which seemed like a nice bit of contact with a bygone age, which I think is part of what I enjoy about smoking a pipe, it's a chance to break the day up occasionally and just go back to a simpler time.
My first pipe tobacco was dunhill London mixture. Found it a bit sharp, but generally an ok smoke.
Second was bought on my honeymoon in Miami and is Davidoff danish mixture, absolutely love this, bought on a whim because I like their cigars, it's fragrant and I get strong chocolate notes from it.
Latest purchase is Peterson Sherlock Holmes. Not that impressed with it. If I smoked constantly it might be a really good choice, but it's a bit like cigarette tobacco, mild and a bit tasteless, easy to smoke but I don't want to smoke constantly, just an occasional treat. I keep meaning to go to a local tobacconist and buy some loose, I might buy some much stronger and mix it to use it up. Although considering my first tin lasted me from 2019 to now, I can't see me using it up fast!
Let's see if this sinks or swims. Or rather how fast it sinks!
I bought a pipe 'starter pack' a couple of years ago which contained a pipe and some samples of tobacco for about £40. My GF was pretty incredulous and thought it mental (I'm 34) but I've enjoyed the odd smoke since, especially when sat in front of a campfire or after a few drinks on a warm evening. Certainly couldn't do it regularly though and I found that half a bowl was enough for me.
Quhet said:
I bought a pipe 'starter pack' a couple of years ago which contained a pipe and some samples of tobacco for about £40. My GF was pretty incredulous and thought it mental (I'm 34) but I've enjoyed the odd smoke since, especially when sat in front of a campfire or after a few drinks on a warm evening. Certainly couldn't do it regularly though and I found that half a bowl was enough for me.
Do you smoke it like a cigar or cigarette all in one sitting? Because I tend to have a few puffs, go and do something, maybe have a few more and so on, sometimes a bowl will last me days, I'm probably the one doing it wrong but it seems to work for me, it's a relaxing way to smoke, I choose when to smoke rather than feeling tied to finishing the bowl.Never tried a pipe but enjoy cigars. My late dad was an avid pipe smoker - St.Bruno Rough Cut which wasn't the most aromatic of tobaccos. The pipe hardly ever left his mouth even when it wasn't lit. My fondest memories are of him driving us around in the car, pipe in mouth, and suddenly the bowl section would come loose, rotate 180 degrees and dump the contents of the pipe in his lap. of course if it was full of red hot tobacco much hilarity ensued. Bless him 
Stopped smoking 19/6/2013.
Was an avid pipe smoker for 25 years prior to that, smoked Petersen pipes, preferred pipe was a medium bent apple # 303 or maybe a #317 (think i have 5 or 6 petersens still in the loft), a lovely pipe to smoke, and not too much grot gets through them either and the smoke is lighter on the tongue due to the shape of the mouthpiece. Prefferred tobacco was Mellow Virginia - nice flavour, chocolatey.
Was a very heavy smoker though, smoked 10-12 50g packs a month so was working out around £150/month, so even at those prices im ~2k/yr better off now.
Just woke up one morning and thought "Nah....im fedup of this wheezing and i stink......" so stopped.
Still miss it but wouldn't start up again, 'spose im healthier for it but not that i notice.
Always hankered after a Porsche Design pipe..... truly a thing of beauty!
Was an avid pipe smoker for 25 years prior to that, smoked Petersen pipes, preferred pipe was a medium bent apple # 303 or maybe a #317 (think i have 5 or 6 petersens still in the loft), a lovely pipe to smoke, and not too much grot gets through them either and the smoke is lighter on the tongue due to the shape of the mouthpiece. Prefferred tobacco was Mellow Virginia - nice flavour, chocolatey.
Was a very heavy smoker though, smoked 10-12 50g packs a month so was working out around £150/month, so even at those prices im ~2k/yr better off now.
Just woke up one morning and thought "Nah....im fedup of this wheezing and i stink......" so stopped.
Still miss it but wouldn't start up again, 'spose im healthier for it but not that i notice.
Always hankered after a Porsche Design pipe..... truly a thing of beauty!
I have a cheap Chinese pipe that, in the words of Will Smith is "for the look; I don't light it". A fellow engineer has one as well and we use them for moments of pondering at work.
This all came about firstly, because Bill Bailey uses one occasionally for his meandering thoughts when on stage and also I once watched a documentary about the Dehavilland Comet. When it came out of its pressure test tank after the issue of the skin cracking was discovered, every single engineer inspecting it had a pipe in their mouths, so we decided serious engineers needed a pipe!
As to smoking one, a friend and I discovered cigars in our late teens as we both loved the smell, and were pleased to discover that the taste is pretty much the same. On this basis, and given that pipe tobacco smells lovely, he nabbed his father's old pipe so we could give that a go as well. Unfortunately we both felt that, whilst the tobacco did indeed smell fabulous, the taste was utterly vile, so that's as far as our pipe-smoking days went.
This all came about firstly, because Bill Bailey uses one occasionally for his meandering thoughts when on stage and also I once watched a documentary about the Dehavilland Comet. When it came out of its pressure test tank after the issue of the skin cracking was discovered, every single engineer inspecting it had a pipe in their mouths, so we decided serious engineers needed a pipe!
As to smoking one, a friend and I discovered cigars in our late teens as we both loved the smell, and were pleased to discover that the taste is pretty much the same. On this basis, and given that pipe tobacco smells lovely, he nabbed his father's old pipe so we could give that a go as well. Unfortunately we both felt that, whilst the tobacco did indeed smell fabulous, the taste was utterly vile, so that's as far as our pipe-smoking days went.
Deranged Rover said:
I have a cheap Chinese pipe that, in the words of Will Smith is "for the look; I don't light it". A fellow engineer has one as well and we use them for moments of pondering at work.
This all came about firstly, because Bill Bailey uses one occasionally for his meandering thoughts when on stage and also I once watched a documentary about the Dehavilland Comet. When it came out of its pressure test tank after the issue of the skin cracking was discovered, every single engineer inspecting it had a pipe in their mouths, so we decided serious engineers needed a pipe!
This all came about firstly, because Bill Bailey uses one occasionally for his meandering thoughts when on stage and also I once watched a documentary about the Dehavilland Comet. When it came out of its pressure test tank after the issue of the skin cracking was discovered, every single engineer inspecting it had a pipe in their mouths, so we decided serious engineers needed a pipe!
Seems perfect.
Deranged Rover said:
I have a cheap Chinese pipe that, in the words of Will Smith is "for the look; I don't light it". A fellow engineer has one as well and we use them for moments of pondering at work.
This all came about firstly, because Bill Bailey uses one occasionally for his meandering thoughts when on stage and also I once watched a documentary about the Dehavilland Comet. When it came out of its pressure test tank after the issue of the skin cracking was discovered, every single engineer inspecting it had a pipe in their mouths, so we decided serious engineers needed a pipe!
As to smoking one, a friend and I discovered cigars in our late teens as we both loved the smell, and were pleased to discover that the taste is pretty much the same. On this basis, and given that pipe tobacco smells lovely, he nabbed his father's old pipe so we could give that a go as well. Unfortunately we both felt that, whilst the tobacco did indeed smell fabulous, the taste was utterly vile, so that's as far as our pipe-smoking days went.
It used to be said the decline of British engineering coincided with the decline of smoking - not because a pipe was essential, but because without cigarettes there were no fag packets upon which to jot down innovation This all came about firstly, because Bill Bailey uses one occasionally for his meandering thoughts when on stage and also I once watched a documentary about the Dehavilland Comet. When it came out of its pressure test tank after the issue of the skin cracking was discovered, every single engineer inspecting it had a pipe in their mouths, so we decided serious engineers needed a pipe!
As to smoking one, a friend and I discovered cigars in our late teens as we both loved the smell, and were pleased to discover that the taste is pretty much the same. On this basis, and given that pipe tobacco smells lovely, he nabbed his father's old pipe so we could give that a go as well. Unfortunately we both felt that, whilst the tobacco did indeed smell fabulous, the taste was utterly vile, so that's as far as our pipe-smoking days went.
I have a few Peterson pipes that I use on a regular basis.
Used to be an irregular cigar smoker, cuban clubs, and sometimes larger. Mostly during the summer months as I hate smoking in the cold/wet and have never smoked indoors.
Decided to give a pipe a go instead.
I use various Kendal mixes from https://www.thebackyshop.co.uk/ black cherry mixed with a regular is the go to norm.
Used to be an irregular cigar smoker, cuban clubs, and sometimes larger. Mostly during the summer months as I hate smoking in the cold/wet and have never smoked indoors.
Decided to give a pipe a go instead.
I use various Kendal mixes from https://www.thebackyshop.co.uk/ black cherry mixed with a regular is the go to norm.
elanfan said:
Not meant to be contentious or insulting but are you aware of the absolute stench you create.. imho it’s selfish no one wants that anywhere near them. Disgusting habit.
There's nothing humble about an opinion when it's uninvited and purports to speak for all.HTH, as they say.
Not a fan of smoking them, but I do have fond memories of pipes...you did ask for stories too.
My late father's best friend was an avid pipe smoker. Total eccentric, and ALWAYS had a pipe on the go. Beautiful rosewood coloured thing and smoked golden Virginia. Smelt like burning turds
He was the Bren gunner in a BG carrier in the desert rats. There was great photo of him on his wall in full gear, pipe nonchalantly hanging out of his mouth, with goggles on. He used to joke it was his own personal smoke screen.
He also had the coolest Alladins cave for Warlord comic obsessed 10 year old boy. His small terraced house was just one big armoury comprising WW1 and WW2 firearms. He had guns everywhere... Easily over a hundred
He'd occasionally send one back with my father so I could 'play' with it. The Bren was my favourite.
RIP Chap...lovely fella. I'm always reminded of him when I catch a whiff of pipe tobacco.
My late father's best friend was an avid pipe smoker. Total eccentric, and ALWAYS had a pipe on the go. Beautiful rosewood coloured thing and smoked golden Virginia. Smelt like burning turds
He was the Bren gunner in a BG carrier in the desert rats. There was great photo of him on his wall in full gear, pipe nonchalantly hanging out of his mouth, with goggles on. He used to joke it was his own personal smoke screen.
He also had the coolest Alladins cave for Warlord comic obsessed 10 year old boy. His small terraced house was just one big armoury comprising WW1 and WW2 firearms. He had guns everywhere... Easily over a hundred
He'd occasionally send one back with my father so I could 'play' with it. The Bren was my favourite.
RIP Chap...lovely fella. I'm always reminded of him when I catch a whiff of pipe tobacco.
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