About Tobacco Smoking Pipes

Tobacco smoking pipes have that certain pleasant aroma not found with normal cigarette smoke. Catching a "whiff" of pipe smoke is a pleasing encounter that fulfills something primal within our souls; something that we can't quite put our finger on, but know it's there. The inhalation of smoke is not required with pipe smoking and in times past, smoking rooms were set up just for the simple enjoyment of smoking a couple of pipes, peppered with few aromatic Havana cigars. There are many different styles, sizes and shapes of pipe made from a variety of species of wood, which makes it is difficult to pick a favorite among them.

Function

The purpose of pipe smoking is to relax and center the puffer (not really a smoker) and reflect upon the day's nuances. Mingling with other pipe smokers enjoying an aromatic pipe offers a form of camaraderie. After smoking a few pipe fulls of your favorite pipe tobacco (try Amphora or Borkum Riff or Borkum Riff Ultra Lite) allow your pipe to dry thoroughly and use another for a few days. Pipe smokers usually own several pipes that they alternate with either the occasion or what they're wearing. Smoking the same pipe without a break will make it taste unpleasant. Carbon residue, or "cake" should not be more than a dime's thickness otherwise smoking the pipe in that condition may cause it to crack.

History

In 2000 BC scant tobacco leaves and the remnants of pipes were found in Egyptian mummies. This is the first evidence of tobacco pipe smoking on record. Around 1500BC ceremonial pipes were used by the Native American Indians for reconciliation. In 1604, Jacob the 11th launched the first anti-smoking campaign in England. In the early days chalk and iron tobacco smoking pipes became popular. Clay pipes became popular in the 1650s as they were affordable, even for peasants.

Types

Hundreds of different types of tobacco smoking pipe are available for sale. They come in all shapes and sizes--take the Stanwell Legend (see Resources) in true Sherlock Holmes style. The Stanwell Legend is made in Denmark of Briar in a Bent Dublin style.
The Porsche Design is black with a wide bowl and is slightly bent in shape with a price of $500.
The other end of the spectrum in tobacco smoking pipes sits the Corn Cob Pipe which is available for purchase for the modest price of $5 to $10.
High quality pipes are made by Bari, Peterson, Nording, GBD or Stanwell (see above). These high quality pipes range anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 each.
The Savinelli 614 has a full bent stem and full size bowl in a classic design. The bowl height is 1 3/4 inches with a 3/4-inch tobacco chamber. The entire length is 51/2 inches.

Identification

The chimney pipe is easy to recognize with its straight-sided bowl with no-frills stem. On the other side of the coin; the Savinelli Aries is a beautifully made classic pipe full of character with faux ram's horn mouthpiece and a sweepingly low tobacco bowl. Extra long Italian Briar Churchwarden pipes offer a distinct look, while Italian Freehand Pipes are short in comparison but still possess character.

Features

The stems of tobacco smoking pipes may be extra long, sweepingly curved, straight, slightly curved or curved deeply--so many choices. The bowl of the pipe is usually 3/4-inch inside measurement with plenty of room for a good pinch of tobacco for a slow smoke at your leisure. Bowls should be natural polished wood and not varnished or shellacked, and are usually made of briar or meerschaum.

Resources

• Super Sleuth's Pipe
• Amadeus Pipe Selection
• Handcrafted Pipes

[dlnorton]

on 5/20/2009 I own several pipes and have several types of tobacco. Collecting these is a life long obsession!

[ghunter258]

on 4/24/2009 A real lost art...