first pipe

[Bullwinkle]

Starting with a poorly designed pipe will just cause you more pain than $$$ saved. I would start with a low end Savinelli.. lots to choose from in the $40 -> $60 range. All Savinelli pipes are good smokers. Try cupojoes.com, pipesandcigars.com or 4noggins.com. I started around Christams with a Sav from my FIL, I now have 2 more Sav, 1 Peterson System, 1 Tinsky, 1 Cassano and several no names. Plus pounds of tobacco.

[Chimensch]

Good advise here. The only thing I would add is if you want to flush out a rotation with a couple basket pipes make sure you by them from a B&M. You'll want to run a pipe cleaner through to make sure they pass unobstructed to the bottom of the bowl. you also want to make sure that the draft hole is at the bottom of the bowl not somewhere up the side. Many basket pips smoke well and represent good value but I've seen some where the engineering was pitiful.

Starting with a poorly designed pipe will just cause you more pain than $$$ saved. I would start with a low end Savinelli.. lots to choose from in the $40 -> $60 range. All Savinelli pipes are good smokers. Try cupojoes.com, pipesandcigars.com or 4noggins.com. I started around Christams with a Sav from my FIL, I now have 2 more Sav, 1 Peterson System, 1 Tinsky, 1 Cassano and several no names. Plus pounds of tobacco.

Hi Bullwinkle, I see this is your first post. Welcome to B&B!

I have to admit that my basket pipes do give me some problems but it's all part of the learning process. I don't think it's a good idea to go to a web site for a first pipe because I'm a guy that needs to hold the pipe in my hand to "try it on". It's sort of like buying shoes on the Internet without being able to send them back if they don't fit right. For the same reason, I prefer buying books in a bookstore where I can flip through them. As a second step, I would buy on the Internet, but only when you are able to relate to the description of the product. For example, in the beginning, the dimensions of the pipes didn't mean much to me but now I have something to compare them to. Then again, I'm also stingy. I wanted my first few pipes to be very inexpensive so that I wouldn't feel like an idiot if I ended up not using them.

[straight_razor_dave]

eITHER A cORNCOB OR A dR. gRABOW. aBOUT THE CHEAPEST YOU CAN GET.

[DE Shaver]

I find for the money, Brigham pipes are very good. They run the gamut of being inexpensive to costly. However, for the same money it's my contention that you get a better pipe than Savinelli, Dunhill or Peterson. For me, they also have the advantage of being made in Canada.