Any metal pipe fans?

[hotreds]

yes- nice change of pace!

[haiku44]

Yeah there is a bit of a following with falcons I've noticed. Guess because they are the last of the big metal pipe makers left. Kirsten or Elie can't compete with them in numbers or price, unfortunately.

They have a bit of a cult following on other forums - tampandpuff.com springs to mind. I know a couple of older gents who swear by them and don't own anything else. In one case I think I made his year by telling him where he could buy Condor Longcut and a new Falcon online. Estates change hands on eBay Oz for decent money despite not being rare so there must be a decent following here.

I see them as a product of their time (the 1970s) both stylistically and in terms of engineering.

I've smoked one of recent manufacture and it was extremely good all round. Much lighter and more comfortable than expected in the mouth.

[CptBlueBear]

I was always afraid a clay pipe would shatter at the slightest nudge. Had the same feeling with a meer I owned a while back too. I'm almost positive I could chuck these falcons across the room and they wouldn't be any worse for the experience. But I'm pretty sure I worry about things breaking way too much.

They are indeed pretty robust and the bit you are most likely to break, the bowl, is replaceable. I understand robustness was one of their selling points.

Yeah there is a bit of a following with falcons I've noticed. Guess because they are the last of the big metal pipe makers left. Kirsten or Elie can't compete with them in numbers or price, unfortunately.

Falcon were mass market in the UK and Commonwealth. I remember them for sale as a kid - they had a distinctive 70s-futuristic look to me, like something out of The Thunderbirds. I'm told Duncan Deltas are probably the best of that era. They (Falcon) are still going in some form.

[oc_in_fw]

No offense intended, eye of the beholder and all that stuff. Smoke what you like and like what you smoke... even if it makes you look like Snoop-Dog trying to get classy!

Are you saying the Dogg ain't classy?

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=424776

[Badger & Bengall]

I've got a straight 'international' stem type which takes filters; I've found no difference in taste when using a filter (contrary to what I've read), the dry ring and stem filters eliminate any dottle being drawn and they're very easy to clean. I don't know why, but I can better taste the flavour of the tobacco through my Falcon than my Petersons.

One of the other great things about Falcons is that you can smoke 100% of your bowl because the moisture is drawn away from the leaves at the bottom.

I enjoy it so much I'll buy a standard straight stem later down the track.

[haiku44]

I've heard that before. i didn't spend enough time with briars or cobs to notice it myself. But I found out pretty quick what I liked and didn't look back... Well that's not totally true, I do window shop briars and meers every once in a while.

I don't know why, but I can better taste the flavour of the tobacco through my Falcon than my Petersons.

[Badger & Bengall]

I enjoy it so much I'll buy a standard straight stem later down the track.

I guess it was a short track!

For AU$10 I bought a used standard stem full of decades-old dottle. The bowl it came with was in bad condition but I may be able to save it. The stem was in great shape except for the fact that it hadn't been cleaned and the (not so) dry ring was caked to the bottom. Being aluminium, it was easy to clean the dottle out using dish liquid and then a bath in cognac with a scrub from a stiff toothbrush. I forgot to take before pics and I'm not through restoring it so I'll save pics until it's all done. It really only needs a polish but I've got nothing suitable at home.

The only thing to remember when buying the standard stems second-hand is that the mouthpiece can't be replaced. From what I've read, the mouthpiece is connected to the tubing inside the pipe and removing it can render it useless.

[haiku44]

The only thing to remember when buying the standard stems second-hand is that the mouthpiece can't be replaced. From what I've read, the mouthpiece is connected to the tubing inside the pipe and removing it can render it useless.

I've heard that also. I'm not sure if it ruins the pipe completely or not, but I know it's not supposed to be removed. I never bought one from an auction where it had been removed to try it out. Definitely a good tip for anyone looking to try a metal pipe.

Last falcon I got was in very bad shape, much like yours. I soaked it overnight in bacardi 151 then went to town with pipe cleaners. Didn't take anytime to clean after the soak. Never did polish it though. Maybe I'll give that a try this weekend.

[CptBlueBear]

...and then a bath in cognac with a scrub from a stiff toothbrush.

I soaked it overnight in bacardi 151...

Cognac and Bacardi 151 for cleaning pipes?! What do you guys light them with, $10 bills?

I have an old* bottle of Smirnoff for cleaning - Cognac goes down my throat and 151 goes into cocktails (Zombie...) around here

* Seriously, it's a litre bottle found at the back of Mum's liquor cabinet. I had to wipe the dust off to read the label. Works a treat and I certainly wouldn't drink the stuff. I assume some well meaning but non-drinking friend or relative brought it back duty free some time. On second thought, scratch relative - those that don't drink are too tight to have bought a litre bottle...

[haiku44]

Cognac and Bacardi 151 for cleaning pipes?! What do you guys light them with, $10 bills?

Only when I can't get to an atm for a $20. Ten dollar bills don't light the bowl as evenly as $20's for some reason.

[leonidas]

......i am Kirsten fan...... own several......... low maintenance, cool smoking...

[haiku44]

If/when they start making them again I'd like to buy a couple more. Which do you have? I just got the full bent pipe.

......i am Kirsten fan...... own several......... low maintenance, cool smoking...

[galopede]

I have always been a Falcon fan. My late uncle who introduced me to the pipe over 40 years ago smoked them and I've always had a couple in the rotation.

I probably smoke them more than quite a few of my "better" briars and meers. I am not a collector and, as much as I admire some of the beautiful briars I see, I find the Falcon gives just as good if not better a smoke. Light, easy to clean, solid as a rock. What's not to like.

That Kirsten above looks interesting!

Gareth

[haiku44]

It's an amazing smoker. Only smoked my falcon once since I got this one. I'm doing my best not to be a collector. So far so good. PIFing all the briar pipes that I've gotten hold of the last couple years. Think I'll only keep one of them just in case I feel like smoking a briar again.

I have always been a Falcon fan. My late uncle who introduced me to the pipe over 40 years ago smoked them and I've always had a couple in the rotation.

I probably smoke them more than quite a few of my "better" briars and meers. I am not a collector and, as much as I admire some of the beautiful briars I see, I find the Falcon gives just as good if not better a smoke. Light, easy to clean, solid as a rock. What's not to like.

That Kirsten above looks interesting!

Gareth

[leonidas]

....i have a Lancer, a Horizon, and Regent....... and some assorted olderr ones off ebay......

....... you've got the uptown model........ i've always wanted the full bent Designer Meerschaum.... just couldn't afford it..

http://www.kirstenpipe.com/page_pipestyles.shtml

[haiku44]

Yeah $110 for a meerschaum bowl was too much for my blood. Does look gorgeous with that black Kirsten though.
The full bent is amazing! bear in mind I never smoked any Kirsten besides this one, but it truly is spectacular.

....i have a Lancer, a Horizon, and Regent....... and some assorted olderr ones off ebay......

....... you've got the uptown model........ i've always wanted the full bent Designer Meerschaum.... just couldn't afford it..

http://www.kirstenpipe.com/page_pipestyles.shtml

[haiku44]

Does the international falcon have the same cooling system as the standard falcon?

I've got a straight 'international' stem type which takes filters; I've found no difference in taste when using a filter (contrary to what I've read), the dry ring and stem filters eliminate any dottle being drawn and they're very easy to clean. I don't know why, but I can better taste the flavour of the tobacco through my Falcon than my Petersons.

One of the other great things about Falcons is that you can smoke 100% of your bowl because the moisture is drawn away from the leaves at the bottom.

I enjoy it so much I'll buy a standard straight stem later down the track.

[Badger & Bengall]

Does the international falcon have the same cooling system as the standard falcon?

Not quite. The International is much wider (to accommodate a filter) but still has a humidome to encourage condensation to form where the dry ring sits. I can't take the International apart to get a visual on the internals but it is quite different.

I found some images which help to explain what I can't.

http://www.smokingmetal.co.uk/pipe.php?page=364
http://www.smokingmetal.co.uk/pipe.php?page=103

Here's an extract from an eBay guide about removing the bit.

Falcon Pipes Note:
Falcon pipes have the bit fitted to the stem under high pressure at the factory. Unlike other pipes, the bit on a Falcon IS NOT TO BE REMOVED. To do so will damage the pipe. The aluminum tube in the body is very fragile and will come out if the bit is removed. Falcon will repair pipes damaged in this way, but at a cost.

I've been without tobacco for a while now so I won't be able to try a comparison between the two pipes for another two weeks or so. However, I can say that the International produced a drier and cooler smoke than my Petersons.

Here is a photo of my restored Standard stem. It is quite unremarkable considering there are no before photos. You'll have to take my word that it was disgusting but I was able to see through the muck. I'm sure others could do a better job at polishing but I'm happy with it for the time being. I gave it a bath in cognac, scrubbed it with a toothbrush, used half a dozen cognac-infused pipe cleaners on it and then gave it a polish with Silvo and then a wash to get rid of the chemicals.



I'm not sure how to restore the bowl that came with it because it was in poor condition (heavily reamed) and since it's rusticated and my Brebbia pipe polish is rubbish (it leaves white residue in the pitting). Lucky for me I have two new bowls already so I'm in no rush to restore this old bowl. I've read that some folks use tan shoe polish, but I don't know how it would stand up to heat and whether it'd produce fumes.

[haiku44]

I got one that looked like it never had a pipe cleaner ran through it so I can imagine what that one looked like before. No idea bout the bowl though, I got lucky with them. I ordered a international this morning after I finished reading "Back from the ashes" a book about GL Hunt and the falcon pipe. Pretty interesting book if you are into that kind of thing. The international looks a bit more presentable in public than the standard falcon.

[Blade Boy]

I have 2 Aristocobs and a bent Falcon International (doesn't really look like a metal pipe), had a Falcon Classic but sold it to fund the International, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I think SOME metal pipes are nice looking, Kirstens for sure.