Getting myself a pipe!

[napalm]

Hi
I've been thinking about getting a pipe lately.
I have some experience with cigars which I enjoy but I've never smoked a pipe before. I have no idea what to look for so I'm hoping you guys could help me out.
I'm on a budget here so all I'm looking for is a nice beginners pipe that doesn't cost too much. I want something that looks good and smokes alright. A design I really love is this one:


I hope you guys could show me some pipes that looks similar and meets my other criteria. Thanks!

[Badger & Bengall]

Caveat: I'm not the most experienced pipe-smoker.

I think an aluminium Falcon is a great place to start. They're not pretty pipes but they smoke amazingly well, they're cheap and you can have a single stem and multiple bowls. The benefits are that it's easy to clean, smokes cool and dry and if you hurt the bowls whilst learning it's not a huge loss.

If you're not keen on a chiefly functional pipe and really want something pretty as well, I'd recommend (as I was first recommended) Peterson. Peterson pipes don't cost the earth and there are some great styles out there. The only thing to watch for is that they put a stain inside the bowl so you have to wipe it away with alcohol before you first smoke it, unless you don't mind it tasting bad for a while.

As for repeated wisdom, I've heard that Savinelli is also another great starter brand to try. There are some truly beautiful pipes in their collection and they're supposed to be good performers.

Don't limit yourself in the design of the pipe. My taste in pipes has changed markedly. I'd see what a manufacturer has to offer and then make a decision on what you feel is right.

I hope this helps.

[Artistik]

I would suggest that you first purchase a Missouri Mearshaum Corn Cob pipe. Investment <$10.00 and an over the counter tobacco such as Varther Hall for < $7.00. That way you can tell if pipe smoking is something you want to pursue without a hughe investment. I aloso think that B&B's suggestion above for a Falcon is a good one, but the initial investment is considerably more. I don't own a Falcon yet, but it is on my PAD list. The Falcon International, while a little more expensive, looks more like a traditional pipe (http://www.smoke.co.uk/acatalog/Falc...al_Curved.html). I also like the Savinelli pipes and you may find a good deal on an estate pipe that is in good shape at Smoking Pipes.com (http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/es...oduct_id=91425) like this:

[haiku44]

I think an aluminium Falcon is a great place to start. They're not pretty pipes but they smoke amazingly well, they're cheap and you can have a single stem and multiple bowls. The benefits are that it's easy to clean, smokes cool and dry and if you hurt the bowls whilst learning it's not a huge loss.

+1
Wow it wasn't me beating the metal pipe drum for once. Haha.

[haiku44]

Here's a pic of my falcon international.

There are different bowls you can get for it so you could get a billiard shape if you like the looks of that better. The international is much nicer looking than the standard Falcon pipe.

[Dusty1]

Watch out! The pipe bug bites quick! Enjoy the new hobby.

[Dusty1]

Hey Haiku, is the International a steel pipe as well?

[haiku44]

It's aluminium like the original. There is less metal overall though because it only goes to the band, then the mouthpiece takes over.

Hey Haiku, is the International a steel pipe as well?

[napalm]

I might add that I probably wont be smoking very often, I'll probably just take it out every now and then when I want to relax.
And I was hoping for something in the $30 area, but that might be a little low? Again I really don't need any high quality stuff for my occasional smoke.

I would also like to get it shipped from somewhere within Europe. I hope I'm not making it too difficult for you guys now.
Do you know of any decent online smoking shops located in Europe?

[haiku44]

Only one I really know is http://www.thepipeshop.co.uk/acatalog/Seconds.html I never bought anything from them so I don't know about their service. I'm sure you can find cheap new pipe on ebay that are located in europe. Or an estate pipe to restore yourself for real cheap. Always be careful when ordering estate pipes from ebay though.

I might add that I probably wont be smoking very often, I'll probably just take it out every now and then when I want to relax.
And I was hoping for something in the $30 area, but that might be a little low? Again I really don't need any high quality stuff for my occasional smoke.

I would also like to get it shipped from somewhere within Europe. I hope I'm not making it too difficult for you guys now.
Do you know of any decent online smoking shops located in Europe?

[napalm]

Thanks haiku, I'll check out thepipeshop.co.uk later.
I did find this pipe though: http://www.mysmokingshop.co.uk/index...ind&idPrd=2373
Would that be a nice starter pipe?

Edit:
I just realized the price is in pounds so it's a bit higher.
How about one of these: http://www.thepipeshop.co.uk/acatalo...sh_Briars.html

[haiku44]

Yeah that site I've been on before also, the don't ship to the us so I forgot about it. I've never owned a peterson. I've heard some people say that it is hard to run a pipe cleaner through a bent peterson without taking it apart. If you only plan to smoke on occasion I don't think that would bother you too much.

Others have more experience with briars(I only smoke metal. Falcons, Kirstens, Elie e-kool) than I do so I might be corrected here shortly.

Thanks haiku, I'll check out thepipeshop.co.uk later.
I did find this pipe though: http://www.mysmokingshop.co.uk/index...ind&idPrd=2373
Would that be a nice starter pipe?

[Argonaut]

I might add that I probably wont be smoking very often, I'll probably just take it out every now and then when I want to relax.
And I was hoping for something in the $30 area, but that might be a little low? Again I really don't need any high quality stuff for my occasional smoke.

I would also like to get it shipped from somewhere within Europe. I hope I'm not making it too difficult for you guys now.
Do you know of any decent online smoking shops located in Europe?

I would spend a little more and get the Peterson if it were my decision. Those other pipes would be a gamble IMO.

[PugslyCat]

My advice would be to find a local smoke shop that caters to pipe and cigar smokers. Odds are that you can ask about "basket pipes" and they will pull out a basket full of inexpensive pipes. These are basically the tumble table, inexpensive pipes that don't rate premium showcase space.

[haiku44]

Unless he lives in Oslo it is near impossible to find a tobacconist in Norway. I've been to a couple good ones in Oslo when looking for cuban cigars. Outside of that though I never saw or heard mention of one.

My advice would be to find a local smoke shop that caters to pipe and cigar smokers. Odds are that you can ask about "basket pipes" and they will pull out a basket full of inexpensive pipes. These are basically the tumble table, inexpensive pipes that don't rate premium showcase space.

[bnalley]

Caveat: I'm not the most experienced pipe-smoker.

I think an aluminium Falcon is a great place to start. They're not pretty pipes but they smoke amazingly well, they're cheap and you can have a single stem and multiple bowls. The benefits are that it's easy to clean, smokes cool and dry and if you hurt the bowls whilst learning it's not a huge loss.

If you're not keen on a chiefly functional pipe and really want something pretty as well, I'd recommend (as I was first recommended) Peterson. Peterson pipes don't cost the earth and there are some great styles out there. The only thing to watch for is that they put a stain inside the bowl so you have to wipe it away with alcohol before you first smoke it, unless you don't mind it tasting bad for a while.

As for repeated wisdom, I've heard that Savinelli is also another great starter brand to try. There are some truly beautiful pipes in their collection and they're supposed to be good performers.

Don't limit yourself in the design of the pipe. My taste in pipes has changed markedly. I'd see what a manufacturer has to offer and then make a decision on what you feel is right.

I hope this helps.

I agree that you can't go wrong with a peterson, IMHO the best smoking pipes bar none, and some of their economy lines can be had for around $70 or so. I have no experience with any peterson having stain on the inside of the bowl though. I have 10 peterson pipes and none had stain inside, and all smoked beautifully from day one. Maybe they market something different down under, I only speak from my own experience.

[napalm]

Unless he lives in Oslo it is near impossible to find a tobacconist in Norway. I've been to a couple good ones in Oslo when looking for cuban cigars. Outside of that though I never saw or heard mention of one.

Well I live in Trondheim, the second largest city in Norway. There might be some smoke shops around here but I've never really seen one.
I actually know of one, but I think they specialize more in marijuana related smoking equipment haha. I could always get myself a tobacco bong though

Anyways, I'll keep looking for a while longer and if nothing better pops up I'll probably order one of the £20 pipes I found at thepipeshop.

[jwhite]

An inexpensive briar can be a fine smoking pipe. However they sometimes have poor drilling or poor stem fit. I recommend buying them either in person or from a vendor with good return policy. Place a call before ordering the English briar online online. A good tobacconist will be helpful and understand your concerns, if that seems not to be the case take your business elsewhere.

[haiku44]

Haha. Yeah that's all I've got around me. A good head shop will still carry a couple briar pipes usually. Probably no-name briars, but still might be worth a try.

Never been further north than Alesund. Checking out the puffins and whatnot.

Well I live in Trondheim, the second largest city in Norway. There might be some smoke shops around here but I've never really seen one.
I actually know of one, but I think they specialize more in marijuana related smoking equipment haha. I could always get myself a tobacco bong though

Anyways, I'll keep looking for a while longer and if nothing better pops up I'll probably order one of the £20 pipes I found at thepipeshop.

[haiku44]

Chr. Sorensen a/s
Dronningens gate 14, N-7011 Trondheim
Phone: +47 7353 5303

Dear God this wasn't easy to find at all. This is the website I found them on http://www.norway.com/directories/d_company.asp?id=5306