Need Help Choosing First Briar

[Mikenice81]

Okay, I have a trio of Missouri pipes. The count is currently two cobs and a single birch wood Ozark. They are good pipes for what they are. However, I am ready to jump in to the world of briar pipes. Right now the budget is the $60 - $65 range. I've literally spent days searching for pipes and reading up on pipes. I have narrowed it down to a trio of choices. Now I need to know if anybody here has any knowledge on the ones I'm eyeballing.

The first is a bent apple Butz-Choquin Cadre Noir. The chamber is between 1.2" and 1.3" deep and about 0.8" wide. I am wondering if this is a good size for smoking a large variety of tobaccos. I like English blends with a nice dose of latakia and Va/Per+1 blends. The +1 could be cigar leaf, fire cured, or orientals. I've heard wider is better for Latakia and narrow is better for VA heavy blends, and I have no idea where 0.8" falls in the scheme of things.

The second is an Erik Nording Valhalla 100 bent tomato. The chamber is 1.2" deep and about 0.75" wide. Basically I have the same questions about the viability across blends. I also wonder about the quality of both pipes. I've read more positive than negative about both, but there have been some issues.

The third is a Stanwell Vario bent pot. The chamber is 1.3" deep and about .7" to .8" in diameter.

I'm also eyeballing a couple of estate pipes. One is a Volcano from Royal Dutch and one is a bent apple from Lorenzo Taormina Monterosa.

 

[bostoneo]

That butz is pretty unique, I like it!

I am wondering if this is a good size for smoking a large variety of tobaccos

General consensus is that you shouldn't combine English and other non-aros in the same pipe. You'll need two pipes

 

[Mikenice81]

That butz is pretty unique, I like it!


General consensus is that you shouldn't combine English and other non-aros in the same pipe. You'll need two pipes

Well, that explains a few things. I was wondering why some of my tobaccos were starting to taste similar. I have three different pipes, but I just grab one based on the amount of time I want to smoke. They all have different depths. I hadn't thought about needing to use different ones for English and Non-Aro. Then I guess I should need a third for aromatics. I don't plan on smoking heavy Aros. I do want to try a couple of rum and liqour ones though.

I don't think my wife is going to be happy about this development.

 

[thedismaltrade]

smoke aros in cobs; buy a Savinelli for that price range- even an estate off of www.smokingpipes.com. Your chamber dimensions are good- keep weight under 1.5 oz

 

[thedismaltrade]

https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/rossi/
You could get a new Rossi for under $60 as well. They are Savinelli's eco line- focusing on quality, affordable Italian pipes

 

[cigarblunk]

This man needs more than one Briar??? Can I get an address. I have some estates not doing anything and won't be smoked by me


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[Mikenice81]

Why do I have a feeling that my mailman is going to hate me soon?

 

[Jravenwood42]

https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/rossi/
You could get a new Rossi for under $60 as well. They are Savinelli's eco line- focusing on quality, affordable Italian pipes

Second this, savinellis inexpensive pipes are excellent

 

[8ball]

Sav's are great smokers, I have 2. BUT, I'm digging stanwell's more. All 3 of the above look sweet. And yeah, I don't mix anything with my English pipes. I can still smell latakia in the bowl months later with one of my pipes that I haven't picked up in a long time.

 

[VeLoRoK]

Sav's are great smokers, I have 2. BUT, I'm digging stanwell's more. All 3 of the above look sweet. And yeah, I don't mix anything with my English pipes. I can still smell latakia in the bowl months later with one of my pipes that I haven't picked up in a long time.

So the idea is to have a separate pipe for a blend with Latakia?

 

[mikeman84]

I have a pipe I use just for heavy latakia blends. I noticed I could taste it when smoking other blends in the same pipe so I just dedicated one to it.

 

[8ball]

So the idea is to have a separate pipe for a blend with Latakia?

I'm not much of an expert, but yes, I have pipes solely dedicated to Latakia blends, and Aro's. Most others I smoke in the same pipes, whether it's VA, burley, etc... Some guys also break those down too.

 

[redneck_toy]

Mine pipes are split English and all others as well.

 

[VeLoRoK]

So "English" refers to a blend that includes Latakia? Are all blends containing Latakia considered English?

 

[bostoneo]

So "English" refers to a blend that includes Latakia? Are all blends containing Latakia considered English?

From gl pease


Q: What is generally meant by "English," "Scottish," and "Balkan" style?

A: The definitions of these terms seem somewhat fluid, apart from the fact that all tobaccos bearing these appellations contain Latakia. To my mind, an English blend has a significant portion of Virginia backing up the Latakia, and orientals serve as a spice. A Scottish blend is similar to an English, with less Latakia, a more dominant Virginia character and, perhaps, little or no oriental leaf. A Balkan, on the other hand, is predominately based on oriental tobaccos and Latakia, and just enough Virginia is used to provide structure and balance.

Source: https://pipedia.org/wiki/Pipe_Tobaccos

 

[VeLoRoK]

That's helpful. Thank you.