18 Apr Types of Classic Smoking Pipes and How To Choose the Right One for You
Not only do smoking pipes have a practical purpose, but they also have an unmistakable aesthetic appeal. There’s also a smoking pipe kind for everyone, no matter what your preferences are. Choosing the right pipe type might be overwhelming, which is why we’re here to guide you through the process.
To get you started, we’ve put together a brief primer on some of the most popular smoking pipes of all time. Find out what materials among the most popular traditional smoking pipes are made of, and how to choose the right one for you!
Types of Traditional Smoking Pipes
Smoking from a pipe is said to be one of the oldest pleasures known to mankind, with records indicating that it dates back to at least 9000 BC. It should come as no surprise that the designs and materials used in smoking pipes have changed dramatically throughout the years since the invention of the first smoking pipe. In spite of the fact that there are several vintage pipe varieties available, here are some of the most popular:
- Billiard Pipe
- Dublin Pipe
- Cherrywood Pipe
- Apple Pipe
- Calabash Pipe
- Brandy Pipe
- Churchwarden Pipe
- Bulldog Pipe
- Canadian Pipe
- Sitter Pipe
Each of these pipe kinds belongs to a distinct family, which means there are a plethora of variants available under the umbrella word. Despite the fact that each pipe has its own distinct design and form, certain pipes, such as the Churchwarden, have gained popularity as a result of films such as The Lord of the Rings. Consider knowing more about the different pipe families to choose which one you enjoy the best.
Common Pipes Materials
Classic smoking pipes are now made from a variety of materials, including wood, metal, and ceramic. The most often used materials include briar wood, non-briar wood (such as Beech, Cherry, Ebony, Mahogany, and so on), corn cob, clay, gourd, meerschaum (clay), and porcelain. Distinct materials provide different advantages; for example, the porosity of meerschaum provides for a cool and tasty smoke.
The cost of the pipe will be influenced by the material used to construct it, something which you need to keep in mind. Despite this, briar continues to be the most popular of all materials for the construction of all smoking pipe varieties. Briar is a fire-resistant wood that naturally absorbs moisture and has a nice scent that makes it an excellent pipe smoking material.
Not to add that the quality of the material is highly dependent on the natural grain of the wood, which is why briar is typically treated by hand and very rarely by machines. Pipe collectors who are interested in acquiring one-of-a-kind pipes are always captivated by this aspect of the traditional pipe style.
Choosing the Right Type for You
You may be feeling a bit overwhelmed now that you’ve learned more about traditional smoking pipe styles and materials. We recommend, however, that you take your time and enjoy the process of studying pipes in order to pick the ideal one for your needs.
In the same way that you would order a sampler plate at a new restaurant, start with your favorite (in this instance, tobacco or flower) and then carefully and methodically explore the remainder of your alternatives. Given the fact that most of these pipes are accessible online at reasonable rates, you may choose to start with one or two pipes to get a feel for the process. After all, you won’t know which pipe you like until you’ve tried a few of them.
To many people throughout the globe, pipe smoking is a time-honored habit, which is why these traditional pipe styles continue to be popular today. We hope that this post has provided some useful information for smokers who are considering adding a high-quality smoking pipe to their collection.