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Post by rectifythis on Aug 26, 2022 22:34:12 GMT -5
A snippet of this weeks SP blog on churchwardens...
I've heard time and time again, especially from more experienced pipe smokers, that every collection should have at least one Churchwarden-style pipe. Churchwardens are built for comfort and relaxation. The extra-long stem of a Churchwarden provides a leisurely smoking posture from which to enjoy the bowl's contents, while also ensuring that any smoke or heat from the bowl will stay far from the eyes. It is for that second reason that Churchwardens are typically thought of as reading pipes, so much so that in Germany, a Churchwarden is known as a "Lesepfeife," which translates to "reading pipe." Churchwardens are also not defined by a particular shape, which means there are a multitude of configurations and options for pipe smokers.
To many, a Churchwarden's protracted stem and languid build may appear impractical, but these pipes aren't meant to be pragmatic. In fact, I would argue their maximalist presentation and incompatibility with day-to-day life are what make Churchwardens so unique. It's a style of pipe that demands purposeful smoking, away from the distractions of everyday life, where one can truly appreciate the act of smoking itself. In that way, it's a particularly old-world shape evocative of an era long past, a simpler time without the baggage and troubles of modernity.
The pipes I gravitate to seem to be churchwardens or semi churchwardens. Not because of the LOTR. I only saw the movies once when they came out.
"It's a style of pipe that demands purposeful smoking, away from the distractions of everyday life, where one can truly appreciate the act of smoking itself."
That sentence is what resonates with me. I am not a clencher. I never clench. I hardly ever do any sort of busywork while I smoke unless I'm desperate for some reason. I am a purposeful smoker. If I'm having a bowl or a cigar, I'm taking a break in my day to relax and rejuvenate. I read, watch, learn or socialize during that time. In fact, I prefer the longer stem enough that I have retrofitted several short pipes with long stems. The quantity of my short stemmed pipes outnumbers my churchwardens, but I don't reach for them often.
Any one else?
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Post by Silver on Aug 26, 2022 23:45:49 GMT -5
I haven't got a churchwarden in my collection. Might be a nice wintertime pipe for sitting in my recliner in the cave.
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JimK
Junior Member
"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light".
Posts: 181 
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Post by JimK on Aug 27, 2022 0:10:40 GMT -5
I have a churchwarden. And someday I'll get around to ordering some long pipe cleaners to clean out the stem. But that aside, they certainly are a leisurely smoke. I've just thought that I might like to add a clay churchwarden to my collection. Clays are a nice smoke.
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Post by urbino on Aug 27, 2022 1:47:44 GMT -5
My only objection to a churchwarden is the amount of space they take up.
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Post by rectifythis on Aug 27, 2022 10:07:40 GMT -5
I have a churchwarden. And someday I'll get around to ordering some long pipe cleaners to clean out the stem. But that aside, they certainly are a leisurely smoke. I've just thought that I might like to add a clay churchwarden to my collection. Clays are a nice smoke. If I don't have long cleaners, I just use 2 reg cleaners, 1 from each end. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 27, 2022 10:41:04 GMT -5
I have a churchwarden. And someday I'll get around to ordering some long pipe cleaners to clean out the stem. But that aside, they certainly are a leisurely smoke. I've just thought that I might like to add a clay churchwarden to my collection. Clays are a nice smoke. If I don't have long cleaners, I just use 2 reg cleaners, 1 from each end. I use the same one, but turn it around when going through the other end. I love my church warden, but I often forget to smoke it. That said, they do seem to have a smaller than average bowl. I've yet to find a church warden that has a deep bowl (cobbit aside). |
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Post by roadsdiverged on Aug 27, 2022 10:59:26 GMT -5
If I don't have long cleaners, I just use 2 reg cleaners, 1 from each end. I use the same one, but turn it around when going through the other end. I love my church warden, but I often forget to smoke it. That said, they do seem to have a smaller than average bowl. I've yet to find a church warden that has a deep bowl (cobbit aside). I'll post a pic of mine in a bit. It's a Neerup and it's huge. I had one that was my Sunday morning pipe, but I broke the stem about a year ago. It was just a cheap Baracinni that I bought to see if I liked churchwardens. I replaced it with a Neerup and it remains unsmoked. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Aug 27, 2022 11:10:57 GMT -5
I have 3 briar churchwardens and 3 clay ones, plus a couple of cherry woods. Don't smoke them that often.
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Post by roadsdiverged on Aug 27, 2022 11:18:24 GMT -5
For size reference the cob is a Diplomat 5th Avenue   |
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Post by Plainsman on Aug 27, 2022 11:37:14 GMT -5
I have several churchwardens. Briarworks is going to make a cw stem for my GBD Colossus.
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Post by username on Aug 27, 2022 12:05:09 GMT -5
Only churchwarden I own is a elf cobbit. It’s a decent smoker.
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Post by trailboss on Aug 27, 2022 12:08:27 GMT -5
I have a couple churchwardens that I like to smoke, but for whatever reason, they do not get smoked much. I must admit though, when I watch the Jeremy Brett version of Sherlock, it makes me want to reach for the churchwarden.  |
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Post by sperrytops on Aug 27, 2022 12:42:51 GMT -5
I have one churchwarden, a Peterson, that I received for Christmas last season. I don't smoke it often, but when I do I find it quite enjoyable.
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Post by rectifythis on Aug 27, 2022 16:27:18 GMT -5
For size reference the cob is a Diplomat 5th Avenue Very cool! |
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Post by rectifythis on Aug 27, 2022 16:28:05 GMT -5
I use the same one, but turn it around when going through the other end. I love my church warden, but I often forget to smoke it. That said, they do seem to have a smaller than average bowl. I've yet to find a church warden that has a deep bowl (cobbit aside). I'll post a pic of mine in a bit. It's a Neerup and it's huge. I had one that was my Sunday morning pipe, but I broke the stem about a year ago. It was just a cheap Baracinni that I bought to see if I liked churchwardens. I replaced it with a Neerup and it remains unsmoked. I have a Boswell churchwarden and the bowl is very deep |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,909
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
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Post by chasingembers on Aug 29, 2022 0:20:30 GMT -5
"It's a style of pipe that demands purposeful smoking, away from the distractions of everyday life, where one can truly appreciate the act of smoking itself." I don't think I could possibly disagree more. Thinking too much about smoking ruins it for me and my longer pipes go with me wherever I go and get clenched like any of my others.   |
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 29, 2022 4:12:13 GMT -5
I use the same one, but turn it around when going through the other end. I love my church warden, but I often forget to smoke it. That said, they do seem to have a smaller than average bowl. I've yet to find a church warden that has a deep bowl (cobbit aside). I'll post a pic of mine in a bit. It's a Neerup and it's huge. I had one that was my Sunday morning pipe, but I broke the stem about a year ago. It was just a cheap Baracinni that I bought to see if I liked churchwardens. I replaced it with a Neerup and it remains unsmoked. Cheers for that. I have a neerup and it's a lovely pipe, so I'll look out for a churchwarden version. After this thread, I decided to pull out my churchwarden and have a bowl of Rich Dark Flake. It was great. I think I prefer churchwardens for their ease of use - I don't even need to move my arm. |
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joeman
Full Member
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Post by joeman on Aug 30, 2022 13:28:33 GMT -5
I've got 7 or 8 CW's, and I grab for a warden about every 2nd or 3rd smoke. The long stem makes for a cooler smoke, especially early in the bowl. As for most wardens being smaller bowl...it's true that most are small or medium...but as Mike noted...just re-fit a big bowl with a warden stem. I've done it a lot over the years.
I too am never going to clench a warden, but I enjoy them while relaxing and thinking...or visiting a friend when possible. To each his own though...some guys always clench. ;-)
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Post by sperrytops on Aug 30, 2022 13:38:49 GMT -5
Duane, that's some serious meerschaum you've got there. What do those things weigh?
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Post by adui on Aug 30, 2022 22:27:22 GMT -5
I want one for my collection. As soon s I can afford it there is a Peterson at my local B&M that I really really want!
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Post by Scott W on Sept 4, 2022 22:31:03 GMT -5
I’ve got 4 churchwardens and by far, my favorite is my Nording. In the winter when the family heads down south, I’ll pack it full and sit by the fireplace reading a book and throughly enjoy it. I’m a clencher for the most part, so a warden doesn’t get smoked unless I’m doing what I’ve just described
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Zach
Pro Member
If you can't send money, send tobacco.
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Post by Zach on Sept 6, 2022 16:54:05 GMT -5
I'd like to find the right churchwarden. I have a couple that qualify and a couple that really aren't quite long enough but they're hardly ever smoked. I think I'd like a decent, medium bowled bent billiard churchwarden by Savinelli for a reading pipe.
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 6, 2022 17:58:25 GMT -5
I have a couple inexpensive churchwardens.
A Capri Warlock 1. It's looks fit with my "namesake" - a plain rustic 1/2 bent pipe.
The other is a Roma Churchwarden Sandblast 8230 - a straight pipe.
Both have ~3/4" diameter, 1.5" deep chambers.
They smoke fine, but I don't smoke them often enough.
I'd like to get another one. A bigger one - OR a churchwarden stem for a pipe I already have.
One site sells churchwarden stems for Nordings, but they are always out of stock.
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Post by toshtego on Sept 6, 2022 18:14:12 GMT -5
I had one decades ago but found it annoying. Banging into things, being knocked out of my mouth.
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Post by trailboss on Sept 6, 2022 18:16:07 GMT -5
I had one decades ago but found it annoying. Banging into things, being knocked out of my mouth. Says the guy taming old man river. You need to sit a spell, enjoy the natural beauty around you, and meditate on it. |
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Post by Plainsman on Sept 6, 2022 18:27:02 GMT -5
You’re not supposed to carry it around in your mouth! Sheesh.
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,909
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Sept 6, 2022 23:55:59 GMT -5
You’re not supposed to carry it around in your mouth! Sheesh. If they've got buttons on the stem, they're meant to be clenched |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,909
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Sept 7, 2022 0:01:42 GMT -5
Duane, that's some serious meerschaum you've got there. What do those things weigh? The skull is 177.86g and the mountain lion is 201.28.   |
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Post by Plainsman on Sept 7, 2022 8:24:04 GMT -5
!
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Post by adui on Sept 7, 2022 21:55:13 GMT -5
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