Artisan Pipes Versus Factory Pipes.

I only have experience with 3 factory brands, Savinelli, Kaywoodie, and Briar Works International and 1 artisan, Todd Barnard, aka sasquatch and/or BST. A dirty little secret of pipe making, anyone can with the right equipment, a little skill and patience can drill 2 holes in a block of wood so they meet as they should. Ultimately what you pay more for is the attention to detail, especially the stem work and all internal flows. While I don't get overly hung up on looks, if I buy a billiard I want a billiard. Not a billiard like pipe.

The old expression is "Familiarity breeds contempt". I also think familiarity breeds contentment. I would guess most of us have started this journey with factory pipes. Which has basically ingrained in us what a pipe looks like and smokes like. Then if we are lucky we get a chance at an artisan pipe. I don't know if they are "worth" the price. But I am damned glad I bought the one.

As a certified "Old Fart", I only recognize 2 quality levels in pipes. 1) Those that deliver consistently pleasurable smokes and 2) those that don't. I keep one and get rid of the other. Life is too short to smoke crappy pipes. Luckily, I have found a bunch of "affordable" factory pipes that are consistently good.

And then there are legions of people who say a corn cob is fantastic. they are not wrong.

You pays your money and makes your choice.

I like em all, if they smoke good so much the better. Remember a Fat Woman keeps you shady in the summer and warm in the winter.

I guess I'm old fashion I love my Peterson pipes all ways smoke well but then again over $200 I do look twice. I have a couple of hand craved pipes but at work I stick with a smaller pipe.

It's all about the draft. If the draw is open and fine, no whistling and constriction, then it will smoke great. Of course it needs to be made of decent briar, but I don't think ebauchon vs. high-grade plateaux briar makes any difference in terms of smoking qualities after the break in. Platueax and high grade briar essentially looks better but is cut from the outside edges of the burl, rather than the center of the block. Briar is also a fairly flavorless wood once cured so even further goes to make no difference to me. I have really, really fine smoking pipes from Dr. Grabow, Savinelli, and various other older factory pipes that just smoke very well. The only pipes that seem to smoke terribly to me end up being a screwed up airway, every single time.

I have a St. Regis pot shape pipe, a straight pipe, that was drilled out well to higher end Rick Newcombe specification to I think 3.5mm in the stem and 4.2 I think it may have been in the shank/stummel/into bowl and I promise you, if I blind folded you and had you smoke a bowl out of it and told you it was a really nice Dunhill pot, you would not notice or know any different. It's all about that draft. Paying $300+ for a pipe is paying for the brand and the bigger pipes with much more attention to detail. I will eventually get some higher grade pipes above the $200 pricepoint, but they will most likely be because I'd like some high grade Italian pipes like some Ardor and high grade Savinellis. Ardor and other high end makers do also offer some especially large and intricately carved pipes that you are just never going to get from factory pipe. Non-standard shapes and whatnot.

I enjoy my 1970 and under estate "factory" pipes, but I also have a large collection of what you refer to as artisan pipes. To each their own as this debate could go on forever and many of the important points where already discussed. I smoke what I like and another persons thoughts or views will probably not sway it in either direction.

For me, the quality of the smoke is paramount. Price does not necessarily correlate with quality of smoke. I have several examples of basket pipes that are great smokers and some name pipes that are not. The better smokers seem to find their way into my smoking rotation with greater frequency. That said, I'm always on the prowl for favorite makers such as the Becker family and Castello, Radice, and Ardor pipes. They rarely disappoint me. Machine made Savinellis are usually good smokers. The feel of certain shapes tend to add something to the smoking experience also. If a pipe feels good in the hand, it is a big plus.

Well I am that frugal guy who will smoke out of anything. Then I splurge and buy a really nice pipe and keep it mostly unsmoked because I don't want to mess it up.

I have some of everything. I enjoy GBD, BBB, Singleton, Willmer, Savinelli, even Custombilt, Mincer, Mastercraft and similar. When I can't get a pipe to smoke well, it goes away. I also have hald a dozen or so craft pipes. So far, all of those have been good smokers. My favorite hand made pipe is one I got from Ron at a bargain price. RD pipes are top notch. I also really love my Don Warren poker/nosewarmer.

I would say I prefer artisan pipes over the factory made pipes. However, I will say I am a big fan of the early (1960-1980's) Danish Stanwells. Everyone one I have owned smoked great and was well made. Also, I do own a couple of Italian Mario Grandis, and both are well made and great smokers as well.
The artisans are my freehand collection, both Danish and American mostly from the 1960-1980's. There are some variations on how well each smoke; my favorites being Ben Wade, Bjarne, and Randy Wiley. I say the Danish are artisans because they ventured away from the conventional shapes. That's why I enjoy the freehands so much.

My pipes get handled. I don't polish them. I do keep them clean and wiped off. I just remember an old friend, forty-five years older at the time. We used to sit and smoke our pipes and tell tales, mostly true, always humorous. His pipe was an old briar that had a bowl that was burnt around the top to where it lost about a quarter inch or more. The cake on the side had a big gouge, almost putting a hole in the side. His daughters gave me it after he died. Thing is, you couldn't get him to smoke another pipe, maybe a cob. Do I think I enjoyed my smokes more than he did his? I doubt it. If I ever gift a pipe I would probably do what I could to make it look really nice. Since I'll never sell one I'll just enjoy them without being too anal

That sounds like a picture perfect reason to start a GBD thread....

I have to concur,even as billiards, canadians, lovats, etc.....they are great for flake, it is amazing how long of a smoke I can get out of one...sometimes my wife loses me for the evening when the siren call of lady nicotene calls, and my trusty GBD shows up for duty.

Sink me! I found a beautiful pipe that has tickled my fancy 1.5 times what I say in my mind I won't go more for a pipe.
Suffering from LackaJack I will get over it. But soft, what light throw yonder pipe stems shines? It is the flashlight and Tsuge is the Sun. Arise fair Tsuge-san and kill the flashlight Sun Wannabe, who is already sick and pail with grief that thou, the Tsuge Pipe art far more fair than she... 305 clams. 61 Fins. 30 Sawbucks and 1 fin. I dream on. I will have it.
Odd's Fish, I am like a pebble under her warm running brook. Yet she calls to me, e'en from the sea she rolled out to. The Waves Be Chaunting the Lorelei 
Beautiful pipe dream wake unto me
Starlight and tobacco are waiting for thee
Sounds of the rude world heard in the day
Are by the twilight all passed away.
Beautiful pipe dream queen of my song
Give in while I woo thee with soft songs not long
Goo Goo Ga Joob 

I prefer artisan pipes (Depending on one's definition, my collection has more factory than artisan pipes. The pipes that can be labeled artisan are typically within the mid-lower end of the market and/or made by lesser known carvers.). However I have a pipe buying budget geared towards the deal and have purchased almost all of my pipes around the lower end (<~100) of new factory pipe prices. Obviously, I am attracted to the second hand market.😁

The artisan pipes are unique and appreciated for their design, craftsmanship, care, finishes etc. . On that level I do get more pleasure smoking artisan pipes while acknowledging the fact that a good smoking pipe really comes down to good materials, construction and pipe mechanics. These things can be found in both artisan and factory pipes.

PS To add I would not forget the skill/understanding of the pipe smoker....