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Post by Plainsman on Jan 23, 2021 10:20:34 GMT -5
Anybody smoke ‘em? P&C is offering a so-called special sale on German clays. They extoll their virtues, including what great smokers they are. Just wondering if anyone here smokes them and what they think of them.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jan 23, 2021 10:25:41 GMT -5
I know a lot of guys who smoke them and like them, but the frequency of use is low. They get very hot and can cook the tobacco, hard to hold, uncomfortable on the lips and other issues. I have 3 that I've smoked once in 6 years. I prefer the Zenith double wall ceramic pipes for tasting stuff that I don't want to put in a good cob or briar.
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Post by Plainsman on Jan 23, 2021 10:29:12 GMT -5
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Post by Ronv69 on Jan 23, 2021 10:33:13 GMT -5
Oh, I was thinking about the Tavern pipes. I have a couple of the German clays with the vulcanite stems. Made from 200 year old molds. They actually smoke pretty good if you don't get them too hot. I recommend one if they are reasonably priced. I paid about $25 each with shipping from eBay. Edit I just looked at P&C and eBay and I didn't see any like mine. The more expensive P&C is closest. A friend has a half dozen that he had custom stems made for. He smokes his pretty regularly. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jan 23, 2021 10:41:47 GMT -5
I take it back. I have one exactly like the chimney stack. It's not my best, but it's still a pretty good smoke. You still have to puff slower than a briar or meer.
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Post by taiguy66 on Jan 23, 2021 11:38:41 GMT -5
Well, if nothing else, you’re definitely going old school smoking a clay pipe.
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Post by Cramptholomew on Jan 23, 2021 11:51:26 GMT -5
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Post by sparks on Jan 24, 2021 11:53:46 GMT -5
I personally think the benefits of a clay pipe are lost in today's tobacco world. Yes, they can offer you a totally clean, unadulterated sampling of the flavor of the tobacco, but for anything beyond tasting, I think they are a waste. If you don't smoke them at a snail's pace, they are going to heat up and obscure the flavor anyway
Clay pipes were popular in an age when tobacco was generally ultra, ultra strong, and the goal was to get your nicotine fix. Small bowls and long stems were beneficial. People generally weren't smoking for the flavor in those days.
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jay
Junior Member
Edward's Pipes....only Edward's pipes....and Buccaneer in the bowl
Posts: 442 
First Name: Jay
Favorite Pipe: Edwards handmade
Favorite Tobacco: Buccaneer, Special Balkan, Scottish Moor
Location:
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Post by jay on Jan 24, 2021 22:58:53 GMT -5
When I was involved in the mountain man historical recreation scene, I smoked the clay tavern pipes...but I never enjoyed it like I did my briars, or even the meerschaum.
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kayro
New Member
Posts: 31
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Post by kayro on Jan 25, 2021 9:54:54 GMT -5
I have just got to try one...sooner or later. Curiosity killed the cat. Or maybe scorched the lips in this case.
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Post by Legend Lover on Jan 25, 2021 11:00:30 GMT -5
I saw some once in an Irish souvenir shop way before I even started pipe smoking. If I stumble across any in a similar shop I'll pick one up, but I don't think I'll go out of my way to try one.
Maybe with some extra clay and local restrictions, I might make my own.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jan 25, 2021 15:43:32 GMT -5
Got one that I rarely use...too delicate and HOT!
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Post by jeffd on Jan 26, 2021 20:58:19 GMT -5
I may be in the minority, but I really like clay pipes. My first one was from Williamsburg Virginia as a kid.
I like that you can hold them by the stem, because the bowl can get too hot without indicating impending damage or burn through. I also like that I don't ever have to clean them, even if I could. They tell me that once ever few years I should put them in the oven, but I have never had to do that.
They provide an ever-ready smoke that is fun and tasty.
No you don't have to wear your tricorn hat. I mean, sure wear one if you want, but you don't have to.
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Post by trailboss on Jan 26, 2021 21:05:13 GMT -5
I had a clay that I won in a large auction pinkish in color...it smoked great, but you had to lick your lips every time you took a puff. I misplaced it and cannot find it.  |
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Post by adui on Jan 26, 2021 21:12:02 GMT -5
I had a little clay given to me for a smoking contest, (Thanks Charlie) I broke it, fixed it, and it just isnt the same. Eventually I want a nicer clay but till then I just don't have one. Honestly i want it because I want one in my stable. I ight only smoke it rarely, but I want one LOL!
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Post by Ronv69 on Jan 26, 2021 21:16:56 GMT -5
I had a little clay given to me for a smoking contest, (Thanks Charlie) I broke it, fixed it, and it just isnt the same. Eventually I want a nicer clay but till then I just don't have one. Honestly i want it because I want one in my stable. I ight only smoke it rarely, but I want one LOL! If I find mine you can have it. |
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Post by trailboss on Jan 26, 2021 21:18:02 GMT -5
I had a little clay given to me for a smoking contest, (Thanks Charlie) I broke it, fixed it, and it just isnt the same. Eventually I want a nicer clay but till then I just don't have one. Honestly i want it because I want one in my stable. I ight only smoke it rarely, but I want one LOL! I have a few leftovers that were gifted to the pipe club. |
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Post by urbino on Jan 26, 2021 22:44:28 GMT -5
I had a clay that I won in a large auction pinkish in color...it smoked great, but you had to lick your lips every time you took a puff. I misplaced it and cannot find it. Did it go missing right after a visit from jeffd? |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jan 27, 2021 13:12:52 GMT -5
You can dip the end in hot carnuba wax, Liquid Plastic, or something similar to make it more pleasant on your lips.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2021 13:52:08 GMT -5
I have only smoked a LePeltier and a 1930's Peterson billiard. They are fantastic. I have a few others, including two unsmoked 'all clay' pipes like what you are asking about, but still haven't tried them.
There is no problem at all with smoking the Lepeltier or Peterson just as you would any other pipe, and I recommend that any serious pipe smoker try one. I normally am more of a sipper, but I first smoked the LePeltier with Byronic Slices, and admittedly freight-trained it. It was just too great to slow down.
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Post by sperrytops on Jan 27, 2021 15:43:17 GMT -5
No point to clay pipes when there's meerschaum available. Better smoke in every way.
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Post by adui on Jan 27, 2021 21:46:14 GMT -5
No point to clay pipes when there's meerschaum available. Better smoke in every way. Im not sure I agree. I went searching for clay pipes after reading and posting yesterday. Clay pipes are FAR less expensive than Meer's Even the ones carved from pressed meer instead of block meer are more than $50. A good meer will set you back a bit, a decent clay can be had for under $20 unless you want something really fancy. |
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Post by Silver on Jan 27, 2021 22:47:21 GMT -5
I owned a couple clays many years ago. A tavern-style and a churchwarden. I learned the hard way that you can't hold them by the bowl. The tip of the tavern wasn't dipped, so it would stick to my lips. They looked good on the mantel, until they fell and broke.
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Post by jeffd on Jan 28, 2021 0:24:39 GMT -5
It is all taste and preferences. There is no real better or worse.
I love the rich tradition of the clay pipes. I have a bunch of the smaller ones as well, four inch stem regular sized bowl. Once upon a time.... My understanding is that the small stem clays were very very popular back in the day. Even along side briar. It wasn't until the 1930s that cigarettes eventually eliminated the popularity of clay pipes. ... You history buffs better correct me. I am drowning here.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jan 28, 2021 11:52:58 GMT -5
Clay pipes were VERY popular in the Colonies. They find them in archeological digs along the New England coast. A lot are from custom molds with the owners name cast into them. So most well to do people had their own molds, often with slightly customized shapes.
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Post by sperrytops on Jan 28, 2021 14:10:26 GMT -5
No point to clay pipes when there's meerschaum available. Better smoke in every way. Im not sure I agree. I went searching for clay pipes after reading and posting yesterday. Clay pipes are FAR less expensive than Meer's Even the ones carved from pressed meer instead of block meer are more than $50. A good meer will set you back a bit, a decent clay can be had for under $20 unless you want something really fancy. If you're willing to put up with the bowl heat, they are certainly far cheaper. |
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Post by jeffd on Jan 28, 2021 14:16:54 GMT -5
I searched and I cannot find that anyone has stablished a clay pipe month. I am going to declare February to be Clay Pipe Month, because why not. I will commit to only smoking clay the entire month of February. You can hold me to it. I will give all my briars a rest.
I may wear my tricorn hat. Likely not my waistcoat and breeches.
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Post by sperrytops on Jan 28, 2021 14:20:51 GMT -5
There was once a clay pipe month. I think it was held in 1743.
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Post by jeffd on Jan 28, 2021 14:36:20 GMT -5
I just ordered some more clays. They are not expensive. I am doing this.
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Post by jeffd on Jan 28, 2021 14:39:53 GMT -5
There was a company years back that had a clay pipe a month subscription service. You got sent a different historically accurate reproduction smokable clay pipe every month. I can't find anything about it on the internet, but I distinctly remember the service.
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