Pipe Line

Rick Newcombe’s Pipe Dreams

January 20, 2023 by Chuck Stanion

1 Comment

Rick Newcombe's curiosity and motivation reside in the primordial lizard area of his brain stem, as basic to his survival as breathing or temperature regulation. Early in his journalism career, he became interested in newspaper syndication and became the youngest vice president of the Los Angeles Times Syndicate ... Read More

A Closer Look at Briar Grain

January 13, 2023 by Chuck Stanion

31 Comments

We've all admired beautiful grain on a fine briar. That grain is coaxed by the briar cutter and the pipemaker into sometimes spectacular visual enhancements for a smoking instrument, but it's difficult to understand grain without understanding the plants that create briar and the way that briar is prepared. ... Read More

David Bowie and Pipes: The Mystery of The Bewlay Brothers

January 6, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

10 Comments

In 1971, David Bowie returned to the studio to begin work on a follow-up to The Man Who Sold the World. While many consider that album to be a classic today, it was a commercial failure on its release, and the pressure was on to produce a hit, or at least something that would make it onto the charts. Hunky Dory's ... Read More

Pipe Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: January 2023

January 2, 2023 by Andrew Wike

2 Comments

It's time for another round of beautiful pipe smoking desktop backgrounds! As in previous months, we've compiled some of our favorite shots and artwork to share with you. Below you'll find eight unique images, split between desktop and mobile orientations and available for download in two high-resolution ... Read More

2023 Pipe-Smoking Resolutions

December 28, 2022 by Davin Hylton

At the closing of every year, it's common practice for people from all walks of life to reflect on the accomplishments and improvements they would like achieve. Of course, pipe smokers are no different, and we can all agree that, no matter how long we've smoked a pipe, there is always more ... Read More

The History of Santa Claus, Pipe Smoker

December 23, 2022 by Chuck Stanion

45 Comments

Many of us enjoy Christmastime, not only because we may find some new tobacco under the tree, but because the rituals of the season stimulate memories of past yuletides. Childhood Christmas magic insinuates itself into the present, enveloping us again in the certainty that miracles do happen. That childhood certainty may fade with ... Read More

The Twelve Smoking Days of Christmas

December 21, 2022 by Truett Smith

2 Comments

On the first day of Christmas
Smokingpipes delivered me
A sandblasted Sav-in-el-li

On the second day of Christmas
Smokingpipes delivered me ... Read More

Grandpa and the Christmas Ice Storm

December 16, 2022 by Chuck Stanion

31 Comments

Grandpa and the 10 Tobys (all of his dogs were named Toby) had been preparing for Christmas all year, just as they always did. Grandpa was a fan of Christmas and believed in fulfilling all the details to make it magical, and the Tobys were willing to do anything asked of them, except to stop barking at the wind, which was cold and harsh that year of 1966 ... Read More

In Celebration of Mark Twain's Birthday

December 7, 2022 by Chuck Stanion

7 Comments

One hundred and twelve years ago this week, Mark Twain delivered his 70th birthday speech at Delmonico's in New York. The dinner was held on December 5, 1905, a few days after his November 30 birthday. It's an interesting coincidence that another world-class satirist, Jonathan Swift, shares that birthday with Twain. Swift, sadly, did not smoke a pipe, but Twain smoked enough for both of them and more. ... Read More

Pipe Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: December 2022

December 1, 2022 by Andrew Wike

It's time for another round of beautiful pipe smoking desktop backgrounds! As in previous months, we've compiled some of our favorite shots and artwork to share with you. Below you'll find eight unique images, split between desktop and mobile orientations and available for download in two high-resolution formats. They're ready for you to use however you'd like. Feel free to download and set them as your desktop or phone background, or print them out and hang 'em on your wall. ... Read More