Pipe Line

6th Annual American Pipe Making Exposition

July 7, 2020 by Truett Smith

Since 2015, the American Pipe Making Exposition has been an annual Smokingpipes tradition that showcases the work of US-based artisan pipe makers, as they create pipes specifically for that year's theme. Previous years have focused on accenting materials or finishing styles, with last year's expo themed around bamboo ... Read More

Pipe Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: July 2020

July 1, 2020 by Andrew Wike

1 Comment

It's time for another round of beautiful pipe smoking desktop backgrounds! As in previous months, we've compiled some 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

Peterson Book Wins IPPY Award

June 26, 2020 by Andrew Wike

15 Comments

Writing and publishing books is hard, especially for those not affiliated with large publishers. Writing a book about pipes is really hard, and there's only a very small audience to appreciate the achievement; however, when such a book is as well researched, well written, and well laid out as The Peterson Pipe: The Story of Kapp & Peterson, it's going to get attention in the larger world of publishing despite its esoteric subject matter. ... Read More

6 Mistakes Every New Pipe Smoker Should Avoid

June 24, 2020 by Chuck Stanion

25 Comments

Beginning pipe smoking can be an intimidating ordeal. Many people try smoking a pipe and give it up because they aren't experiencing the way a pipe should smoke. But if you can avoid these common mistakes, you'll find yourself enjoying pipe tobacco much more quickly. ... Read More

Castello's SPC 20th Anniversary Pipes

June 19, 2020 by Truett Smith

1 Comment

This year celebrates the 20th anniversary of Smokingpipes, and to commemorate such a milestone, we've partnered with numerous members of the pipe-smoking community to develop and release several projects throughout 2020, such as Peterson's 20th-Anniversary pipe with stunning silver-adorned sandblasts ... Read More

Edwin Hubble: Pipe Smoker and Astronomer

June 12, 2020 by Chuck Stanion

8 Comments

We used to think that our own galaxy was the entire universe. Edwin Hubble expanded that understanding to unimaginable distances. Before Hubble, we didn't know about distant galaxies. Telescopes of the time saw only fuzzy areas of what were deemed gas clouds and dust, referred to as nebulae. ... Read More

The Very Best Worst Pipe Ever

June 3, 2020 by Chuck Stanion

9 Comments

I have a weird pipe and don't know what to do with it. I like it because it was carved by a pipe maker I like a lot, and he went to enormous trouble to make it. His skills are impressive. But I despise it because it's a pipe sculpted to resemble someone whose image I avoid: Me. ... Read More

Small vs. Large Pipes: A Dialogue

May 27, 2020 by Truett Smith

40 Comments

Small pipes or large pipes? Attention, all pipe smokers, this is a Public Service Announcement from yours truly, Truett, declaring that ... Read More

Roald Amundsen: Legendary Pipe Smoker

May 22, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts

7 Comments

Roald Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer who was a preeminent figure during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, which lasted from the end of the 19th century to the end of World War I. He dedicated his life to searching for the planet's best kept secrets ... Read More

On the Periphery

May 21, 2020 by Truett Smith