Pipe Line

Chuck Stanion: Prose as Craft

August 8, 2025 by Truett Smith

24 Comments

"I don't want you to write about me, Truett."

"I know, Chuck, but Sykes and Andy really want an article commemorating you in light of your retirement. They've commissioned a portrait by Artur and everything."

"Yeah, but it's only retirement! Save it for when I'm truly gone ... Read More

Pipe-Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: August 2025

August 1, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

The summer heat continues as we find ourselves already in August ... time just keeps jetting forward. A new month calls for a new set of desktop backgrounds to adorn your devices with the artistry and beauty of pipe making. ... Read More

Letter from the Editor: Transitions

July 31, 2025 by Chuck Stanion

38 Comments

I don't know about you, but when I transition from one activity to another, it's an annoyance. If I'm awake, I don't like going to sleep. If I'm asleep, I don't like waking up. If I'm switching from one tobacco to another, it takes a while to embrace the new flavor profile. I don't like leaving home ... Read More

The Confrérie Welcomes Two Smokingpipes Associates

July 25, 2025 by Chuck Stanion

5 Comments

Deeply ingrained in the lore of pipe smoking and entrenched in the birthplace of the briar pipe is a fraternity whose members include the most influential, creative, and dedicated pipe smokers across the globe; These are people whose achievements and comportment profoundly support the pipe community. The Confrérie des Maî tres Pipiers de Saint-Claude (Brotherhood of Master Pipe Makers of Saint-Claude) recognizes these individuals ... Read More

In Memory of Tony Whelan

July 21, 2025 by Joshua Burgess

6 Comments

A diminutive man with a shock of white hair sat comfortably at a papering wheel. He wore a faded blue work jacket, powdered with briar dust, as he made pass after pass against the wheel, rotating the pipe in his hand. He was, if not a natural, at least so accustomed to the work through long experience ... Read More

In Appreciation of Colorful Pipe Making

July 18, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

5 Comments

If you've ever explored the vast assortment of pipes we have on-site, you may have noticed any number of things to compare and contrast from various pipe makers. I found myself perusing our portfolio and realized that we have never really focused a blog post on the wonderful spread of color utilized in pipe making. Amid the classic browns and blacks with similarly neutral-colored stems, there are numerous selections available that are destined ... Read More

Pipes and the Skull of Doom

July 3, 2025 by Chuck Stanion

3 Comments

Those of us who occasionally find ourselves watching provocative videos about Bigfoot, alien abductions, and lost World War treasures have undoubtedly heard something about the mystical ... Read More

Pipe-Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: July 2025

July 2, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

Fireworks decorating the dark of night with spectacular colors, the hum of creatures and insects in the still of night, and the smell of popcorn and ice cream at summer fairs — The sights, sounds, and scents of July beckon us to fully immerse ourselves in each moment, enjoying our days in the sun and basking in its rejuvenating warmth, and drifting through the days ... Read More

Sir Francis Drake

June 27, 2025 by Rose Kiser

6 Comments

There are many famous explorers from England, but one of my favorites is Sir Francis Drake. A deeply flawed man, his exploits are numerous and worthy of remembering. He may also be one of the leading factors that contributed to the rise in popularity of tobacco ... Read More

Peterson's Carroll of Carrollton Pipes 2025

June 24, 2025 by Sykes Wilford

I'm here today with Josh Burgess from Peterson to talk about this year's Carroll of Carrollton pipes, available now. This year's pipe is the fifth addition to this series, featuring a paneled Apple shape with a demi-Churchwarden vulcanite Fishtail stem, rendered in ... Read More