Recent Articles | Smokingpipes Daily Reader

Jess Chonowitsch: A Legend Mentored By Legends

July 19, 2019 by Chuck Stanion

6 Comments

At the center of every hobby are practitioners who build reputations on the exceptional quality of their work. Those who collect knives, firearms, fishing rods, or virtually anything else that can be handmade, know who makes the finest products in their hobby. Some craftspeople commend themselves with superior skills, at a higher level than most can ever hope to accomplish. Like musicians or actors, some are just enormously talented. Some are geniuses. ... Read More

Virginia and Perique Mixtures: A Varied Family of Pipe Tobacco

July 18, 2019 by Kaz C. Walters

7 Comments

Virginia and Perique mixtures, or VA/Pers as they are sometimes referred to, are pipe tobacco blends consisting of one or more varieties of Virginias that have been lightly spiced with a small portion of Perique. Traditionally, the percentage of Perique in a blend is only three to five percent ... Read More

Grandpa & The Toboggan

July 17, 2019 by Chuck Stanion

4 Comments

My grandfather and the 10 Tobys (all of his dogs were named Toby) avoided the Middaugh brothers, who lived on a neighboring farm at the bottom of the long, steep road that connected most of the farms in the area when I was a boy. The road made a quick turn just before the Middaugh house ... Read More

All Pipes Considered: Jerry Zenn Revisited

July 16, 2019 by Andrew Wike

1 Comment

On this episode of All Pipes Considered, Kaz and I sit down to revisit the work of Taiwanese pipemaker Jerry Zenn. Jerry's continued to evolve his style since our last video, so we wanted to take a closer look at some of his most recent pieces, including a very special Poker he brought to the 2019 Chicago Pipe Show. ... Read More

The Silver Pipe of Wampanoag Legend

July 12, 2019 by Chuck Stanion

6 Comments

The Wampanoag People of Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts were native Americans primarily active in the 17th century and before, though members survive today in two tribes. They numbered about 3,000 people when Europeans arrived, and their population was decimated by what was probably smallpox. ... Read More

Mary Frith: Unapologetic Pipesmoker

July 11, 2019 by Truett Smith

10 Comments

If we're honest, those we now consider "famous pipesmokers" did not gain notoriety because of their pipesmoking. They earned acclaim through their writings, or movies, or philosophy, or creative genius, and it just so happened they also smoked a pipe. ... Read More

Tasting Notes: G.L. Pease Penny Farthing

July 10, 2019 by Andrew Wike

3 Comments

On this episode of Tasting Notes, Shane shares his thoughts on G.L. Pease's Penny Farthing. The first shag-cut mixture in the G.L. Pease line, Penny Farthing is a blend of bright and red Virginias, spiced with Louisiana Perique and a hint of fire-cured dark Kentucky. ... Read More

Pockets

July 9, 2019 by Chuck Stanion

9 Comments

Pockets are a pipesmoker's best friend. And we need a lot of them. The minimum for going out into the world is a pipe or two, a tobacco pouch, pipe cleaners, a lighter and tamper, and we need places to put those things, along with a wallet, phone, keys and pocket knife. ... Read More

Silver Gray: American Hybrid

July 5, 2019 by Chuck Stanion

1 Comment

Next time you find yourself talking with an accountant, think about all the pent up, unresolved creativity they're carrying around with them. They could at any moment break free and find a craft to bring equilibrium to their years of adding numbers, filling columns, and reconciling balances. At least, that's what happened to Silver Gray. ... Read More

5th Annual American Pipemaking Exposition

July 4, 2019 by Truett Smith

The American Pipemaking Exposition has become an annual, 4th of July tradition since we introduced it in 2015. The event focuses on a central, pipe-related element that either defines or has been championed by the American artisanal pipemaking tradition, with each carver submitting a piece showcasing that theme. ... Read More

Recent