Pipe Culture

Top Summertime Smokes

September 8, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

12 Comments

I've been reflecting on my smoking habits over the last several months and, for reasons I don't fully understand, summertime is Virginia season for me, with few exceptions. Something about the inescapable sun and heat, and in South Carolina, the humidity steers me toward Bright Virginias, with the occasional Burley blend ... Read More

40 Years of Kurt Balleby Pipes

September 7, 2023 by Truett Smith

1 Comment

This year marks Kurt Balleby's 40th pipe-making anniversary, and it's a milestone worth celebrating. I haven't even been breathing for four decades, and that's perhaps the easiest, most passive action available; it's hard to imagine intentionally dedicating sweat and effort to one specific pursuit for such a span of time. ... Read More

Pipe God of War: The Story of Semyon Danilovich Nomokonov

September 1, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

20 Comments

The Second World War has countless stories of heroes who displayed impressive heroism to defeat the forces of fascism, many of whom were known pipe smokers. Few, however, have a story as unique as that of the Soviet sniper Semyon Danilovich Nomokonov, who terrified the Nazis as few others could, earning the respect of ... Read More

A Legend Passes: Satou Smio

August 3, 2023 by Sykes Wilford

2 Comments

Satou Smio, pipe maker, aged 79, died on July 16th, 2023, following a prolonged illness. While not as prolific as in his earlier years, he continued to make pipes until a few months before his death.
I met him in Tokyo in 2002. It was my first time in Japan and my first serious trip for Smokingpipes. I was 21, but ... Read More

Five Tips For Beginner Pipe Smokers

July 27, 2023 by Zachary Podl

1 Comment

Getting into pipe smoking can be intimidating; any pipe smoker will tell you that mastering the art takes time. Considering there are countless techniques for packing a bowl, lighting said bowl, drawing smoke, and exhaling, it's unsurprising that no one smokes a pipe perfectly the first time. However, learning one's way ... Read More

Enhanced Pipe-Smoking Flavor and Comfort with Breath Smoking

July 6, 2023 by Chuck Stanion

10 Comments

Many of the challenges encountered by pipe smokers can be minimized or terminated through the practice of breath smoking. Breath smoking, when mastered, dispenses with excessive moisture and gurgle, tongue bite, frequent relights, and flavor compromised by the inordinate generation of heat. ... Read More

How to Pack Flake Tobacco

July 5, 2023 by Truett Smith

6 Comments

Today we're talking about flake tobacco and specifically how to pack it properly into a pipe. We've discussed packing ribbon tobacco, but flake tobacco adds one extra step to that process. Now some — especially beginners — might wonder why exactly we should smoke flake tobacco or why we would even want ... Read More

Smokingpipes' Own Shane Ireland Has Joined The Confrérie des Maîtres Pipiers de Saint-Claude

June 30, 2023 by Chuck Stanion

22 Comments

The discovery of briarwood as a medium for pipes was perhaps the most important technological advancement in pipe-making history. Before briar, fragile clay and meerschaum pipes dominated the choices of pipe smokers, supplemented by pipes of various kinds of wood: boxwood, cherry, beech, maple ... Read More

A Closer Look at Peterson's Carroll of Carrollton Pipes

June 20, 2023 by Chuck Stanion

1 Comment

The Founding Fathers of the United States were many, and not all of their names are as well remembered as those of George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, or Thomas Jefferson, though their contributions were of enormous influence. Among the important names that have waned in our memories is Charles ... Read More

Briar Curing: From Sawmill To Smoke

May 26, 2023 by Chuck Stanion

22 Comments

We've all experienced the "break-in" period, loading bowl after bowl into a new pipe while it shows no gratitude whatsoever and delivers acrid, hot, astringent smoke to our bewildered palates. Its online photos had accurately depicted the wonderful shape and finish, but the flavors it's delivering do not match the pipe's ... Read More

Top Summertime Smokes

40 Years of Kurt Balleby Pipes

Pipe God of War: The Story of Semyon Danilovich Nomokonov

A Legend Passes: Satou Smio

Five Tips For Beginner Pipe Smokers

Enhanced Pipe-Smoking Flavor and Comfort with Breath Smoking

How to Pack Flake Tobacco

Smokingpipes' Own Shane Ireland Has Joined The Confrérie des Maîtres Pipiers de Saint-Claude

A Closer Look at Peterson's Carroll of Carrollton Pipes

Briar Curing: From Sawmill To Smoke

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