Every pipe smoker enters the hobby in their own way and with different motivations for why they started. Alan Britt, Customer Service Manager, gives credit to Truett Smith, former Purchasing Manager, for inviting him in and providing him with guidance as his interests in pipe smoking grew. Let's dive into Alan's first pipe story.

First Exposure to Pipes

Before he ever picked up a pipe, Alan was a self-proclaimed diehard cigar smoker ("as I still am," he says), and Low Country Pipe and Cigar was his local shop. "I had no idea Smokingpipes or Cornell & Diehl existed, let alone that they were a few miles from my house." Familiar faces like Jeremy Reeves, Shane Ireland, and Tyler Caldwell were employees who worked at his local cigar spot, and he enjoyed their company.

"One day, Truett started telling me about his latest acquisition, a J. Alan pipe," says Alan. "When I asked what it cost, I scoffed at his answer." He couldn't quite get behind spending so much on a piece of wood, and he poked fun at Truett. "But we kept talking, and somewhere in that conversation, my interest piqued. Not long after, I learned what was actually happening down the road in Longs at our old building, and that culture sparked something in me." He would come to realize just how impressive a piece of wood can become with the right craftsmanship, artistry, and dedication.

Somewhere in that conversation, my interest piqued.

Alan's First Pipe & Tobacco

"Soon after, in the hallowed, weathered walls of Low Country," says Alan, "he helped me pick out my first pipe: a Peterson Arklow B10." Truett instructed him on how to pack it, and recommended the first tobacco Alan ever tried: Cornell & Diehl's Maple Cavendish. And the rest is history. "It's a moment I'm grateful for every day, because it led me here, sitting at a desk in our Loris, SC, headquarters. Thanks, Truett."

Keeping the Passion Alive

Alan still loves cigars, but has fully embraced pipe smoking as well. "The next few years were spent finding out what I liked, as I think most pipe smokers go through. You're initially drawn to a shape and a finish, and then over time, you're drawn to something else. It's a natural progression of sorts."

He soon purchased his first handmade artisan pipe from Micah Redmond at the Muletown Pipe Show. "This led me down the rabbit hole of handmade pipes (as opposed to factory-made pipes), and inevitably, it led me to learn that I loved smaller pipes and shorter smokes."

Advice for First Pipes

As for the best advice Alan could give to a first-time pipe buyer, he recommends thinking intentionally about your first purchase. "If you aren't 100% happy with a pipe, it won't treat you well," he says. "It's a very personal item and a visceral experience, so even the most minor inconveniences will complicate the smoking experience."

It's a very personal item and a visceral experience.

He also mentions that a new smoker will inevitably grow out of that first pipe, moving on to different shapes, finishes, and makers, which is part of the experience of developing as a pipe smoker, and that is okay.

"But I'd implore you to hang on to it," he says. "I sold my first pipe, and it's a regret. I probably wouldn't smoke it much, but I wish that I had it for the sentimental value. I often wonder who ended up with it and if they know how much that pipe meant in my personal journey." Your first pipe commemorates the introduction into the hobby, and it's a meaningful item, far beyond something as one dimensional as a block of wood — it's something to be treasured.

That is Alan's first pipe story. I'd love to hear yours in the comments below. Feel free to share, and hopefully that can provide even more inspiration for those who are looking to get started in pipe smoking and collecting. If you missed our previous first pipe stories, check them out here on the Daily Reader.