Stick this in your pipe and smoke it

A quick guide to pipes and the products you put in them

You might be wondering what pipes and pipe tobacco are doing in a cigar magazine.

But if we stop to think about it, cigars and pipes have some what more in common than at first glance.

Both products have an iconic status in today’s society, just look at the figures linked to pipe smoking, people like Sherlock Holmes and Harold Wilson.

Both can be considered to have appeal across several types of customers, from the novice and hobbyist to the high end, premium smoker.

Another similarity comes with the vast array of choice not only in pipe tobacco, but also in pipes available on the market.

Nearly all pipes start off with a lump of briar – a corruption of the French word bruyere.

A true briar pipe is made only of very dry hard root taken from the mature White Heath shrub – which grows in Mediterranean climes.

Once selected the roots are cleaned, inspected for flaws and stored for a season before being cut into a cube, which will then be shaped into the pipe.

Originally each pipe was handturned, but with the rapid growth in demand, pipe makers developed specialised machinery to allow easier design without sacrificing the handmade standard.

Today, there are five stages in the manufacturing process, and 75 different operations involved in making the complete pipe.

Strictly speaking no two pipes are alike, there are nine basic shapes, running from Billiard to Poker.

Almost all pipes are available in one of three configurations, bent, straight or semi-straight.

Most pipe.....

To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door.

By Dominic Roskrow

Section : Pipe Smoking

Page number : 25

Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 6 on 11/11/2005.

This article is 62 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.



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	Stick this in your pipe and smoke it A quick guide to pipes and the products you put in them You might be wondering what pipes and pipe tobacco are doing in a cigar magazine. But if we stop to think about it, cigars and pipes have some what more in common than at first glance. Both products have an iconic status in today’s society, just look at the figures linked to pipe smoking, people like Sherlock Holmes and Harold Wilson. Both can be considered to have appeal across several types of customers, from the novice and hobbyist to the high end, premium smoker. Another similarity comes with the vast array of choice not only in pipe tobacco, but also in pipes available on the market. Nearly all pipes start off with a lump of briar – a corruption of the French word bruyere. A true briar pipe is made only of very dry hard root taken from the mature White Heath shrub – which grows in Mediterranean climes. Once selected the roots are cleaned, inspected for flaws and stored for a season before being cut into a cube, which will then be shaped into the pipe. Originally each pipe was handturned, but with the rapid growth in demand, pipe makers developed specialised machinery to allow easier design without sacrificing the handmade standard. Today, there are five stages in the manufacturing process, and 75 different operations involved in making the complete pipe. Strictly speaking no two pipes are alike, there are nine basic shapes, running from Billiard to Poker. Almost all pipes are available in one of three configurations, bent, straight or semi-straight. Most pipe..... To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door. By Dominic Roskrow Section : Pipe Smoking Page number : 25 Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 6 on 11/11/2005. Subscribe Buy this issue More from this issue Preview other issues This article is 62 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements. Copyright Cigar Buyer © 1999-2010. All rights reserved. To use or reproduce part or all of this article please contact us for details of how you can do so legally.