Personal favorite pipe brand names..?

[JoeMan]

I must name at least 3. I have many more examples ranging from hand-made freehand and artisan pipes to machine-made and good ol' standard shapes...but I'll mention by name those I seem to gravitate to, and own a decent number of.

For US pipe makers, it's Grabow. I've got several vintage Grabows that smoke as good as anything I've got. They are work horses, and include many great shapes and finishes for being what I call "the working man's pipe".

Over the past year, I've built up a small Stanwell collection. Whether non-filtered or 9mm, they are wonderful smokers, and with such classy design.

Last but certainly not least, Peterson. Great craftsmanship, beautiful graining in most, and the Pete "system" works just as intended for me.

[Fr_Tom]

In the "bargain and workhorse" category, I have mostly Missouri Meerschaum, Grabow and Kaywoodie. I am happy with them all.

In the "remarkably good pipe in a medium-level factory" category, I really like estate GBDs and Petersons. Blakemar gets an honorable mention.

In the "premium, higher-grade factory" estate pipe category Dunhill and Charatan get the nod.

In the artisan category, my Bannard pot is an outrageously good smoker and really a great value.

[coalsmoke]

After a year, I thought that I would revisit this thread. I really don't have a favorite pipe brand, but I do have two of some of the same pipe brand. Was it the maker of the the pipe that led me to buy another? Based on the good smoking quality of the first pipe bought of a particular brand, I would have to say that the brand of the pipe was a factor. When I do buy a pipe, Bill's comment is what I also use as a guide...

Well I wouldn't be lying to say I like them all. The carver is not as important as the look, style and shape of the pipe in the first place.

However, that being said, it's also true that smoking qualities can also vary within a brand as experienced in quality issues within certain model lines from some manufacturers over the years. It is consistent quality of engineering that will bring me back to a brand. But, more importantly, is the consistency of engineering across all price ranges and knowing what I can expect and depend on from a certain brand.

[Puffer]

I have modest means, so I have been focusing on trying to obtain the best value for my money.
The Made in Denmark Stanwell are top of my list. I have never been disappointed by any of them.
Tinsky and Goussard are the hand made pipes I have and I am very happy with them.
Then, there are a few Falcon which I am learning to appreciate more and more. They are a great value once you toss that Dry Ring that really do not serve any ideal purpose, in my opinion.

[coalsmoke]

I have modest means, so I have been focusing on trying to obtain the best value for my money.

Same here. My latest pipe, the BBB "Own Make Virgin" 506 Canadian, is my first English pipe and has turned out to be one of my best smokers by far. And it won't be my last BBB, either. My new favorite pipe brand!

[Zeaward]

First among many equals, for me, is the Castello Trademark KKKK billiard.

[Rockbass]

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For me it's plastic Chinese pipes, because last Christmas it was a gift from Ds#2&3.
I smoked two puffs to be able to say I smoke the pipe and I wanted to reinforce giving thoughtful gifts.

[coalsmoke]

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For me it's plastic Chinese pipes, because last Christmas it was a gift from Ds#2&3.
I smoked two puffs to be able to say I smoke the pipe and I wanted to reinforce giving thoughtful gifts.

Interesting pipe, actually.

[Simon G]

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For me it's plastic Chinese pipes, because last Christmas it was a gift from Ds#2&3.
I smoked two puffs to be able to say I smoke the pipe and I wanted to reinforce giving thoughtful gifts.

Very thoughtful gift. Tell your girls you want a 'made in Hong Kong' one next time. Pre 1997 (before re-unification) are my preference. Classics of their genre & great flake pipes!

[Dunstan Hillwell]

It's impossible to pick just one brand; on top of my list are Danish made Stanwells, preferrably reg.nos. from the fifties and sixties and I started collecting them some 10 months ago, but any Danish Stanwell will do, as long as I like the shape and finish.

I have a soft spot for BBBs, since all our fathers smoked them back in the sixties. In fact BBB was the most popular brand in Denmark and all us pipe smoking kids wanted one, but of course we couldn't afford them.
When my Father went from pipes to cigars in the latter half of the sixties, he gave me his three pipes of which I still have the two.
A BBB Billard Silver Grain and a small St. Claude pipe, given to him by a friend back in 1936.

Another soft spot is for Petersons of which I have nine; my two favourites being the Dublin D7 and "The Colonel" (314).

I have collected several pipes by Danish pipe makers and my top favourite maker is Peter Brakner, especially his rusticated ones.

Oh, so many pipes and so little money.