I'm thinking about getting one. How do you like yours? Better than briar? Why?
Thanks!
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Nobody has any opinions about meerschaum pipes?
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I like mine quite well, although I don't prefer briar over meer or vice versa. I look forward to seeing it color through the years as I smoke it. In fact, you've made me want a pipe now but I'm still stuck at the office. Thanks a lot! :-)

Seriously though I don't have a preference. I just smoke it when I'm in the mood, same as my other pipes.
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I had a couple back in pipe days. I didn't care for them. The smoke seemed "sterile" to me. I think briar adds a character to pipe tobacco that meers do not. A lot of folks like them, though.

MCS
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I have had excellent luck with one meer (of three) and it's a wonderful pipe. More or less ghostless, it is perfect for trying anything new; it presents a very clear idea of what's what with any tobacco.

This meer has a stout, well fitted case so it is my main travel pipe. I can take one pipe and smoke about anything. Meers don't get soggy and they tend to smoke cool. YMMV. Many are made/sold with restricted airways and skanky little push-pull fittings. Those guys tend to be gurglers.

Shop for a brand VERY carefully and talk to a resident meer wizard before making a move. Meer lovers will set you right. Wrong meer sucks. The right meer is a goll-danged practically perfect pipe. Also - a meer carved to look like a charging rhino or nudes making love with snakes can have an appeal that wears off quickly after the sale. Consider a classic shape like skulls and bayonets - I mean, like a bulldog or billiard - is my humble advice.
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Thanks for the replies guys.

Mister Moo: Do you have a brand you reccomend? No need to worry about me purchasing a highly decorative pipe--I feel silly smoking a regular pipe in public so puffing on a giant bust of John Adams is just not gonna happen:-)
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I own a I.M.P. that is carved from block meerschaum and is not outrageous in the price. It's simply a great pipe imo.

Smokingpipes.com has them.
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Fikri Baki makes top drawer pipes. Look around - ask around - and compare. Good starting point: someone with two or three meers (or more), one of which they HATE, and at least five-years of meer-smoking experience.
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I was looking at those.

Those a very cool--not cheap though.
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I have a CAO meer in the shape of a latticed apple, what I like most about it was the fact that it didn't need much rest before I picked up my next bowl. It ended up being my go to pipe while I was working at the shop until I dropped it on the floor.

But yea, if you can find a CAO meer, they're usually not that much money, I paid about 100 for mine.
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This looks like a fair deal on a CAO Meer. Less than $45.00 shipped.
100% feedback, but not much of a description.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
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Funny about this this thread. Just snarfed a large meer at a B&M the other day. Not Baki but wonderful geometry. It has a large push-pull and a good open draw; no gurgles or airway restrictions. Sombish is biggish but puff like a charm. I hate the yellow stem but love the smoking characteristics - importer Paykoc (pie-kosch). 6 7/8" overall.

Beware small pipes with typical bad draw.

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This looks like the same pipe, $95.00 - http://meerschaummerchant.com/p-799-...eerschaum.aspx
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I have a Paykoc, a bent lattice similar to the picture below, that I bought from our local B&M. It's a pretty pipe but does have a gurgle problem on some occasions. The moisture is collecting on the tenon. If I run a pipe cleaner part way down, it soaks up the moisture. I think the diameter of the mortise/tenon is a mite too small and the draw is a bit tight. My $20.00 no-name ebay meer is a better smoke. I prefer any of my 3 MM cobs to either of my meers.

http://www.paykocimports.com/images/...haum/308-2.jpg

WyoBob
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my favorite producer is : www.meerschaumpipe.us


:-):-)
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I tend to reach for a meer more often than a briar. Look for the meers that use the briar style delrin tenons instead of the older screw in types. They smoke much better. In general, I like meers cause they smoke drier and I enjoy the coloring process. IMO some of the better meer makers are baki and altinok. Sometimes you can get a nice looking meer that doesnt smoke well because of the connectors. I scored a sweet bekler Tiki pipe off ebay but the draw sucked. Sent it to Night Owl Pipeworks and they put in a new connector and it is an awesome smoking pipe now.

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Tiki by master carver Cevher from Storient Meerschaum Pipes
www.meerschaumpipe.us

I would stick with master carvers works and companies selling master carvers' works SMS,STORIENT,CAO


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