[Nooner]

Originally Posted by Eichen

I usually try to hold it by the bowl to guage how hot (or not) I'm smoking and to keep from clenching the bit too much. Sometimes I'll clench when I'm reading, typing, walking etc. When it comes to cutty shaped pipes I can't help but hold it by the shank (similar to what IHT says); it's almost instictual. I've smoked a few clays -- that's the way to do it to avoid burning your hand! They seem more or less "balanced" that way.

So for me, "any old way".

C&D Pennington Gap in an estate Stanwell.

-E

yep - what Eichen said. The pipe tells me how to hold it.