how did you get started smoking pipes?

[csb]

Started reading Tokien and Doyle in gradeschool and watched the old movies. The charm desire was with me every since. What little kid doesn't think Gandalf and Thorin blowing multi-colored smoke rings that obey their maker around Beorn's hall isn't inherently cool? Either way, I thought it was awesome and picked it up before the disappointing movies came out.

Started out with a Stanwell and the collection has waxed and wained since.

[afilter]

Well like many I always enjoyed the smell of a pipe, but I mistakenly considered it an older persons hobby and never associated with any pipers. I took up cigars about 10 years ago. This past year I discovered a fellow officer and friend who I had spent many an hour smoking cigars with had started pipe smoking and was hand making them as a hobby with his wife. I admired several of his creations he had on display while visiting his office.

This past May before I deployed he gave me a beauty he made and some baccy. I have not looked back since. While deployed here in Afghanistan I regularly smoke 1-2 bowls a day when I have some free time. I am now up to 10 pipes thanks to this site introducing me to estates.

I still really enjoy cigars, but the pipe will be with me even when I return home as it does not offend those around me as much as some cigars do.

I just love the relaxing time in an otherwise stressful environment.

[Slow Triathlete]

I had several reasons. I was a cigar smoker for about 11 years before I started with the pipe.

1) The History
I love the history of pipe smoking. Not only in and of itself but also the people in my family who smoked one. My father, both of my grandfathers, etc. Plus the great minds of the world who smoked. I often wonder what pipe and tobacco combination Einstein was smoking when thinking up the Theory of Relativity. Or what Tolkein was smoking when he dreamt up Hobbits and their realm. Smoking a pipe puts me in touch with days gone by.

2) The Art
Not only do I think that pipes are pieces of art, but the act of smoking a pipe is an artform as well.

3) The Variety
I used to think that there were a bunch of cigars out there. But I was completely shocked when I saw all of the different pipe tobacco blends that are on the market. It is almost mind boggling!

4) The People
I had found when I smoked cigars that it was a different kind of person who did. I found that also to be true with pipe smokers. Pipe smoking trancends age and social class and opens up people to others who they might not meet if for any other reason. Pipe smokers are some of the nicest people on the face of the Earth.

[Bluegrass]

First, I really enjoy the smell of a pipe. I remember as a kid, my Dad would take me when he would get his haircut at the local barber. There would always be several men in there and always one or two would be smoking a pipe. I still remember that smell (Yes, it was a LONG time ago)
Second, I'm trying to quit smoking cigs. The pipe is really helping me do this. I still have a cigarette every now and then, but not nearly as much as I was smoking.
Third, because I look good smoking a pipe!!!! JK

[dogsplayinpoker]

Some of the entertainers that I admire were pipe smokers and it always seemed like a "cool" thing. I also really love the Sherlock Holmes stories and the Tolkien books.
One day as I was picking up some cigars I happened to notice some pipes on the wall, cheap no-names, and decided to take a leap. That was around 17 years ago, though only within the last 8 have I really begun to appreciate good tobacco and high quality pipes.

[Arizona]

Originally Posted by Quick_nick

This thread will probably get moved to the general. I started when I was 18, I had always been intrigued by pipes and smoking pipes in general. I had been smoking cigars since before I was a legal age, it always seemed like pipes brought so much pleasure. I always loved the smell and started smoking aro's when I got some Westminster I was converted and realised how crappy the tobaccos were that I was smoking. Another thing that drew me away from cigars was the extraordinary versatlity in pipe smoking from the pipes themselves to flavors of tobacco (different types of leaf) and tobacco presentations such as rope, flake, cube, and ribbon. The world of pipes goes far beyond filling a pipe and smoking it, pipe smoking turns into a dear hobby and it is a collecotrs hobby as well. There is always something new to learn about pipes and pipe smoking.

Cheers

Well said and very similar to me. I was 17 and intrigued by pipe smoking and the relaxed atmosphere it appeared to create for the smoker. I bought a Missouri Meershaum cob and some Captain Black and the rest is history.

I still find a pipe to be the ultimate in relaxation. I sit in my recliner and watch tv on the DVR and puff away contentedly... It's the best therapy and also very affordable once you've got a nice rotation of pipes established.

[Mad Hatter]

I grew up with Mark Twain inspired delusions. I think I smoked my first pipe when I was 13 and have gone to it from time to time ever since. Among other things first hand experience has taught me that corn silk is no substitute for tobacco.

[SailorJack]

Were talking tobacco pipes right? The first pipe I smoked didn't have tobacco in it! Hmmmm - Wonder what he is talking about? Hey I went to college back in the early 70's and unlike a former President yes I did inhale.

Enough of that! Honestly I really don't remember exactly what the circumstances were that got me started on the briar but I remember studying in my dorm room while puffing away on some Borkum Riff or something I got from the tobacco shop in the mall.

[mclayton]

I started wanting to smoke a pipe a few years back when I was in history class and the teacher went on a tirade about smoking and how bad it was (Churchill and his love for cigars came up, as did JFK, Stalin, etc etc). I wanted to know what sort of mystical effort it took to pack it, light it, enjoy it. It seemed to me that if you smoked a pipe, you had one helluva story, and that's not always true if you smoked a cigar or cigarette...you know two things that are highly susceptible to peer pressure and confidence building.

I had to put my curiosity on hold until i got to law school, and I met this crazy cat who dressed very class (almost like a 30's statesman). He was obsessed with pipes, and soon enough, I became obsessed as well.

[rx2010]

friend's dads who smoked when I was younger, and I loved the smell

smoking black and milds in high school, and knowing they were made from pipe baccy

the general mystique of pipes (you know, all smart lookin)

etc... plus I'd been smoking cigars for a couple years, and I decided, F it, it's pipe time

oh yeah, and the personality of different pipes, they're beautiful, and I like to collect things.

[nimravus01]

I never took to cigarettes, but, I did smoke the occasional cigar. My old roommate smoked cigarettes on the back patio and I would hang with him. He had tried a dr. grabow and some drug store cherry tobacco, but, he decided it was not for him and gave it to me to smoke on the patio. I got hooked and started buying up all sorts of pipes and tobaccos.

That was before the LOTR movies came out.

[N7COF]

I've smoked the occasional cigar for decades & always loved the aroma & artistry of pipes. My godfather & family friends growing up smoked pipes so there is a bit of emotional connection to pipes. I finally started smoking a pipe regularly 6+ months ago on my doctors recommendation (rather have me smoke a pipe instead of cigs)

[SunflowerPipes]

When I smoke I love a good joke I love to have fun and laugh I love to raid my friends stash.
When I smoke I eat all day and let my cares drift away my days often happen this way.
When I smoke I think about things for a while and my friends and how they make me smile.
When I smoke everything is ok though I don't go out much during the day, but all night I will play when I smoke

The smoking pipe has a long and rich tradition. I see pipe smoking as an ongoing evolving ritualistic experience that historically creates spaces for people throughout the world to come together for a common enjoyable experience. How many rituals evolve around the pipe? How many occasions for discussion or laughter evolved around the smoking ritual? Throughout time the smoking pipe has held a crucial role in the leisure time of humanity. Smoking has a rich history from the ancient Japanese Kisuru pipe or the Eastern hookah to new devices like the inside out glass pipe and color changing glass water pipes . At SunflowerPipes.com we explore smoking history in depth in our section titled "Pipe School". There is a lot to learn and a lot of smoking products out there that can add to your personal smoking ritual, At Pipe School you can learn about flavored rolling papers, what to look for when buying a pipe, how to clean and maintain your pipe, glass blowing, and about other smoking accessories including pollinators, dugouts, glass fifkas and much more! Happy Smoking

[pro2625]

Ive smoked cigars with my uncle for years and this last christmas my aunt bought my uncle a pipe. Long story short I tried it and loved it so I bought one of my own

[DubintheDam]

I was 40, still smoked, so I bought a pipe.