Straights or Bents??

on my mood and what I'm doing. Out of habit, I tend to smoke a straight if I'm working on something (mental or physical)because I can rest them on a desk or table without thinking about it.
I usually let a bent stem rest in my lips instead of holding the pipe, typical when I smoke a straight. I don't think I favor one over the other.

Most of the time I like straight pipes (keeps the smoke out of my eyes). I used to love bents but found that they're more likely to gurgle. I do have some still and they're all well behaved.

Regarding bents ... for me its all about balance. When I pick up a bent pipe the first thing I do is hold it by the end of the stem between two fingers to simulate how it would be in my mouth. I do this to get a feel for how heavy the bowl will be when I clench it. Normally a heavy bowl would be no good for a clencher but if the pipe is well balanced the weight can be a non-issue. Example: I have a Ser Jacopo 1/2 Bent Brandy. Its heavy. Very heavy. But the bend of the stem puts the pipe in such a position that I can clench it for hours with no jaw fatigue at all. I've had other bents anywhere from 1/4 bent to full bent that were heavy as heck - they're all gone now thanks to ebay!!!!! I think this is part of the mark of a master pipe maker's trade. Its not just finding a block of briar with pretty grain. Its not just finding that perfect combination of bowl diameter vs air passage diametere. Its not just the fit of the mortise/tenon. Its finding balance. I don't know if I'm saying this in a way that can be understood but I'm sure trying hard. New pipe carvers can make pretty looking pipes but they are uncomfortable to clench. Many long established pipe carvers (or companies) can make pipes that are likewise uncomfortable. Some folks have some inate understanding of how that balance should be and when you smoke one of these pipes you'll know it. And the funny thing about balance is that it has absolutely nothing to do with the price range. My oldest pipe - the Bjarne Viking Classic ($40) is balanced so nicely that I've smoked it all day and never felt the slighest twitch from my jaw or neck muscles. Conversely I've smoked two Ferndown pipes ($250+ each), one striaght one bent, that caused me to be in pain after just an hour each. And the bowl is much larger on the Bjarne! I don't know that "balance" can be taught. Its like finding a good chef vs some joe schmoe cooking something he saw in Emeril Live.

Regarding straights ... well, balance certainly isn't an issue here - you've simply got a lump of briar sticking straight out from your mouth. Obviously there is another factor involved and that factor is weight. One of the reasons I stick with Dunhill pipes is that they're so darn light (not a fast rule, some are heavier than others of course - group 4 size just works for me, ok!). I find that generally speaking I tend to prefer straights because of this dry-eye thing but also there is something satisfying about clenching such a tried and true - old time classic shape. Now, regarding balance ... and this is a nuance, not a major point ... I'm just now experimenting with pipes that have different lengths in the plastic part of the stem vs the briar part. Typically I've stayed with Billiards (about 50% briar / 50% plastic ... ABOUT). That little Lovat I bought which is about 80% briar / 20% plastic is quite nice too. I haven't gotten around to Canadians yet but I'll get there. Maybe - and this is just a thought - maybe length of the plastic can affect the balance of the pipe too - and maybe this will even matter in a straight pipe like a Billiard / Pot / Lovat / Canadian / Dublin / etc.

Lastly: Large Pipes ... you know the kind - they're massive. No way are you ever going to clench that baby. It was made for hand holding. I've had some. I'm thinking of one that smoked for over 2 hours on a single bowl. Egads. Obviously all calls are off regarding balance when it comes to hand held pipes. I would think what matters then is wall thickness and bowl to finger heat transmission. But thats a whole different topic.

Anyway ... long winded answer as I mused over the balance thing but the long and short of it is I like both with perhaps a tendancy towards straights ... but not much of a tendancy.

I think you are doing a very good job or just maybe it is starting to sink in as you have explained this topic to me before.

Full bents, a great design and I love them. Mine have an extra deep sump, they do not fill and so do not gurgle. While some do not like the idea of a sump several pipes are designed especially for one, in fact the cavalier is more of a pipe designed around a sump. Ah, but back to full bents, weight is a non issue for the most part. They have no leverage. Comfortable hangers where you want the bottom button of the bit to just catch the back of a tooth and dangle. Easily my favorite in the shop, where something jutting straight out can make for some interesting experiences.

Slightly bent to half bents, I would say the slight bends are less problematic but a half bent can still be a good dry gurgleless smoker. Straights are a joy. I guess I just like them all.

I have become primarily a straight pipe smoker. Slightly bent or quarter-bent are nice as well. I am not opposed to more bend in a pipe (I really love my Stanwell 19s, both old-school and new-school), but I gravitate towards straight.

Coming out of the closet, I have about 60% bents in my smothering of pipes. I'm also a clencher, so bents are easier. But I'm a pretty determined clencher, so I don't mind a bit of weight. I really just think they're so often more, well, architectural. But I agree with Rick (I think) - beauty goes beyond the stem's inclination to the entire pipe. So a pretty straight is better than a straight-forward bent.

Dunhill best straights, Peterson's best bents.
Only my opinion.

But more and more I catch myself looking mostly at straight pipes. I seem to have developed a preference for the poker shape in the past year or so.

99% is more or less straight here.

Next question!

when I first started...my first pipe was a straight...after that...I certainly edged toward 1/8 to 1/2 bents...never really been a fan of the full bent...but in the last year or so...I find myself smoking almost (if not all) straight to 1/8 bents. Don't really know why...just what looks best to me right now...but I think that could change...might be back to liking my bents more soon...who knows...I smoke what looks good to me...no real rhyme or reason...and since my collection accommodates that sort of whim...it seems to work out ok...

Cheers,

Josh

but I would estimate closer to 95% straight pipes, and almost all of them are billiards, apples and dublins. The few bents which I do have are 1/8 bents and 2 1/4 bents. I'd like to wax eloquently on the balance issue, but, truthfully, there is this psychic connection which I feel with the straight, uncomplicated billiard, some connection both familiar and atavistic. So, straight pipes.

I had a look at my collection. I know I have somewhere between 120 and 140 pieces -- perhaps more. More than enough to smoke, too many to count.

Only 3 are bent.
(1/8 bents are no real bents in my opinion)

And, it's straight as an arrow. Very hard too!

What? I said they are all Canadians. Long, straight and hard. What were you thinking? You are such a pervert.

I think my collection shows off just about every degree of shank-to-bowl alignment there is. Whether I go for a straight good 'ol bulldog or a full bent of some sort entirely depends on my mood. I clench them all the same.

The bents I owe are huge and are good for a long smoke while watching a ball game, reading a book, or long car rides. I own three full bents(Petersons) and enjoy them a lot.

Straights are good for times when I can't sit down for an hour and smoke. I perfer Canadians and Lovats.