An online shop to buy smoking pipes : The Briar Pipe


 

William: Hi Joel...Welcome and thank you for joining us.Can you tell us about your current position at briarpipe.com ?


Joel :Hello William, Thank You for inviting me to the interview. It is a first for me. As far as my position at the website www.TheBriarPipe.com ….I own it. Therefore, I am the “chief cook and bottle washer” and have been selling pipes online since April of 2003.



William: How many pipe brands do you carry ?


Joel : Right now I have pipes available from 23 carvers/companies. I am proud to offer pipes from Indie Artisans as well as the larger producers in Europe.


William :Do pipe smokers in America prefer expensive pipes or cheaper pipes ?


Joel: Well, that is really a matter of individual preference as well as the economy. Also, what the purpose of the pipe is…….knock around pipe or that “Prize” pipe for one’s collection. I think most pipe smokers have a variety of pipes from entry level to whatever their max budget will tolerate.




William: Can you describe a high-end pipe?


Joel: The term “High End” to me is not really a function of price point. It has more to do with craftsmanship coupled with good quality briar. Generally speaking, a high-end pipe should be proportionately balanced, have an “open” draw and a great attention to detail in all aspects of the construction. And that includes the bit. Nothing more disappointing than a beautifully made pipe but no attention to detail in the bit!



William: What details are important for you when you are buying a pipe for yourself?


Joel :For me, a pipe has to catch my eye first. Then I will delve into the craftsmanship. As I have stated before, the pipe must have an open draw and the bit work must be exacting. I like nice open flaring in the button.



William: Can you let us know three blends that you like to smoke , and your favorite pipe brand?


Joel :This is really a hard question to answer as there are so many quality choices. I prefer Virginia’s and Virginia blends. MacBaren HH Acadian Perique and    Solani Silver Flake are 2 that I really enjoy. For a departure from Virginias I will occasionally smoke L.J. Peretti Burley Blend #1072. Every pipe that I smoke is a favorite for one reason or another, or I would not be smoking it! The pipe that I am smoking in the picture is a Marco Biagini Contoured Billiard that my wife picked for me about 10 years ago.


William : Which pipe brands and shapes will be popular in 2013? We want an educated guess.


Joel :For 2013, I expect that the big producers in Europe will continue to be favorites as always. The Artisan carvers will continue to capture an ever-growing segment of the market. There are so many excellent carvers around the world, and with the internet, their work is becoming ever more  acessable. In regard to pipe shapes,……the classics will always be in demand, but the shapes that the artisans are coming up with show remarkable ingenuity and cannot be ignored! I am amazed how a billiard can become a whole new thing in some of these artisan’s minds and then their hands.


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