The Friday Savinelli

[Columbo]

I see I did the same mix today as last Friday, Edgeworth Match and Half & Half. Today was my baby Savinelli 404, a sandblasted pocket pipe. If this were a living creature, you'd say it would grow up to be a Zulu -- its slightly canted bowl and a light bend to the stem show a distinct resemblance.

This pipe, I've discovered, is a good fit for me. The flattened shank makes it easy to hold in a forefinger and thumb. The heel does get pretty hot to the touch late in a 20-minute smoke, so holding it that way is a lot more pleasant in the hot humid weather here than holding the bowl.

Very enjoyable commentary. I'll be joining you later this afternoon in the Savinelli Circle. Staring at one of my Punto Oros on the rack as I head out on the road.

This morning, I have to work through a little PA Match in a cavernous new Vauen Mirage pot I'm breaking in. A perfectly-made $105 white dot. Already an exemplary smoker. With your past appreciation of German workmanship, that is one pipe line I'm surprised you have not yet sampled.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Very enjoyable commentary. I'll be joining you later this afternoon in the Savinelli Circle. Staring at one of my Punto Oros on the rack as I head out on the road.

This morning, I have to work through a little PA Match in a cavernous new Vauen Mirage pot I'm breaking in. A perfectly-made $105 white dot. Already an exemplary smoker. With your past appreciation of German workmanship, that is one pipe line I'm surprised you have not yet sampled.

Vauens can be had at that low a price? I thought they were $200 + pipes?

 

[Ponycarman]

Stonehaven in a Savinelli "one" 321

 

[Columbo]

Vauens can be had at that low a price? I thought they were $200 + pipes?

A standard grade non-white dot Vauen can be bought new from a US dealer for under $100. Having one of those regular grade Vauens, it is nearly as nice as the white dots, and smokes well above its price point. A great outdoor or travel pipe, and it is good looking, too.

Both TP and SP sell Vauens. The white dots can sell for well over $300 on some models, but most are under $200. And if you shop on Ebay, there are sometimes collectors selling NOS (new old stock) white dots for as low as $75. I picked up an early 1990s vintage white dot with sterling silver trim, brand new in the box, for $90 that way.

The $105 one I found on sale at a dealer for $40-50 off, and grabbed it. I like pots very much, and this one is a big wide one.

I've grown into a big fan of Vauens, surprisingly very late in my piping years for some reason. As my son occasionally takes a liking to my other pipes (and walks off with them, which I don't mind) I have been replacing them with Vauens. I now have six of them.

All of them are superior smokers and extremely well made for a factory pipe. Terrific value, all things considered. But they are all 9mm, which means either an adapter or a filter. Having tried a 9mm Vauen filter, they are not bad filters at all. But I mainly use the adapters in them.

 

[Columbo]

Schmidt’s was an all time favorite. Made in Philly. Now made in Tx. Don’t tell me Black
Label is still made! I’m not into craft beer much. The stuff I used to make was just as good IMHO

Been a long Friday today. Plenty of time on the road today, with a last stop at the beer distributor before finally returning home. Looking forward to seeing my son tonight.

Well, they had some Schaefers again this trip. And a case of Hamms for a change of pace as June warms up. Yeah, I like cheap lawnmower beer. Especially when it's hot.

After a light dinner, I'm lighting up a Sav Punto Oro bent pot with some LLRR. If I can get a picture of that, I'll post it.

 

[Benzadmiral]

A standard grade non-white dot Vauen can be bought new from a US dealer for under $100. Having one of those regular grade Vauens, it is nearly as nice as the white dots, and smokes well above its price point. A great outdoor or travel pipe, and it is good looking, too.
. . .

The Vauen 1692 is a very good-looking beast, like a big brother to my small Italian London Briar basket pipe.

 

[Columbo]

The Vauen 1692 is a very good-looking beast, like a big brother to my small Italian London Briar basket pipe.

If you PM me, I can give you more info on Vauens. I don’t want to hijack this Savinelli thread.

 

[brandaves]

Wonderful bowl of St. Bruno in a Savinelli Series III 320 this evening.

 

[nortac]

Poor pic as it is getting dark, Savinelli Capri bent Dublin with my first bowl of "And so to bed", very pleasant and mellow!

 

[RookieGuy]

No pics, but my Series III was filled with North American Carter Hall yesterday evening as Mrs. Rookie joined me on the porch. We spent a delightful hour or so solving the world's (or at least Baltimore's) problems as she smoked half my pipe.

 

[Columbo]

No pics, but my Series III was filled with North American Carter Hall yesterday evening as Mrs. Rookie joined me on the porch. We spent a delightful hour or so solving the world's (or at least Baltimore's) problems as she smoked half my pipe.

I think you're going to need more than an hour for that.

 

[Benzadmiral]

In contrast to the struggles I've had with the MM hardwood, today my baby Savinelli (the 404 pocket pipe) and I collaborated on a very nice 30-minute smoke:



The leaf was my by-now-traditional-for-Friday mix of Half & Half plus Edgeworth Match. Cool and aromatic in the best senses of the words!

 

[Salty O'Rourke]

Black Mallory in a Savinelli Venere today. I'm dedicating this pipe to Lat blends, starting her off with a good'n.

 

[Columbo]

Escudo in the Roma 673 this afternoon, with some Hamms and Beer Nuts.

And my son is working the BBQ this lovely Friday for me. So no pics.

 

[RookieGuy]

I have some SWR drying out to go in my big Series III. Seems fitting as I teach Walter how to be a proper smoking buddy.

 

[KellyG]

WC Quint’s Own in the Matches 860 Tribute Pipe. Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing on the side.

 

[Kilroy6644]

It's not Friday anymore, but I smoked this pipe earlier today (or yesterday, I guess). My lone Savinelli, a Soirée 701, with Jackknife Ready Rubbed.

 

[brandaves]

Black Mallory in a Savinelli Venere today. I'm dedicating this pipe to Lat blends, starting her off with a good'n.

View attachment 1283605

That is one fine looking pipe.

 

[Benzadmiral]

A mix, loaded into the pipe last night, of Field & Stream Match plus the last bits of my first Half & Half pouch, in my Savinelli from the '80s. This is my lightly-bent, sandblasted billiard with the military mount and P-Lip stem. I smoked it outside for a time, stepped back into the coolness, went back out again, etc., for about 25 minutes with only 1 relight needed.

I hadn't smoked at all since Wednesday morning, so my senses were clear. I got a pleasant "toasted" or "roasted" scent from the tobacco. Yes, I was trying that retrohaling thing, but no luck yet. Doesn't matter; 'twas a fine smoke.

 

[Benzadmiral]

A bowl from a fresh pouch of my beloved Half & Half this morning in my baby Savinelli 404 as I watched a Hill Street Blues episode. I hadn't smoked H & H by itself in a little while, and was pleased all over again at the aroma and taste.