Materials and Construction

The material and shape of a pipe has a profound influence upon the aesthetics and smoking qualities. Tobacco pipes come in many shapes and styles.
The basis for this section is from the Wikipedia entry Smoking Pipe (tobacco).
For an excellent overview of these shapes see Pipe Shapes by Bill Burney. 
A comprehensive list of pipe maker material and suppliers can be found here: Materials and Supplies.
== Parts Nomenclature ==
Bill Burney and A.S.P. have kindly permitted us to use the A.S.P. Pipe Parts Charts showing the parts and nomenclature of the pipe:
Parts1.gif|Page 1, Overview (click image for full size view)
Parts2.gif|Page 2, Mechanics (click image for full size view)
Parts3.gif|Page 3, Stems (click image for full size view)
Parts4.gif|Page 4, Mortise Fit (click image for full size view)
== Materials ==
=== Briar ===
=== Alternative Woods Used For Pipemaking ===
=== Meerschaum ===
=== Morta ===
=== Clay ===
=== Porcelain ===
=== Pipestone ===
The following excerpt is from Ben Rapaport's article, In Pipestone. A puzzling pipe of improvisational ingenuity.
Stone pipes have always been associated with the prehistoric peoples of North America. Specimens from as far back as 2,000 years ago have been encountered throughout the United States in argillite, pipestone, sandstone, soapstone and steatite. Pipestone is a hard, fine-grained, red clay, a type of argillite that ranges in color from mottled pink to brick red, and to rarer colors, such as mottled yellow, green, blue, brown, gray and black (steatite). And it is soft enough to file down with flint tools. It’s extremely durable, withstands intense heat, and doesn’t crack in the sunlight, so it can last for generations.
=== Aztec Ceramic ===
The article "Aztec Ceramic" first appeared on Smokingpipes.com here: The Mayans & Tobacco, November 9, 2018 by Chuck Stanion in Pipe Line and serves as an interesting introduction to the origins of this very interesting pipe recently acquired by Racine & Laramie Tobacconist.
=== Calabash ===
thumb|Calabash Gourd Pipe With Meerschaum Bowl Insert & Removable Bamboo Stem Extension Courtesy of Frank
Calabash gourds (usually with meerschaum or porcelain bowls set inside them) have long made prized pipes, but they are labour-intensive and nowadays quite expensive. Because of this expense, pipes with bodies made of wood (usually mahogany) instead of gourd, but the same classic shape are sold as calabashes. Both wood and gourd pipes are functionally the same. They both have an air chamber beneath the bowl which serves to cool, dry, and mellow the smoke. There are also briar pipes being sold as calabashes. These typically do not have an air chamber and are named only because of their external shape.
The construction of a calabash pipe generally consists of a downward curve that ends with an upcurve where the bowl sits. This low center of gravity allows for the user to easily hold the pipe by the mouth alone, leaving his hands free. This advantage was often used by actors who wanted to depict their character smoking while permitting them to do other business simultaneously. That is why the character Sherlock Holmes, who never used this kind of pipe in the stories, is stereotypically depicted as favoring it because early dramatic productions, especially those starring William Gillette and Basil Rathbone, made this artistic decision. In fact, Holmes, who preferred very harsh tobacco, would probably have disliked the calabash because of the above-mentioned mellowing effect.
Gourds specifically intended for pipemaking are usually "hand trained" while they are still green & growing. Every few days, after the fruit has begun to develop, the grower will bend the "neck" of the gourd, until it has formed into a near semi-circle. These are mainly grown in South Africa.
 Family: Cucurbitaceae (koo-ker-bih-TAY-see-ay);
 Genus: Lagenaria (lag-en-AR-ee-uh);
 Species: Siceraria (sy-ker-AR-ee-uh); 
 Cultivar: Dipper(?)
Calabash Interpretations: Also popular with some collectors are Calabash shaped briar pipes, or Calabash interpretations. Fred Heim has written an interesting article on collecting these called Calabash, Calabash, Wherefore Art Thou Calabash?, The Genesis of a Collecting Motif By Fred Heim, with photography by Joe Harb.
=== Corncob ===
<revive zone="17" align="left" caption="Many thanks to Missouri Meerschaum Company for their Underwriting support" />
On the other end of the scale, "corncob" pipes made from maize cobs are cheap and effective, even if some regard them as inelegant. The cobs are first dried for two years. Then they are hollowed out to make a bowl shape. The bowls are dipped in a plaster-based mixture and varnished or lacquered on the outside. Shanks made from pine wood are then inserted into the bowls. The first and largest manufacturer of corncob pipes is Missouri Meerschaum, located in Washington, Missouri in the United States.. Missouri Meerschaum has produced the pipes since 1869. General Douglas MacArthur and George Lincoln Rockwell were perhaps the most famous smokers of this type of pipe, along with the cartoon characters Popeye and Frosty the Snowman.
Corncob pipes remain popular today because they are inexpensive and require no "break-in" period like briar pipes. For these two reasons, corncob pipes are often recommended as a "Beginners pipe." But, their enjoyment is by no means limited to beginners. Corncob pipes are equally valued by both learners, and experienced smokers who simply desire a cool, clean smoke. Pipe smokers who wish to sample a wide variety of different tobaccos and blends also might keep a stock of corncobs on hand to permit them to try new flavors without "carryover" from an already-used pipe, or to keep a potentially bad tasting tobacco from adding its flavor to a more expensive or favored pipe. 
For great additional information see:
* Missouri Meerschaum
* The Complete Corncob primer 
* Missouri Meerschaum Corncob Buying Guide courtesy of John Patton (tiltjlp).
* Henry Tibbe
* Missouri Meerschaum Factory Tour
=== Metal Pipes ===
Metal pipes often incorporate means of trapping moisture that can cool the smoke before it reaches the mouth. Some say this can reduce the "Bite" and make smoking more enjoyable. Kirsten and Falcon pipes are still in production and deliver an excellent smoke. Beware though, there are many different metal pipes out there, of varing styles and brands, and collecting them can be very addictive.
Eastman Pipe - By Eastman Scientific. Not sure how long these were in production, or any of the details with the exception of the flyer. If you have additional information, please click on the blue link and add the information into an article for us.
Plumb - Marked Plumb on the shank and stem and Peacemaker England on the bottom. Briar changeable bowl. Need information!
Sweetheart - Looks similar to Kirsten, but is a separate company that was located in St.Paul Minnesota.
Bryson - Another Metal pipe with briar bowl, circa 1947.
An excellent website devoted to metal pipes: Smoking Metal. Includes various Falcon aluminum-stem pipes, plus Kirsten, Yello Bole, Dr. Grabow (Viking) and many others.
An interesting book on the subject: Back From The Ashes, Uncovering The Lost History Of G. L. Hunt and the Falcon Pipe, by K. A. Worth ~ Winner, 2008 Illinois Historical Society Book Award. Available from the author: Worthy Works Press and $2.99 Color eBook (Updated and Expanded for 2012) at: Amazon.com. For more info. see Books/Publications page...
Build your own custom Kirsten Metal Pipe at Kirsten Pipe Company
Kirsten Pipe Company - An article by Dave Whitney
=== The pipe (pyrolytic graphite/phenolic resin) ===
In 1963, Super-Temp Corporation began making plastic pipes with pyrolytic graphite bowl liners. They were called the pipe. In 1965, Super-Temp contracted to market their unique pipes through Venturi, Inc., the company which sold Tar Gard cigarette filters. Colors and stripes began to be offered circa 1967. About 1970, THE SMOKE pipes were added to the line - they were non-traditional shapes with a less expensive bowl liner. Venturi pipes were added around 1972 - they had no liner in the bowls at all. The pipes were out of production by 1975.
See the excellent the pipe website by Billie W. Taylor II, Ph.D
=== Brylon (High Temperature Resin and Wood Flour) ===
In 1966, S.M. Frank developed a material called "Brylon" made of a high temperature resin combined with "wood flour", which is pulverized wood of varying consistency. The pipes were cheaper and more durable, but heavier in the mouth and had a tendency to smoke hot and wet. They are still made today, and favored by some for their inability to be burnt out or otherwise damaged without significant effort and the ease of cleaning the pipe. For more information see S.M. Frank.
== References ==