Pipes

About Pipes

Arguably the world’s oldest smoking tools, pipes have become a symbol of elegance, sophistication, and class. While smoking pipes are available in a wide range of materials, styles, and finishes, they all have two things in common: a bowl for holding tobacco and a stem that allows the smoke being drawn through it to cool slightly before it reaches your mouth.
Our pipes are expertly crafted, combining exquisite form with superb functionality. They’re priced to suit a range of budgets, from pocket-friendly pipes for beginners to intricately carved pipes for serious collectors or discerning smokers who simply want the very best. Find smoking pipes from iconic brands and pipe-makers such as Aldo Morelli, Alfred Dunhill, Barling of London, Chacom, Charles Rattray, Don Florian, Northern Briars, and others right here.

Pipe Materials and Styles

While briar wood remains the most popular and desirable pipe carving material, pipes crafted from corn cobs, cherry wood, olive wood, and meerschaum are also available at the Black Swan Shoppe.

Briar Wood Pipes

Durable, breathable, and heat-resistant briar wood is the material most commonly used to make pipes. The wood’s porous nature is ideal for absorbing the oils and heat produced by burning tobacco, so you don’t need to worry about your smoking pipe heating up to the point of causing discomfort. Most of our quality pipes are made from briar wood.

Corn Cob Pipes

Often known simply as cobs, corn cob pipes are made from corn cobs that have been dried and hollowed out before being fitted with a stem. These pipes are best known for their affordability while still offering a remarkable smoking quality. This makes them accessible and a great starting point for beginners who aren’t sure if the pipe-smoking experience is for them. They are generally considered disposable pipes as they will burn through much quicker than a Briar pipe.

Meerschaum Pipes

Meerschaum pipes are carved from meerschaum, a white clay-like mineral found near the Black Sea. Often featuring intricate carvings and designs, these smoking pipes are among the most sought-after. They’re known for their unique look and feel, light weight, and cool, smooth smoke.
We stock a range of different smoking pipe styles, offering something for all tastes and preferences. Some of our most popular styles include:

Billiard Pipes

The most common pipe shape, billiard pipes remain consistently popular among smokers. This style features a straight bowl with a cylindrical chamber set at a 90-degree angle. The stem may be straight or bent.

Apple Pipes

Apple pipes are a relatively common design. They feature a somewhat rounded apple-shaped bowl and a stem with a tapered mouthpiece. The bowl is thicker than that of other smoking pipes, enabling it to effectively absorb the heat and oils from burning tobacco.

Churchwarden Pipes

Churchwarden pipes are distinguished by their long stems, which must be at least nine inches long. While there is no set bowl size or shape, most smokers prefer churchwardens with smaller bowls, as they’re easier to hold and smoke. While this style has long been iconic, churchwarden smoking pipes gained a popularity boost when Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy depicted Gandalf smoking one. Discover our range of expertly crafted churchwarden pipes here at the Black Swan Shoppe.

Offering a wide range of premium smoking pipes as well as pipe accessories and pipe tobacco blends, the Black Swan Shoppe has all your smoking needs covered.

Pipe FAQs

How do I choose a pipe?

Your choice of pipe should come down to your personal preferences. When looking for a smoking pipe, consider your budget, the material used to make the pipe, the size and shape of the bowl, and the length and style of the stem and mouthpiece. Choose the pipe that best suits your preferences. A general rule of thumb is that the bigger the pipe, the cooler, more forgiving, and easier it will be to smoke. However, the compromise is that bigger pipes are less portable.

How do I care for my smoking pipe?

If possible, store your smoking pipe in a pipe rack or case designed for pipes. These storage methods allow air to circulate, drying the pipe after use. After smoking your pipe, use a pipe tool to gently remove the ash before running a pipe cleaner through the stem and into the bowl. Once you’ve done that, put the pipe aside bowl down to dry and cool.
Be careful when cleaning your pipe out. Ideally, you should leave around 1-2 mm of carbon build-up around the entire bowl to protect the wood. This carbon layer also helps to keep the pipe smoking cool and sweet. Additionally, it’s preferable to keep the carbon layer uniform with no scrapes or grooves. If the layer isn’t uniform, you can cause hot spots in the pipe that concentrate heat and can cause the pipe to burn through. Getting a specific pipe reamer for this task is highly recommended, as it makes achieving a uniform ream easier.