Long-stemmed: Clay or wood?

[ambientboy]

So, my brother is a bit of a pipe guy and he's also a big Lord of the Rings fan. Also, his birthday is coming up in 2 weeks and I was thinking about getting him a long-stemmed pipe because every time we smoke our pipes together, he mumbles some random comment about "Old Toby, the finest weed in the South Farthing."

Anyways, what're your thoughts? Clay is by far cheaper, and as a musician and grad student, I'm not loaded. BUT, wood is swankier. But I'm here to ask people's actual SMOKING preferences concerning either. Help me out?

[JaKaacH]

There is also a churchwarden Cob available.
http://www.walkerbriarworks.com/html/cobs___stems.html

[Neuromancer]

Don't know your budget but here's a great little churchwarden for a shade over $50...

Savinelli Churchwarden

BTW, I have about a half dozen churchwardens and they are among my favorites...

[Curly Cut]

as i mentioned at the KC herf, there are some called MacQueen pipes that are all wood... i'll dig up the link and edit the post.

i haven't had either a clay, all wood, or churchwarden before, so i can't comment on how well they smoke other than what others have said.

edit: yep, if he's into Lord of the Rings... this would be up his alley.
http://macqueenpipes.com/

[ambientboy]

I went with MacQueen, and while I'm please with the product, nowhere did they inform me that they'd be making the pipe to order, that it would take over a MONTH to create, and that it'd take more than three weeks to ship.

I don't mind being patient for a quality product, but be forthright about what the buyer is getting into... 2 months for an order of a single pipe is a little ridiculous.

[RHNewfie]

I feel your pain, waitint sucks! But look on the bright side... Now you didn't just get him a churchwarden, you got him a custom made churchwarden... Made to order, unique to him!

[Neuromancer]

Originally Posted by ambientboy

I went with MacQueen, and while I'm please with the product, nowhere did they inform me that they'd be making the pipe to order, that it would take over a MONTH to create, and that it'd take more than three weeks to ship.

I don't mind being patient for a quality product, but be forthright about what the buyer is getting into... 2 months for an order of a single pipe is a little ridiculous.

Cancel the order and get the Savinelli...price is about the same and it's proper briar and not made out of something cheaper like cherrywood or ash...