Corncob- Freehand

With its distinctive military stem and deep capacity this is without a doubt the best of the best. The bit is substantial, smooth in the mouth...plus, overall the pipe is light for its size...both aspects are a real bonus to those (like myself) that leave it 'in' and sip as they work in the shop, etc. The claim is that cobs are best for Burley blends and while true that doesn't take it far enough...they truely the best for any kind of blend (that I've tried in them). They smoke cool and true and as has been noted, last for YEARS if treated with the respect they deserve. Once upon a time, clay pipes ruled...the briars and meeers...and if you give these a chance you'll be adding more than a few to your collection. I'll also note that Mars really does have the very best prices on them. The Freehand is perhaps the best pipe on the market...certainly the very best for the dollar spent. Do it now...you'll be more than pleased with the results!

This is the best of the cob pipes. It feels nice in the hand, has an excellent draw, large tobacco chamber and a hardwood bottom. It's a real comfortable smoke and a good price without that silly plaque.

This pipe is burley's best friend, and helps to bring out the best in those burley blends. It may not be high-end fine grain briar, but it is sturdy, a very large bowl, cool to the touch, and a good cool smoker. And it makes a statement! It is not a filter pipe like some of the other cobs, so there is no issue with paper filters or debris in a filter chamber. The longer stem also helps to keep it cool-smoking. The one downside is that the vulcanite stem can discolor easily, so you may want to give it the occasional polishing. Other than that, its a good workhorse. At this price, you might think its just a throwaway pipe, but I find its been just as durable as any of the briars in my rotation. Four stars for its price/performance ratio.