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Missouri Meerschaum Corncob Buying Guide (view source)

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Thanks to my dad’s mentoring, I’ve been a corncob smoker for over 50 years, and have written The Complete Corncob Primer. In this Buying Guide, I offer my opinions on the Missouri Meerschaum brand of corncob pipes, which I and most other experienced cobbers feel are the only decent corncobs still being made. While I have my favorites, and prefer Natural to Plastered bowls, every MM cob smokes cool and dry. Here are my reviews, starting with the largest bowl sizes to the smallest. Only cobs I have smoked are included here.  
Thanks to my dad’s mentoring, I’ve been a corncob smoker for over 50 years, and have written The Complete Corncob Primer. In this Buying Guide, I offer my opinions on the Missouri Meerschaum brand of corncob pipes, which I and most other experienced cobbers feel are the only decent corncobs still being made. While I have my favorites, and prefer Natural to Plastered bowls, every MM cob smokes cool and dry. Here are my reviews, starting with the largest bowl sizes to the smallest. Only cobs I have smoked are included here.  
MM has begun offering what they call a Grab Bag Of Smokable Pipes, which are seconds, with cosmetic flaws. I ordered a grab bag, requesting, if possible mostly bent pipes, since that’s pretty much all I smoke. I received 7 bents and only 3 straights, and after careful inspection, other than for a few minor dings, and a botched staining job on a Country Gentleman, I honestly couldn’t figure out why 9 of those 10 pipes didn’t pass Quality Control. But then, Phil Morgan had vowed to improve QC. While I had hoped I might get a couple Ozark Mountain Hardwood pipes, I got 2 straight Legends, 1 straight Pride, 5 bent Washingtons, a slightly undersized Country Gentleman, and an old-style Diplomat. I can’t say enough good things about what I would call a MM Bargain Grab Bag. $37.49, which includes shipping, for 10 near perfect corncob pipes is a wonderful way to build up your pipe collection.
I also ordered a 5th Avenue Diplomat, which could be seen as a slightly downsized version of the American General, which I have always felt was a but heavy for my likes. The new 5th Avenue is roughly a half inch shorter, a slightly narrower than the General. The 5th Avenue I got is 2” tall, finished, and has a ¾” bowl diameter, so you’ll still get a nice long smoke, without any weight issues. It weighs just about the same as an Apple-shaped Diplomat. Flake smokers might like the 5th Avenue as a mini-stack. While I still prefer the old Diplomats, I was favorably impressed with the 5th Avenue.


The new, Natural Freehand is without a doubt the coolest smoking, driest, and best corncob pipe I’ve ever smoked. It comes in a white or reddish tone bowl, and the feel of the natural cob in your hand seems to add to your overall smoking experience. While in extremely short supply, the Natural Freehands is hand assembled, making the Freehand one of the finest cobs I have smoked in over 50 years.  
The new, Natural Freehand is without a doubt the coolest smoking, driest, and best corncob pipe I’ve ever smoked. It comes in a white or reddish tone bowl, and the feel of the natural cob in your hand seems to add to your overall smoking experience. While in extremely short supply, the Natural Freehands is hand assembled, making the Freehand one of the finest cobs I have smoked in over 50 years.  


Missouri Meerschaum now offers, in limited numbers. natural versions of many of their line of cobs. They're in such short supply that you have to call the factory and speak to Marilyn to order them. They hope to produce my Naturals as they are able to grow the larger cobs needed for them.
Missouri Meerschaum now offers, in limited numbers, natural versions of many of their line of cobs. They're in such short supply that you have to call the factory and speak to Marilyn to order them. They hope to produce my Naturals as they are able to grow the larger cobs needed for them.


The newest MM model is the Morgan Nosewarmer, available as a straight natural only. It is a reduced-size Diplomat, and though I prefer bent pipes, the Morgan is a nice, fun pipe to smoke. A comparison between the Morgan and the Diplomat showed that the Mogan weighed 23g to 35g, was 4 ½” long to 6 ¼”, had an interior bowl depth of 1 1/8” to 1 ½”, a bowl width of ¾” to 1 ½” and held 6g of salt to 9g in my tobacco capacity measurement. At $7.50, this would make a classy starter cob for anyone.
A fairly new model is the Morgan Nose warmer, available as a straight natural only. It is a reduced-size Diplomat, and though I prefer bent pipes, the Morgan is a nice, fun pipe to smoke. A comparison between the Morgan and the Diplomat showed that the Morgan weighed 23g to 35g, was 4 ½” long to 6 ¼”, had an interior bowl depth of 1 1/8” to 1 ½”, a bowl width of ¾” to 1 ½” and held 6g of salt to 9g in my tobacco capacity measurement. At $7.50, this would make a classy starter cob for anyone.


The standard Freehand, which is plastered and burnished, is also very impressive. It delivers an excellent, cool and dry smoke. Maybe it’s because of the tall, conical shaped bowl, which is 2 1/4“ deep, but the pipe seems to enhance the flavor of any blend I smoke in it. I have heard that the shanks can be fragile, but the bowls are quite large, and no two are alike. Although the Freehand is heavier than my other cobs, it’s very well balanced, so that the weight isn’t even noticed.  
The standard Freehand, which is plastered and burnished, is also very impressive. It delivers an excellent, cool and dry smoke. Maybe it’s because of the tall, conical shaped bowl, which is 2 1/4“ deep, but the pipe seems to enhance the flavor of any blend I smoke in it. I have heard that the shanks can be fragile, but the bowls are quite large, and no two are alike. Although the Freehand is heavier than my other cobs, it’s very well balanced, so that the weight isn’t even noticed.  
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The Diplomat has been my cob of choice for a long time, but the thicker walls that made it a real favorite was also the biggest drawback it had. The Diplomat no longer has the thick walls that I had come to appreciate. Diplomats now have standard sized bowl thickness, which isn't really a bad thing, since they are now lighter in weight and better fit my hand.  
The Diplomat has been my cob of choice for a long time, but the thicker walls that made it a real favorite was also the biggest drawback it had. The Diplomat no longer has the thick walls that I had come to appreciate. Diplomats now have standard sized bowl thickness, which isn't really a bad thing, since they are now lighter in weight and better fit my hand.  


The Great Dane Spool is very similar in bowl capacity to the Diplomat, and is a perfect fit in my small hands. The Spool has a slightly narrower inner bowl than the Diplomat and so, it’s a half inch taller, and basically the same weight as the Diplomat. The Natural Great Dane Spool is a very stunning pipe, in that mine is both red-hued as well as white. I rate this as an equal to the Diplomat. Note: The Spool almost smokes itself, ending every pipe with a fine ash, and nothing else. This might be due to the fact that the Spool is similar in design to a Poker.
The Great Dane Spool is very similar in bowl capacity to the Diplomat, and is a perfect fit in my small hands. The Spool has a slightly narrower inner bowl than the Diplomat and so; it’s a half-inch taller, and basically the same weight as the Diplomat. The Natural Great Dane Spool is a very stunning pipe, in that mine is both red-hued as well as white. I rate this as an equal to the Diplomat. Note: The Spool almost smokes itself, ending every pipe with a fine ash, and nothing else. This might be due to the fact that the Spool is similar in design to a Poker.


The Country Gentleman is popular, in part, I think because it looks funky, with that black coating it shares with the Patriot Spool. Now, some folks mention that it has a larger bowl than the Diplomat, which is true, but there is so little difference, it hardly matters. What keeps the CG from being a favorite of mine are its thin walls. It’s simply can get too warm to handle comfortably, and I’m a very slow smoker. The Country Gentleman, BTW, doesn’t have a hard wood insert like most other larger sized cobs do.
The Country Gentleman is popular, in part, I think because it looks funky, with that black coating it shares with the Patriot Spool. Now, some folks mention that it has a larger bowl than the Diplomat, which is true, but there is so little difference, it hardly matters. What keeps the CG from being a favorite of mine are its thin walls. It’s simply can get too warm to handle comfortably, and I’m a very slow smoker. The Country Gentleman, BTW, doesn’t have a hard wood insert like most other larger sized cobs do.
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The Legend is a fine starter pipe, and MM’s biggest seller. It’s what most people think of when you mention corncob pipes, what with its plastic amber bit. The Legend is a small pipe, and the shape varies slightly, since it seems that few source cobs are rejected.  
The Legend is a fine starter pipe, and MM’s biggest seller. It’s what most people think of when you mention corncob pipes, what with its plastic amber bit. The Legend is a small pipe, and the shape varies slightly, since it seems that few source cobs are rejected.  


The Eaton, which is only available as a natural straight model, is barely 5” long, and unfilterted. Think of it as a little brother to the Pride, although they don’t look that similar. Both pipes are natural, but the Eaton has a small barrel shaped bowl, with very thin walls. Unless you have small hands, your pinky finger might not fit into the bowl for packing, so this one might not be for you. I do have small hands, so I was able to pack my Eaton, which gave me a nice, cool 20 minute smoke. While I have though the Eaton was pretty much a toy, it’s actually a fairly decent cob for those times you’re in a rush.  
The Eaton, which is only available as a natural straight model, is barely 5” long, and unfiltered. Think of it as a little brother to the Pride, although they don’t look that similar. Both pipes are natural, but the Eaton has a small barrel shaped bowl, with very thin walls. Unless you have small hands, your pinky finger might not fit into the bowl for packing, so this one might not be for you. I do have small hands, so I was able to pack my Eaton, which gave me a nice, cool 20-minute smoke. While I have though the Eaton was pretty much a toy, it’s actually a fairly decent cob for those times you’re in a rush.  


The Pony is a small, unfiltered straight pipe. This model is a half step below the Legend in size and quality. Not a bad pipe, since I don’t feel there is a bad MM, just not the best.  
The Pony is a small, unfiltered straight pipe. This model is a half step below the Legend in size and quality. Not a bad pipe, since I don’t feel there is a bad MM, just not the best.  


The Cherry Wood poker is not a cob, but it is made by MM. It’s a small, thin walled pipe, which I use for some of my flakes. It’s perfect for two of the Heinrichs Dark Strong Flakes, so no, you won’t be able to stuff a full slice of FVF in this baby, but it does its job like a champ.  
The Cherry Wood poker is not a cob, but MM. It’s a small, thin walled pipe, which I use for some of my flakes, makes it. It’s perfect for two of the Heinrichs Dark Strong Flakes, so no, you won’t be able to stuff a full slice of FVF in this baby, but it does its job like a champ.  


The Maple Wood poker is a twin of the Cherry Wood, which I find imparts a natural sweetness to any tobacco. These are excellent, low-cost flake pipes, which come either as bent or straight models. In spite of their thin walls, neither the Cherry or Maple version gets overly warm with flakes.  
The Maple Wood poker is a twin of the Cherry Wood, which I find imparts a natural sweetness to any tobacco. These are excellent, low-cost flake pipes, which come either as bent or straight models. In spite of their thin walls, neither the Cherry or Maple version gets overly warm with flakes.  
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John Patton/tiltjlp  
John Patton/tiltjlp  


Updated 2/2/2012
Updated 8/9/2012


http://www.corncobpipe.com/  
http://www.corncobpipe.com/  
Tiltjlp
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