I've been to JM Boswell's twice and each time, I've picked up this "wizard" style pipe. Alex says they smoke great because of the tapered bowl. I've not come home with it because the fluted bowl just doesn't feel right in my hand. If there are any wizard style fans out there, what is your experience?

This is the pipe Boswell has on their wall now, I believe it was $109:

I have some older Danish freehands that have tapered chambers, and they smoke fine. I don't fill the chamber to capacity, usually leaving an air pocket at the bottom, and it works well.

Looks nifty but I'd have to guess it would be uncomfortable to hold in your hand.

I have this pipe from Jan Zeman,

Compared to your pipe, it is different in the way it is shaped with I guess similar long bowl. Mine is very comfortable and smokes fantastically well. In your case, if its not comfortable, then I would suggest that you think long and hard before you buy it. A couple of pipes that I'm fixing to sell, are just that. Not comfortable to hold and although they are decent smokers I just dont smoke them...

I avoid tappered chambers. To me, they smoke the same as a regular shaped bowl, but are more difficult to ream and have less capacity (for a same sized bowl). The only reason to have a tappered chamber is when the shape of the pipe is unable to accomodate the more usual U shape.

I'm with "dottle of great dampness" and generally don't care for tapered bowls. I smoke Kirstens occasionally, and their factory bowls are also tapered. They do make a special reamer that is tapered to the exact angle of all their bowls (regardless of size) that works well for keeping the cake at the desired thickness. It wasn't until I had several custom made bowls with straight chambers made for my Kirstens that they really began to shine for me.

However, there are certainly proponents of tapered bowls, often citing how they concentrate the flavor towards the bottom of the bowl. As some love those bottom puffs (and I do not!) they might be wonderful?

Natch

Thanks gents. I'll proceed cautiously. The shape seems ooom-paul like, which don't seem to agree with everyone. If it had a smooth bowl, it might have followed me home....