One way to distinguish between pipes is by the bend of the stem towards the bowl. In the shop, the basic categories are bent, half-bent, and straight. There is no specific angle required; it's simply a way to categorize the pipes. The bowl itself is usually based on a geometric shape such as a cylinder, cube, sphere, or pyramid.

While the shape is primarily an aesthetic feature, the smoking experience is a factor not to be underestimated. Some shapes are difficult to smoke because the pipe gets hot or the ember is hard to control. Particularly extreme angles between the shank and the bowl can cause problems. Over the years, certain shapes have become established that look good and smoke well. These are consistently available and have been in production for decades by various manufacturers and pipe makers. The classic par excellence is the straight billiard shape.

In addition, there are always designer shapes. These are usually freely designed by a pipe maker who works, so to speak, along the grain of the material, shaping each raw piece into its own individual form to create the most beautiful surface possible. With clean drilling, sufficient material thickness, and no excessive bending, there will be no problems while smoking. Pipes are as individual as the pipe smoker and the pipe maker. The shapes are not always clearly defined and can also be a combination of two or more different shapes.

In our shop, we specify the bend and bowl shape of each pipe and record this information to make it easier to select using search filters. You can find an overview of some common shapes here: Pipe Shapes