Any of the cobs will be good, but you should browse at aristocob.com to see a shape and finish you like. The Country Gentleman falls in the large pipe category, but you may prefer a smaller bowl for a shorter smoke. Some come with bits (stems) for 6mm filters and some for unfiltered. P&C used to have a starter set with 3 cobs and some tobaccos, but I don't know if they still do.
I think the mid sized cobs are better for new smokers. I happen to think that they are the best size for a day to day pipe. Small enough to find time to finish it but large enough to make it worth it. I have 3 of the Missouri Pride pipes. 2 straight and 1 bent with a danish stem. I really prefer the danish stem to the normal stem. The wider thicker feeling stem makes it much more comfortable to clench in your teeth. It also accepts a softy bit, the standard stem does not. People that hold instead of clench might not care about that. I got the 2 straight Prides in Pipa tobacco kits. The tobaccos aren't bad but they are aromatics leaning towards the heavy side. Starting out with a good mild tobacco without a bunch of flavorings might be better. If you do decide to try a Pipa kit stay away from the Vanilla. It comes with a cheap Chinese cob that is only good enough for snowman props. I folded and stuffed OGS into my bent Pride. Just came in from it. I'm debating a bowl of half&half while I read before bed in my homemade straight churchwarden poker.
I saw an older post a few day ago where you said you were interested in Amateur radio. Did that ever go anywhere?
I am very interested in it, but have two other projects to get to first. Everything is my life is prioritized and budgeted. No radio bucks this year.
Its good to take your time with it. Everything costs too much to rush. I'm trying to learn Morse code and I'm trying to study to upgrade to the mid level license. I have radios but need to build better antennas.
I prefer the danish bits over the standard bit also. Another advantage of aristocob is you can select which bit you want for any pipe. The disadvantage is they don't sell tobacco.
Aristocob also has a very informative youtube channel that pretty much handles any questions you may have about smoking and caring for a Cob Pipe.
Lane 1-Q in the Stanwell Trio on a beautiful evening. I had a 9mm charcoal filter in the pipe and so far I'm not a fan. The filter absorbs a lot of gunk but also appears to absorb a lot of flavor.
Tony, This is my 10,000th post on TSD. This last storm wasn't so bad, the majority of the snow fell during sunlight and largely melted off. The mild temps also spared most of the young calves, as calving season just ended. In the bright side, got hang out with my wife, overeat, and watch NBA. Since it's post 10k: Tony- I am so glad we hang out here. Obey God. Honor family. Take good care of God's creations. Techniques Trump Tools. You're welcome! Would 9mm carbon make Latakia palatable? @RaZorBurn123 - you're the best at what you do here. I appreciate it. @NCoxSTL - you're the man! @Rufus T - I've gotten more out of it than you have. Thank you. @DDuckyMark - smoke em if you got em! Love you brother!
