A Gandalf is a long style of pipe similar to a Sherlock or a Church Warden. They typically have a long stem with an upturned bowl that is extremely comfortable in the hand. They are best for a quiet, contemplative smoke by yourself but can be passed around a group if needed. They are one of my favorite pieces to smoke because they have a large head that blends your smoke and air well with a long stem to cool the blend before reaching your mouth. They are available with or without carbs (an extra hole near the bowl). You typically hold your thumb over the carb to seal it and then when you near the end of an inhale you release the carb to let fresh air replace the smoke in the stem. This keeps you from having to inhale stale smoke that would have been left in the piece without a carb. The main drawback to this piece is that you cannot sit them upright on the table without a stand. However, some of them do have horns or kickstands so you can set them mostly upright at least. They also tend to be rather large which makes them tricky to travel with.
The name Gandalf comes from a character in the legendary Lord of the Rings series. He is an ancient wizard who smokes "pipe-weed" that is grown by the Hobbits. At one point in the movie he is smoking with one of the Hobbits who blows smoke rings. Gandalf then proceeds to blow a pirate ship with his smoke with a smoke ring following it. The wizard smokes his pipe at many points in the movies and books, typically when he needs a moment to clear his head and ponder whatever sticky situation they are in.
Below is an excerpt from one of Lord of the Rings Wikipedia pages:
The Wizard Gandalf learned to smoke pipe-weed from the Hobbits. In The Hobbit he turns smoke-rings into different colours. One palpable description of the weed's effects is given by Gandalf to fellow wizard Saruman upon a meeting of the White Council:
- "You might find that smoke blown out cleared your mind of shadows within. Anyway, it gives patience, to listen to error without anger."[34]
The word pipe-weed first appears in the Prologue to The Lord of the Rings in the section called "Concerning Pipe-weed". Tolkien says the Hobbits of old "imbibed or inhaled through pipes of clay or wood, the smoke of the burning leaves of an herb, which they called pipe-weed or leaf, a variety probably of Nicotiana."[32] In the same paragraph, Tolkien as narrator refers to "the tobacco of the Southfarthing." Throughout The Lord of the Rings none of the characters ever uses the word tobacco. The word tobacco is only used in the narrative voice of the books.
For example; in The Two Towers, tobacco is used once. In the chapter "Flotsam and Jetsam" Tolkien as narrator says "He produced a small leather bag full of tobacco." Merry is then quoted saying "we found they were filled with this: as fine a pipe-weed as you could wish for, and quite unspoilt."[35] Pipe-weed is used 4 times in The Two Towers.[36]
Author T. A. Shippey speculates that Tolkien may have preferred the Old World sound of pipe-weed, because tobacco, an Arawakan name for a New World plant, would be an anachronism, and have a "foreign feel" in the world of elves and trolls.[37]
The Hobbit, which was written before the The Lord of the Rings, uses tobacco exclusively. Pipe-weed does not occur at all.[38]
Please note this page and author do not support or encourage any illegal activities. Reference you local and federal laws before choosing to participate in this activity. Smoking can also be harmful to your health, reference the Surgeons General for more information.
