Welcome @Gunny D , I don't have any thing useful on the pipe advice other than be careful you dont get caught up in
fads. Buy pipes you like and don't feel you have to buy something just because a lot of others have. I've around 30
pipes, but only 3 or 4 that are my go to pipes. First up is a Doctor Grabow Savoy that my wife got me, it's a straight
stem, rusticated billard with a saddle bit. Second is a Dunhill 137 FT that one of our brothers here gifted me. It's a
Canted Dublin. sandblasted finish, with a straight stem. The others are mostly all estate pipes that I got from Ebay.
Estate pipes are fine just look the pics over real close and be willing to clean them.