I have some experience with them. Back in the early nineties I was learning how to re-stem and repair pipes under a retired pipe repairman and he used to go on and on about how good smoking they were. Said they used to be one of Savinelli's major competitors in the Italian pipe market and were very popular in the 80's. He sold me a used one and it did smoke well. I don't know about the ones that are coming out now though.