basket pipes can be hit or miss and, most likely, miss for an untrained eye. Especially beware of pipes with high air holes into the chamber and pipes that have been dipped in stain. Stained dipped pipes can taste really awful for many many smokes.

I would suggest Aristocob.com for a really good choice of nice corn cob pipes. I especially favor the General, an equal to a good briar pipe; been smoking mine for years - great puffer. Don't underestimate cobs.