>>1185680Aesthetics do favor the straight IMO. There is a little bent that I do love for practical reasons though.
Peterson 304, non-system army mount. Can pull the stem when hot, sits on a table, when stem is turned around it sits perfectly in a shirt pocket, small and light, hangs off the jaw effortlessly, holds enough for a long smoke but small enought for a quickie.
The way it is drilled (by necessity) may be seen as a flaw by some, but I think it is a feature. The draft hole doesn't meet at the exact bottom of the heel allowing moisture to settle instead or gurgle. The way the shank is drilled for the army mount also creates a small resevoir that keeps any juice from reaching your mouth.
