Hardcastle
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According to Mlaug's link (pipephil.eu)...
I couldn't say that Hardcastle is a Dunhill 2nd; but the company is owned by Dunhill. (There's a difference.)
I've purchased several pipes from IRC and never had a problem. But IRC is a pretty high-end kinda place, so I wouldn't expect $32 to buy a "whole lotta pipe." But one never knows, and $32 doesn't sound like a big risk, even if it is a pig-in-the-poke.
I couldn't say that Hardcastle is a Dunhill 2nd; but the company is owned by Dunhill. (There's a difference.)
I've purchased several pipes from IRC and never had a problem. But IRC is a pretty high-end kinda place, so I wouldn't expect $32 to buy a "whole lotta pipe." But one never knows, and $32 doesn't sound like a big risk, even if it is a pig-in-the-poke.
Dunhill has owned the Hardcastle name since the late 40s. By the early 60s, Dunhill had merged Hardcastle and their 'second' brand Parker. By the 1980s, the entire Dunhill production was moved to the same location as the Parker-Hardcastle factory. The Hardcastle name is reserved to turned bowls that aren't deemed quality enough for either a Dunhill or Parker stamp.
But what's in a name? I've a few Dunhills that aren't so great and my best friend swears by his Hardcastle. Sometimes whether or not a pipe is a good smoker is dumb luck.
But what's in a name? I've a few Dunhills that aren't so great and my best friend swears by his Hardcastle. Sometimes whether or not a pipe is a good smoker is dumb luck.
I own 1 Hardcastle pipe. It is a Hardcastle Walnut Bent Bulldog. It is a rather large pipe and it smokes great. I love it! It is one of my favorite pipes.
I have a Hardcastle's 'Jockey Club' in my collection and it smokes very well indeed. And as Ted said, it was sold off to Dunhill's who then used it as an excuse to offload their seconds.
Nice looking pipe, Bob.
Ted, I agree some of the high end pipes don't really smoke as well as the name would imply. That is part of my reasoning for not having any, but mostly I can't see putting out several hundred bucks for a pipe that may smoke only as well as a Dr Grabow for $30.
Ted, I agree some of the high end pipes don't really smoke as well as the name would imply. That is part of my reasoning for not having any, but mostly I can't see putting out several hundred bucks for a pipe that may smoke only as well as a Dr Grabow for $30.
I tend to enjoy the low end of high end pipes. Such as the Savinelli Venezia it was only $47 and it is a great smoke. I think I will hold off on the Hardcastle though. I would feel better finding one in a B&M so I can inspect it and everything before I buy it. I am a poor college kid so $32 is a high percentage of my income haha. That and I need the girlfriends approval now before I spend any more money. I went on a $200 ebay shopping spree a few weeks back :D and she got a little agitated. However, thanks to some of the members here, and over at Christianpipesmokers.net, I was able to unload some of the pipes I didn't need. It was hard to see some of those pipes go but the girlfriend gave me an ultimatum and after many hours pondering....I chose her lol. Might have been the most costly mistake of my life as women tend to cost much more than PAD or TAD ever will add up to 
. Anyways, ranting aside I don't believe I could ever bring myself to buy a $300+ pipe unless my future job pays very well.
. Anyways, ranting aside I don't believe I could ever bring myself to buy a $300+ pipe unless my future job pays very well.
Hardcastle is no longer real seconds of Dunhill, but are good pipes nonetheless. Like most UK pipes the draw is somewhat constricted (a la Peterson),especially if you are used to Danish pipes. Their lower end pipes tend to be faux army mounts and look to me as if the stems would not last for many years. That being said, Hardcastles do smoke well, and those I have seen are well drilled.
Some of the students of pipes here on Forums might enlighten us. I am skeptical that any of the Dunhill owned
non-Dunhill brands are actual seconds. I think the companies that make Parker, Hardcastle, and maybe
Britannia are owned by Dunhill, but if there is any pass-along of product, it happens just with materials.
The shapes do not appear to be related at all, in my opinion. Nonetheless, all of those brands are good
smoking pipes. I own a Parker and a Britannia, and they are both well crafted, drilled, and the materials
are good. They're no Dunhills but they are fine smoking pipes likely to last for decades.
non-Dunhill brands are actual seconds. I think the companies that make Parker, Hardcastle, and maybe
Britannia are owned by Dunhill, but if there is any pass-along of product, it happens just with materials.
The shapes do not appear to be related at all, in my opinion. Nonetheless, all of those brands are good
smoking pipes. I own a Parker and a Britannia, and they are both well crafted, drilled, and the materials
are good. They're no Dunhills but they are fine smoking pipes likely to last for decades.
I have an estate Hardcastle's Old Bruyere apple-shaped billiard with a saddle bit stem that is stamped "Hand Made," and it smokes extremely well. Further, its quality as regards drilling, fit, and finish is as good as any of my "better" pipes.
I suspect nearly all so-called "seconds" are from a different assembly line and a different work room, even if the main company owns all the so-called "seconds" brands. It is a matter of reflected glory, not slightly irregular versions of the main brand. So evaluate "seconds" in their own right. Parkers are good pipes, but their relationship to Dunhill is ownership not materials and crafts people.
I picked up this Hardcastle a while back. Nothing but "Hardcastle" "Made in England". No shape number, finish name. It was unsmoked and is quite a large Dublin. Is this something current they make?
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