I'm About to Pull the Trigger on a Dunhill

boilermakerandy · Dec 7, 2014

What do you all think of these three pipes and which do you think is the best buy for the money?
Am I crazy to spend this much on a pipe?
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/dunhill/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=130278
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/dunhill/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=130172
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/dunhill/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=130171

nurseman · Dec 7, 2014

Yes , There are plenty of US carvers who will make you a custom pipe for less money. Dunhill pipes are good pipes but they are in my opinion not even the best factory pipes. I have 4 Dunhill's and while they are good smokers I would not buy them again. Have Clark Leyton , Wayne Teipen , or Bruce Weaver make you a billiard. If you are looking at size 3-4 billiards like the pipes you linked you should come in under the price of the Dunhill's.

sablebrush52 · Dec 7, 2014

I'm not a huge Dunhill fan, but the ones that I have are all good performers. All of mine are 1960's or earlier. Were I to go a'hunting, I'd be looking for pipes from that time frame, roughly 1968 and earlier. They had some spectacular briar at that time. I think that you will get more bang for the buck.
Bottom line, if the pipe is worth the money to you then go ahead. Doesn't matter what I think. But since you're asking, that's my take.

boilermakerandy · Dec 7, 2014

Yes , There are plenty of US carvers who will make you a custom pipe for less money. Dunhill pipes are good pipes but they are in my opinion not even the best factory pipes. I have 4 Dunhill's and while they are good smokers I would not buy them again. Have Clark Leyton , Wayne Teipen , or Bruce Weaver make you a billiard. If you are looking at size 3-4 billiards like the pipes you linked you should come in under the price of the Dunhill's.

Thanks a bunch. I have artisan pipes by Tim West and Randy Wiley. I'll check out the carvers you suggested. I have heard good things about Teipen and Weaver, unfamiliar with Leyton but will check him out.
Hearing from someone who has purchased and smoked Dunhill pipes is exactly what I was hoping for.

boilermakerandy · Dec 7, 2014

I'm not a huge Dunhill fan, but the ones that I have are all good performers. All of mine are 1960's or earlier. Were I to go a'hunting, I'd be looking for pipes from that time frame, roughly 1968 and earlier. They had some spectacular briar at that time. I think that you will get more bang for the buck.
Bottom line, if the pipe is worth the money to you then go ahead. Doesn't matter what I think. But since you're asking, that's my take.

Thanks Sable,
Again, I appreciate the input from Dunhill smokers.

tarheel1 · Dec 7, 2014

I really enjoyed the 6 dunhill pipes I had before my break in smoking. I really wish I had kept them. I really enjoy the English pipes and working on rebuilding my collection. You should also look into Northern Briars, Ferndown, Ashton, and Askwith pipes. They are great English pipes that will rival the Dunhills. Watch ebay as unsmoked adunhills can be had for reasonable prices. If I could find new pipes exactly like the Dunhill 5108's I had, I would have no problem spending 500 to 800 on each. I truly loved those pipes.

boilermakerandy · Dec 7, 2014

Thanks Tarheel,
I will check out the other English makers you mentioned.
As an aside, I spent two years in Winston-Salem while in grad school at Wake Forest. I went to school with and remain friends with many UNC grads, great school with wonderful alumni.

ssjones · Dec 7, 2014

Forum member, Mike Glukler from "Briar Blues" online retailer just listed a ton of Duhill shells on his "Coming Soon" page:

http://www.briarblues.com/bench.htm

For my money, I'd rather have an older Dunhill and get about 3:1 vs. new. Mike and Briar Blues have a fantastic reputation, similar to SmokingPipes, but a bit more personal. Check out those offerings and contact Mike if you have any interest in a particular shape/size.

My Dunhill money would go to an estate at Briar Blues, in a heartbeat.

boilermakerandy · Dec 7, 2014

Wow. Thanks, ssjones!

andystewart · Dec 7, 2014

Of the ones you show; the black shell. A beautiful pipe. However, + 1 to the comments above about artisans and the other British marques. They might not have the cachet of Dunhill, but they have excellent performance. For example, the Northern Briars Dublin I'm currently smoking (with Bald Headed Teacher) is a far better smoker than any of my Dunhills.

Andy

papipeguy · Dec 7, 2014

Great advice here from the others. I also believe that older Dunhills are the way to go. I have 2 and they are OK smokers. The top one in the photo below is a 1930's that was my grandfather's and the second in a Red Bark from the early to mid 1970's.

Lately I've been buying pipes made by Dan Chlebove of Gabrieli Pipes (Bethlehem, Pa) this bulldog is the latest and it is wonderful. For the money you are looking to spend you could commission a pipe made to your specifications and have plenty left over to by a lot of tobacco. Food for thought.

Good luck with your search and let us know what you decide.

mrenglish · Dec 7, 2014

I think Dunhill's are vastly overpriced in terms of what you get in return. That said, if you do go with SPC, call them as I have heard they deal a bit on the price. You can also get a five percent discount if you are a member of NASPC* and they have your card on file.
However, I would go with the shell. They feel better in the hand, smoke a bit cooler and will hold up better to the dings if you take the pipe out and about. Try to avoid any Dunhill's from the late 90's to early 2000's. Quality and the briar was not as good during those years.
*North American Society of Pipe Collectors naspc.org. A digital membership is $10 a year so you would recoup your costs on just the one purchase plus get a nicely done newsletter six times a year.

tbradsim1 · Dec 7, 2014

Bo if you are just buying a pipe for Smokeability and want good performance and save a few bucks and still stay in England. Try A Savory estate, I have 7, 9 Dunhills and the Savorys rival and some surpass the Dunhills, Willmer is an other fine brand. As for carvers, ones I have tried and have been satisfied with is Todd Harris, Ryan Alden, and one I have not tried but have a Commision with is Clark Layton. Our own Layinpipe aka Corey has provided the testimonial on Clark and it is all good. You don't have to spend big bucks to get a good pipe.

mustanggt · Dec 7, 2014

I've never bought a new Dunhill. All of mine are from the 60's and 70's except for a 1935. I never paid more than $250 except my just acquired 1962 birth year pipe. The 1935 one I got for $160 and is my best Dunhill. Ebay is where I got most of them. Some will say don't buy them there but if you do your homework you can get them for a fair price. No need to spend $5-600 for one.

skaukatt · Dec 7, 2014

I agree with all who advise hunting down 1968 and prior production models, in my opinion, a better bang for the buck - let's just leave it at that.

allan · Dec 7, 2014

Hi Boiler
I agree with everyone who has posted about your quest for a Dunhill. I own 4 or 5, all bought on the estate market.
I think everyone in their lifetime should own or try out at least one Dunhill, for no other reason than to have the experience of having the most well known manufacturer of pipes that there ever was. To have that knowledge in your belt, so to speak, is worth it alone.
Having said that, I rarely smoke the Dunhills that I own. I am fortunate to not being one to have bought a new one at the very high prices that they are going for now.
I very much doubt I will ever buy one again. And, I'm considering selling some that I have.
They are not bad pipes at all. But for the money, the estate market (Briarblues.com) and the other sellers can offer a pre-owned Dunhill at 1/2 or less of the current market. And, as some have said, these newer model Dunhills just don't make it like the pre 1960's.
The new carvers out there are producing some amazing pipes. Just read along the forum and you will learn the names of so many of these carvers that, IMHO, are far worth the same money as a new Dunhill.
However, if your heart is set on owning a new one, well, I can certainly understand that.
Good Luck!

mso489 · Dec 7, 2014

I think all of us who don't own Dunhills feel like we are living in sin, but dollar for dollar, I might choose

another Ser Jacopo or a Castello, or an artisan carver pipe. For the money, I could buy five or six pipes

from one of my favorite carvers who lives in the country and works in Mountain Laurel as well as briar.

mustanggt · Dec 7, 2014

I've spoken above about Dunhills since that is what you wanted to talk about. Now I'll say if you want one get one that is all that matters. I have several Ser Jacapos, Castellos, higher grade Petes but my Ashtons are the best pipe for the money. What Dunhills use to be and should be today but sadly aren't.

mephistopheles · Dec 7, 2014

I can't imagine spending that much on a pipe, but hey, I'm only months into the hobby.

You can buy a lot of cool things for even the cost of the cheapest pipe you picked out.

To put things into perspective, the very last class I need to finish out my associate degree this coming semester is $383.00 plus the registration fee. Those pipes cost more than a 4 credit college class at my school.

There is certainly something to be said about quality and craftsmanship in this world, but in my opinion there are a lot better things to spend money on.

fishingandpipes · Dec 7, 2014

Ashton is great for the money.
For Dunhill prices, get a Castello. IMO. I've had bad luck with Dunhill.

I'm About to Pull the Trigger on a Dunhill

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