Dunhill Sandblasts (Ring Grain)

[Honkytonk Man]

Howdy, fellow pipers.
A question for the Dunhill enthusiasts/experts, regarding grading of sand-blasts.
I have, in my collection, several Duhill's sand-blast pipes. A 5117 shell grain, a 6103 shell grain, an ODB 838 shell grain and a Dunhill HT Cumberland.
My question is, who or what determines when a shell grain is designated Ring Grain? From the 4 pipes I've listed, the 6103 (which I bought as an estate from Dave Neeb, thanks Dave!) has a most excellent sand blast and as such, could, in my opinion be designated Ring Grain, Dave also described the pipe as a Ring Grain that slipped through the system.
As for my HT Cumberland, which has a lesser grain effect, I saw another HT Cumberland for sale on SP, with what appeared to be a blast that was pretty much the same as mine and was stamped Shilling.
This ramble isn't a complaint. Just an observation, which has prompted my question.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

 

[dunnyboy]

The sandblast of ring grains reveals a stack of almost parallel ridges that ring the bowl. I sold a Dunhill ring billiard with a saddle stem to SPC a couple of months ago that was almost perfect. Maybe that was the one you saw. The ones on Google images show a lot more latitude in what they designate as a ring grain.

 

[sablebrush52]

THIS^^
Starts out as a mostly straight grain when smooth, and the ring grain forms from the blast.

 

[ssjones]

From James Barber's site:



Interestingly, the Dunhill factory site lists a Straight Grain as grade, but doesn't mention the Ring Grain.

Also of note, the Ring Grain is not mentioned at the PIpepedia site. When was this grade introduced? (none of the collectors Dunhills shown on Pipedia, (Green, Loring, etc.) show a Ring Grain.

 

[anotherbob]

I don't know. I also don't know if that dog is really little or you're super huge.

 

[sablebrush52]

From James Barber's site:

View attachment 143240

Interestingly, the Dunhill factory site lists a Straight Grain as grade, but doesn't mention the Ring Grain.

Also of note, the Ring Grain is not mentioned at the PIpepedia site. When was this grade introduced? (none of the collectors Dunhills shown on Pipedia, (Green, Loring, etc.) show a Ring Grain.

I've never thought of ring grain as a grade, just as a pattern. Not everyone prefers a ring grain blast, though I love them, like this deeply blasted WW2 era ring grain Barling:

 

[Honkytonk Man]

The sandblast of ring grains reveals a stack of almost parallel ridges that ring the bowl. I sold a Dunhill ring billiard with a saddle stem to SPC a couple of months ago that was almost perfect. Maybe that was the one you saw. The ones on Google images show a lot more latitude in what they designate as a ring grain.

dunnyboy,
Thanks for your reply.
I don't recall seeing your pipe for sale. Anyways, I understand that the Ring Grain effect is created by the grain of the briar, which after blasting is revealed.
My question is, who/what actually decides which Shell finish is designated Ring Grain.
As I said in my original, my 6103 is near perfect Ring Grain and is yet stamped Shell Grain. Conversely, I've seen Ring Grains (stamped Ring Grain) which are perhaps so-so and yet carry the coveted Ring Grain stamping.

I've also searched other sources for an answer and can't find much about the subject. Pretty much what ssjones has posted, really. Very little on the subject.

All I do know is that I'm a sucker for the Ring Grain, I'm just waiting to receive a Dunhill G6 Four-Square (6117), which is stamped Ring Grain.
It'll be interesting to see how the 6103 blasting compares with the 6117 blasting, the "03" stamped Shell, the "17" stamped Ring.

I'll post pics of the two pipes side-by-side for comparison, when I receive the "17".

 

[Honkytonk Man]

I don't know. I also don't know if that dog is really little or you're super huge.

HAHA!
Yeah, he was really small back then.
He's Norman, our Boston Terrier. He was 6 weeks old then and really small. I was lounging on the couch one evening, nursing a broken wrist and he climbed up my body and sat on my shoulder.
He's a great guy!

 

[Honkytonk Man]

Sablebrush52, nice Barling!
Actually, I thought the opposite. I figured that both Ring Grain & Shilling are grades, both being a more desirable finish than Shell.

 

[sablebrush52]

dunnyboy,
Thanks for your reply.
I don't recall seeing your pipe for sale. Anyways, I understand that the Ring Grain effect is created by the grain of the briar, which after blasting is revealed.
My question is, who/what actually decides which Shell finish is designated Ring Grain.
As I said in my original, my 6103 is near perfect Ring Grain and is yet stamped Shell Grain. Conversely, I've seen Ring Grains (stamped Ring Grain) which are perhaps so-so and yet carry the coveted Ring Grain stamping.

I've also searched other sources for an answer and can't find much about the subject. Pretty much what ssjones has posted, really. Very little on the subject.

All I do know is that I'm a sucker for the Ring Grain, I'm just waiting to receive a Dunhill G6 Four-Square (6117), which is stamped Ring Grain.
It'll be interesting to see how the 6103 blasting compares with the 6117 blasting, the "03" stamped Shell, the "17" stamped Ring.

I'll post pics of the two pipes side-by-side for comparison, when I receive the "17".

Here are some articles that you might find interesting:

American Exposition 2016: The Art of Ring Grain in American Pipemaking | Smokingpipes Daily Reader

In the beginning there was the Dunhill Shell. At least, that's how histories of the sandblasted briar usually go; whether or not Dunhill was in fact the first to come up with a sandblast-finished pipe, I leave to better historians and whatever original source materials they may find.

www.smokingpipes.com

How to Read your Sandblast - Pipedia

pipedia.org

Sandblasting Technique - pipemakersforum.com

https://www.von-erck.com/smoking-pipe-sandblasting-process/

 

[ssjones]

I assumed it was a grade, because of this stamp. Most of what I found on the web are White Spot, but I found a few in the early 2000's. (SmokingPipes never puts up a nomenclature photo, drives me nuts). Here's a White Spot below. I assume the Ring Grain must be a fairly modern stamp.

 

[craig61a]

I've never thought of ring grain as a grade, just as a pattern. Not everyone prefers a ring grain blast, though I love them, like this deeply blasted WW2 era ring grain Barling:

I like ‘em too…

 

[daveinlax]

I think it has a lot to do with orders that need filling and the mood of the shop’s inspector that day. Over the years I’ve seen and owned modern Shell RG’s that aren’t and Shell’s that are.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have no insights on the company or their doings. I just wanted to tap in to say that I think they're beautiful. I love the ring grains.

 

[dunnyboy]

I was able to track down the order from my SPC account. The pipe sold new for $374.10 on November 28, 2008. (The extra ten cents almost kept me from buying it LOL)

I've attached a photo of the pipe from the SPC website.

Dunhill: Ring Grain (5203) Tobacco Pipe​

Product Number: 002-015-0722​

Looking at this product of the famous Dunhill sandblasting process, this pipe earned its "Ring Grain" designation and then some. This pipe's grain is dense, tight, and concentric for a full 360 degrees around the bowl. Sized "right" for a Group "5", that magnificent bowl is well complemented by a nicely proportioned saddle bit.
--Bear Graves

 

[cigrmaster]

I bought my lone Dunhill based on the shape only. I didn't care about the blast but I did think the 1966 LB was one of the greatest shaped Dunhill I had ever seen.

I have loads of pipes with great blasts so I didn't feel deprived.

 

[kcghost]

I hate to sound like a rookie but damned if I can tell the difference in a shell grain and a ring grain.

 

[sablebrush52]

I assumed it was a grade, because of this stamp. Most of what I found on the web are White Spot, but I found a few in the early 2000's. (SmokingPipes never puts up a nomenclature photo, drives me nuts). Here's a White Spot below. I assume the Ring Grain must be a fairly modern stamp.

View attachment 143280

It has to be fairly recent. Certainly didn't exist when I was smoking Dunhills and used to visit the Dunhill shop in Beverly Hills. People love titles. It makes the subject seem that much more special. The term ring grain has been around for many years without affiliation to any one marque.

 

[sablebrush52]

I hate to sound like a rookie but damned if I can tell the difference in a shell grain and a ring grain.

They're all shell grains. The term "shell" refers to the appearance confered by the process, which was compared to the look of a walnut shell, hence the use of the term "shell" instead of "blast". Different marques had their different trademarks for their sandblasts. Dunhill used "shell", Barling used "Fossil", etc, etc. I gather that a ring grain shell is just a shell that blasted into a ring grain because of the orientation of the grain, which would have started as a straight grain when still smooth.

 

[dunnyboy]

I actually like the Dunhill shell briar as much as the ring grain. Deep sandblasts seems to be more popular nowadays, although I notice that Wolfgang Becker uses a very shallow blast that produces almost a matte finish.