1978 Dunhill Root Briar (shape 51161)

[georged]

The Pipe Gods can be smartasses from time to time. This is one of them. :lol:
1978 was pretty close to the Dunhill shop's low point, consistency-wise. Clunky / lazily-cut shapes were common, and thick stems were standard. Enough Dunhill collectors avoid post late-60's pipes to affect the brand's value on the estate market.
Then, from out of the blue comes this mystery pipe. One of the coolest shapes I've ever seen, perfectly cut from one of the best end grain blocks I've ever seen. Gorgeous color, too. (QA-wise, the stem needed a smidge of bite zone thinning and a bend tweak, but that's all.) No idea how many 51161's were ever made, but it must have been damn few. In the 30+ years I've had this one, I've never seen another.
50.9 grams, exactly 6 inches long.
.

 

[doctorbob]

The birdseye is unreal.
Doc

 

[mawnansmiff]

That has to be the tightest bird's eye I ever saw....really quite stunning.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[mso489]

...also the smooth graceful line is really striking. One of the old-timers or one of the young Turks came through on this one, in an otherwise bad season, i guess.

 

[disinformatique]

Did you just raided Dunhill Private collection? These pipes are gorgeous !!

 

[sablebrush52]

Hi George,
Well, after seeing the parade of gorgeous Dunhill's you have posted over the last couple of weeks, I have to say that you persuaded me to change my views of the brand. They actually could occasionally make a great looking pipe.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Birdseye to die for. That's what dreams are made of. Bless the heath tree that it came from.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

stunning piece,I love Dunhill designs,even today they look fabulous and very classic