Any Thoughts on the Current Crop of GBD's from England?

[mso489]

I only have a few English pipes -- a Ferndown, a Parker, and a Britannia. I know GBD is a transplant from France. I know G.L. Pease collects them, perhaps mostly the French production. I don't hear much about the current "crop." Any reviews, comments, critiques, or scandalous rumors?

 

[mso489]

Sort of like Hardcastle pipes, just not sold much in the U.S. these days. It seems nobody has them. Interesting. GBD must cater to a UK and Euro customer base.

 

[wyfbane]

Hi Mso!

I don't know much about new GBD's. I really like some of the older ones, especially with the Perspex stems.

I know the Unique's can cost a pretty penny even on the estate market.

There are usually a plethora of GBD's on eBay going for decent to obscene rates.

Smokers Haven used to always used to have a shit ton of the estate ones for sale for some reason.

 

[mso489]

Seems like GBD acquired a sort of clunky image, based on what I don't know. G.L. Pease obviously thinks they have something to offer, though his may be entirely the French made.

 

[Elric]

I have a English-made GBD Prehistoric bulldog with a perspex stem I purchased as an estate some years back. Other than the annoyance of trying to keep the perspex clean, it's a great pipe and smokes well. Has a rather capacious bowl to boot.

 

[mso489]

Elric, is it a heavy pipe for its size? What is the finish on it?

 

[Elric]

So the Stanwell Dublin at the bottom is my daily smoker and quite comfortable. The GDB is noticeably lighter although, being straight, doesn't clench quite as carelessly.

 

[mso489]

That's a handsome pipe. The clear stem looks good, but is bound to be extra work cleaning.

 

[madox07]

I did own a GDB Bulldog once, it was gifted to me by ashdigger ... I loved that shape, although in my smoking style it condensed a lot. It felt perfect in my hand, it smoked well aside the moisture issue. I ended up gifting it to a friend that is a HUGE GBD collector, that owned its "sister", besides 100 other GBDs from all periods. He asked me so many times that I ended up giving it to him ... This guy vouches on GBD quality from top to bottom, from the French era all the way to what you call the latest crop. I had a good experience with mine, and other less biased people praised them, so I guess they are pretty good pieces.

 

[ChuckMijo]

I own and smoke quite a few from early period to late. I like them all.

 

[ssjones]

Cigars Unlimited used to sell new GBD's on their wall (near Allentown) but that was a few years ago. They looked similar in quality to the new Comoy's and I believe they were made by same factory.

GBD prices on Ebay are at an all time low right now, if you are seeking a New Standard, New Era or Virgin grade pipe, now is your time. 9438's and 9242's still command decent prices, but nothing like five years ago.

 

[trubka2]

I've bought several older GBD pipes (like Al says, they're pretty cheap), and most of them have been excellent smokers. I didn't know there's any current production. The conventional wisdom seems to be that GBD went to hell after it was sucked up in The Great Consolidation of 1980. But I've also heard that the current production Comoy's are awesome pipes, and the group think about them is the same: "No 3-part C, no way." And I have found post-transition Barlings superb smokers, despite the huge premium the pretransition pipes command. So, who knows, maybe those recent GBDs are great and undervalued.

 

[ssjones]

I cannot find any new GBD's available via the big European pipe shops - James Barber, Estervals (shows a GBD category, but no pipes). Same for Comoy's, zip.

 

[gerryp]

My mom just sent me a nice estate French GBD that she picked up at an auction. I posted a few pics under a different thread...it's a Universe from the 80s, apparently.
I know that doesn't really answer your question, but I found this one:

GBD Pipes from My Smoking Shop Tobacconist

I really like the metal emblems on the stem, much more durable than some other brands'.

 

[gerryp]

I only have a few English pipes -- a Ferndown, a Parker, and a Britannia. I know GBD is a transplant from France. I know G.L. Pease collects them, perhaps mostly the French production. I don't hear much about the current "crop." Any reviews, comments, critiques, or scandalous rumors?

Here's that GBD that Mommy Dearest sent recently. I had to shine it up a little, but it smoked well.

 

[johng99]

I have around 40 british pipes of which 4 or 5 pre-Cadogan GBDs. All are the GBDs are Virgins, a pot, an apple and a couple of billiards. One has Perspex bit (which took some work to clean, but has not been hard to keep clean). All are excellent smokers and are in my regular rotation. I haven't seen too many French GBDs for sale, as it seems that most of these were sold in continental Europe. Personally I don't notice a lot of difference in quality between GBD and Comoys of the same period.

 

[johng99]

I've bought several older GBD pipes (like Al says, they're pretty cheap), and most of them have been excellent smokers. I didn't know there's any current production. The conventional wisdom seems to be that GBD went to hell after it was sucked up in The Great Consolidation of 1980. But I've also heard that the current production Comoy's are awesome pipes, and the group think about them is the same: "No 3-part C, no way." And I have found post-transition Barlings superb smokers, despite the huge premium the pretransition pipes command. So, who knows, maybe those recent GBDs are great and undervalued.

I agree as I have several post transition Barlings and all are good smokers. What I do notice is that over time they started to change and the later pipes don't feel or look a lot like traditional Barlings. By the time they were made in Denmark I think they were Barling in name only.

 

[mso489]

It sounds as if GBD are not bad, if the right item surfaced. I hope it doesn't, having 92 pipes already, after culling several times.

 

[ssjones]

The fact that vintage GBD's are great pipes (and great pipe values) is not disputed. The question here was if the current manufacture was good. There no longer appears to be any current manufacturer of GBD pipes.

 

[bent1]

Sad to see not currently in productions, many fine classic shapes.