Birth year Dunhills?

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Grangerous

Lifer
Dec 8, 2020
3,331
13,516
East Coast USA
How do I tell if the stem is original or a replacement. I’m sure proper fit and even white dot could be replicated.
Yes, they can and often are replaced. On pipes that are decades old and show that they’ve been regularly smoked, it would be unusual not to find a replaced stem, in my opinion.

Reputable sellers, if knowledgeable should state so.
 
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georged

Lifer
Mar 7, 2013
5,900
15,789
How do I tell if the stem is original or a replacement. I’m sure proper fit and even white dot could be replicated.

If you can tell that a stem is a replacement, it is not, by definition, a replica. It's an approximation.

It is definitely possible to create a true replica replacement, but it is rarely done. (And when it is done, no one can tell, which creates a dog-chasing-it's-tail sort of situation)

Spotting a replacement is easy with experience, but difficult otherwise. Your best bet if curious about a pipe yourself is to post pics on this board.
 

pappymac

Lifer
Feb 26, 2015
3,498
4,889
Slidell, LA
If you can tell that a stem is a replacement, it is not, by definition, a replica. It's an approximation.

It is definitely possible to create a true replica replacement, but it is rarely done. (And when it is done, no one can tell, which creates a dog-chasing-it's-tail sort of situation)

Spotting a replacement is easy with experience, but difficult otherwise. Your best bet if curious about a pipe yourself is to post pics on this board.
Hmmm. I know this guy on a pipe forum who made a new stem for my 1926 Dunhill Bruyere.
The only way I could tell the difference between the two was the chip in the bit of the original (If it was an original) stem.

Georged could probably tell the difference but then, he did the work.
 

Kspipe

Lurker
Sep 23, 2023
31
43
Kansas
The pipe that started this discussion arrived this morning. Seems to be in better condition than expected from the pics on eBay. It’ll be smoked soon and hopefully enjoyed for years to come.
 
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