Birth Year Pipes

[hmhaines]

Read a lot about the love of birth-year pipes, kind of intriqued by it. Can you only go with special edition and holiday pipes? I'd love to hear about folks with one (or many), how you found it, all that.
I'm from all the way back in '93, so if anyone has info on pipes from then, I'd like to see that too.
Thanks!

 

[katarn07]

I believe Dunhills are all stamped with the year. And I just bought a Christmas 2016 pipe and the year is nowhere to be found on the actual Briar. Just the box.
I too am interested in obtaining one eventually but am in no rush. I have seen only two '87 Dunhills on eBay but they're too rich for my blood. I also keep an eye out for a '58 for my father-in-law.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Wow, you two are making me feel really old! '87, and '93. Danged younguns! :mrgreen:

 

[hmhaines]

Not my fault... Shoulda been born in 33. True to my fashion, my soul bits were late to this body by about sixty years. Well, maybe you know what I mean.

 

[mcitinner1]

I lucked into finding a birth year Dunhill that was affordable to me, but it's not my year of '53, it's my Dad's year of '29.

The case came with it too. The reason it was affordable was the original stem was kind of mangled. George Dibos made the one in the photo. He also added the silver band to reinforce the shank which has a small surface split in it.

 

[didimauw]

I've been hoping to find a dunhill 89 but it seems that I can never find a straight billiard.

 

[dmcmtk]

I'm from all the way back in '93, so if anyone has info on pipes from then, I'd like to see that too.

From all the way back in 1993... :wink:
https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/estate/ireland/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=208778

 

[ssjones]

Yep, you have Peterson, Ashton, Dunhill at your disposal.

I have a '61 Dunhill Shell.

 

[onestrangeone]

I'm still waiting for my 64 to come along. I've found a couple, One I just didn't like the shape of, the others I thought were overpriced. There is one out there that will present itself when the time is right.

 

[fitzy]

I've been waiting for a Dunhill that I like that isn't ridiculously expensive.
Also I'm always keeping an eye out for a birth year Dunhill for my son.

 

[jpmcwjr]

A kind and alert member here noted my birth year and got a Funny on its way to me. Many more pipes available in your year than mine, so should be easy.

 

[tbradsim1]

I've got a Dunhill 1943 ODA Root Briar my Birth year.

 

[mso489]

I've always thought all pipe manufacturers and artisans should include the year on their stamps, Dr. Grabow and Kaywoodie included. Incidentally, Luciano and my favorite but not-online artisan Jerry Perry do year dates, which I think is excellent. This provides for birth date pipes but also for date of purchase in many cases. Why should pipe people have to go way high-end to have a birth year pipe?

 

[disinformatique]

It's only a birth year pipe if its English, not Irish, Not Welsh, Not Scottish.

 

[kane]

'93. Man, I guess I am getting old. Hey, I guess there's hope for the world if all you youngins are smoking baccy pipes.

I love old Dunhillls but they seemed a bit pricey for me. When I heard about the birth year Dunhill tradition that was enough to justify buying one. Bought an estate from Smokers' Heaven about a year ago, a '61 Tanshell. It was a good price as the stem is not perfect, a bit of discoloration around the tenon and the bit and some bite marks, but really not bad at all for my tastes, plus it's as old as me and it still works fine! Smokes real nice. I believe it's the oldest pipe I own.

Cheers, and Happy Birthday to all of you. Hope you find your pipes.

 

[weezell]

I'm from all the way back in '93

I'm shootin for a 1956 some day...

 

[wyfbane]

I bought a "71" dunhill off ebay only to find it was a '70. I think I sold it to Orley. It was a nice pipe, but wasn't my birth year.
I lucked out and got a '71 Dunhill shell Hungarian from Marty Pulver. I am very pleased with it.
I also have a 2005 pipe of the year from Savinelli somewhere for my son once he is of age. I am looking for a Dunny from then as well. Rad Davis had years on his pipes too. As does Clark Layton. You know, if you are doing pipe sets as part of your 100 year plans for your families. :rofl:

 

[bigbee]

the ways to identfy a birthyear pipe (feel free to complete)

Direct dating:

Based on the stamping

Based on hallmarks (attention some bands are added as a repair, so the pipe in fact could be older)

Based on the series (Pipe of the year, Xmas pipe...)
Indirect dating:

Based on a combination of many things (shape, carver, series, finishes, stamping, catalogs,...) you can usually have a good indication of the production date. Sometimes pinpointing to an exact date, sometimes covering an era of a few years...
The pleasure of a birthyear pipe is not only functional (unless you are a firm believer that everything was better in the earlier days) but more nostalgic. Usually looking for it can also be great fun as the older you get the more difficult you find shapes, finishes to your liking. You are looking for a special pipe to become one of the pinnacles of your collection to be admired or maybe to smoke on special occasions, or maybe to be your all-day smoke, ... You have a piece of briar, that, before it was shaped into a pipe, has been already a few decades in the ground and was produced when you were born. It will age together with you, be there for you during all important stages in life and will probably be in your possession until the day you die. Usually these are higher quality pipes, although some brands are nowadays also producing entry-level series (ideal for birthyear pipes of children and grandchildren without having to break the bank )
I have 3 of them now from 1981

A Peterson Mark Twain - bought on this forum. I was looking for a Mark Twain and then this one came up and 1+1 makes 2

A Peterson Deluxe 3s - after having bought the MT, I was looking for my favorite shape -> et voila

A Peterson golden supreme 03 (unsmoked) - as described in a previous post - and for the moment I have no clue what to look for as my next holy grail birthyear pipe. Mind you, I keep collecting modern age Petersons (just in case my GF is reading this ) This process all in all took over 2 years... and I can imagine it taken longer as well

 

[scrooge]

Dang people! I have socks older then most of you. :rofl:

 

[kane]

Dan Chlebove stamps his Gabrieli pipes for month and year. I have seen Boswell pipes with the year stamped. I guess that's how they roll in PA.