Buy a Dunhill pipe?
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You'll never know til you try.
I imagine it's like a power-tool.
Sure the Wal-Mart brand gets the job done at 1/4 of the cost. But it won't perform quite as smoothly. It won't feel as powerful. It won't make you WANT to use it. etc. etc. etc.
Now the John Deer Lumberjack 9000!... Merlin's Beard! This feels nice in the hand. It's large and in charge. It roars with dominance, and is the safest thing with the sharpest teeth. And it almost convinces you that it could do all the work without you. Just give it gas and watch it go.
You get where I'm going with all this. All products were made up. There is no lumberjack 9000.
But man do we wish there was. Sounds awesome. 8)
I imagine it's like a power-tool.
Sure the Wal-Mart brand gets the job done at 1/4 of the cost. But it won't perform quite as smoothly. It won't feel as powerful. It won't make you WANT to use it. etc. etc. etc.
Now the John Deer Lumberjack 9000!... Merlin's Beard! This feels nice in the hand. It's large and in charge. It roars with dominance, and is the safest thing with the sharpest teeth. And it almost convinces you that it could do all the work without you. Just give it gas and watch it go.
You get where I'm going with all this. All products were made up. There is no lumberjack 9000.
But man do we wish there was. Sounds awesome. 8)
I haven't owned a Dunhill and it's mostly due to the price tag. I've heard a number of people say they're good smokers, but if I'm spending around $300 for a low level new pipe I don't want it to be just good. For that much I'd rather buy a higher end Peterson or Savinelli and get an amazing smoker instead. I have also heard some say that they're great smokers, it's just the majority that I've heard say they're just good. If I were to buy a Dunhill to see what all the fuss is about though I'd definitely go to eBay and try and find an estate in good condition.
Depends, the RIAs are decent for the money, the only Colt Id probably get would be a Delta. Id probably get an STI before either one.
I had a feeling that would come up though. I could go on about craftsmanship and the quality of parts. MIM vs cast and all that stuff and say its an apples to oranges comparison, but I wont, because its not about that.
I guess we can just say everyone's different and there are some things some people are willing to spend money on and some things people aren't.
Some have no problem spending a thousand dollars on a pipe but would think someone is crazy for buying a 1500 dollar gun when a 500 dollar one should shoot just as straight.
The reverse of this is true as well. I suppose my hope to have a nice custom 1911 someday that will most certainly cost me more money then it has any business to can allow me to relate to someone that would really like to have a nice Dunhill someday.
I never said I would own one, Im just not chasing them. If I come across one that I like and it a good deal I would have no problem getting it. I would have to say Id get an estate one though.
Regarding Peterson and Savinelli, they make good, solid pipes. No doubt about that. But I'm not convinced that their higher end lines have a significantly better fit and finish and are made of better materials than their entry lines. If I had to spend $300 on either a Peterson, Savinelli or a Dunhill, to use lord's example, I'd personally rather have a Dunhill.
I got your point loki, and that gun analogy makes perfect sense to me. I own several Rugers, they sadly don't get used that often, so I only spend Ruger money (vs. Colt or S&W or custom). With a little stone work, my Rugers work fine. If I were a LEO or similar, I'd have the best and most reliable gun money could buy.
Will I have another Dunhill? I hope so. Will I ever own a NEW Dunhill? Not a chance, that's the line separator for myself.
Will I have another Dunhill? I hope so. Will I ever own a NEW Dunhill? Not a chance, that's the line separator for myself.
I'm finding just the opposite, marmal, rarely do I find a Dunhill thread that stays interesting so long. Usually the lines have been drawn by this point, and the artillery has been set up.
I don't remember reading your thoughts on the matter - do you have any?
To each his own. It's all a matter of preference. But, I think it's a good idea with any maker if you're looking to test the brand out to try and find a cheaper estate first. Unless you're well off enough that you don't mind spending $300-$500 on a pipe to try the brand out.
I'd would and will get a Dunhill Estate.
This is one of the safest purchases since you can always resell it.
Dunhill's retain their value like no other.
This is one of the safest purchases since you can always resell it.
Dunhill's retain their value like no other.
I purchased one of the least expensive Dunhills in their Manhattan shop while on a visit to NYC in 2003. Once I had it broken in well, I decided it was not providing me with anything superior to what I was getting from a freehand pipe I had purchased at the (now closed) Connoisseur Pipe Shop - or, for that matter, to several of the Falcons I smoke and love. It seems quite obvious from the contents of several of the other posts that it's all a matter of personal taste and perception. Nevertheless, it is doubtful that owning something expensive and prestigious does not somehow add - psychologically at least - to asthetic pleasure.
I finally got one and I like it a lot. I got. 69 Dunnie that wasn't even fully broken in for $100. I'd say that unless a certain one is calling your name, get an old one, preferably pre 1968 and smoke a wonderful piece of history! Mine smokes dry, cool and consistent and is a nice, light weight pipe. I doubt I'd ever pay full retail for one, but I am content with it.
I think there is a lot of truth in the above, but I can honestly say that my recent Dunhill estate purchase (a Dunhill 835 ODB), is everything I had hope a Dunhill would be. Even though over-sized, it is extremely lightweight. The fit and finish of the stem is flawless and the draw impeccable.
That said, I can believe that Dunhill has produced some clunkers, which is why I wouldn't spend the high prices they're asking unless I could return it for a full refund after smoking. Still, because of my positive experience with my Dunhill 835, I am now keeping a much closer eye on the Dunhill estate market.
I got my first Dunhill new in 1958 or 59. I got the most recent a few weeks ago. I have 63 Dunhills right now, and have sold about 15-20 of them. So I have tried a lot of Dunhills. They are just as good as they ever were. It is fashionable to say about many things "they aint as good as in the old days." So people say that about Dunhills. The ones I sold were black shell briars which I just don't like. It's the taste of the stain that ruins them for me. Are Dunhills worth the cost? Yes, if you can afford them. They are not worth the cost if it means not paying the rent. True they are a little overpriced, but everything is these days. $100 for a ticket to a baseball game? I used to get in for 50 cents. $350,000 for a new Rolls Royce? When I was a kid they cost $10,000. I believe that Dunhills are a good choice compared to many of the artisan pipes. They smoke as well and can cost a fraction of the price. By the way, I am not at all wealthy. No car, no house, no vacations, no children and a self supporting wife. But I have the pipes and the cameras I want. Another thing about Dunhills: they go up in value over the years. Few products do this. Leica film cameras do, and so do classic cars. As far as buying a Dunhill, stay away from the store of that name in NY. Their prices are way out of line. Whereas Dunhill NY used to have a large pipe counter at the front right of the Rockefeller Center store, the new Dunhills on Mad Ave only has a little cabinet of pipes in the employees basement meeting room, and no pipe & tobacco expert.
I appreciate your POV foggy, considering your many years smoking them and your collection.
I agree (though my experience is very limited of course). But mine is a 2001 and it's every bit as good as I could have wished for. Mine is a black shell briar and have no issues with it. Perhaps the original owner did, but now that it's broken in, it's smokes beautifully.
True enough. I am amazed at what people will pay for a beat up one, let alone one in good condition.
I will be buying my first Dunhill pipe in April.
Buy a Dunhill in April from P&C.com and get twenty 1.5oz tins of Hearth and Home for free. Can't beat that deal with a stick.
Buy a Dunhill in April from P&C.com and get twenty 1.5oz tins of Hearth and Home for free. Can't beat that deal with a stick.
Are Dunhill's expensive? Are they overpriced? Are they worth it?
Interesting thread and of course, there is no 'correct' answer. In the end, like choosing a pipe tobacco, we all have personal tastes and values that differ from one another.
However, in terms of price, it was pointed out to me that a fine box of cigars, say 'La Aroma de Cuba', or Artura Fuente brands (not the really commercial low price ones), Comacho, Alec Bradley, to name but a few, can easily cost $65 to $200 per box on line, much much more at a tobacco B and M store.
If you calculate that cost per smoke, paying $500-$600 for a Dunhill or other fine brand that will last you into the next lifetime isn't that costly, is it?
Mind you, I've only purhased estate Dunhill's so far...
Allan
Interesting thread and of course, there is no 'correct' answer. In the end, like choosing a pipe tobacco, we all have personal tastes and values that differ from one another.
However, in terms of price, it was pointed out to me that a fine box of cigars, say 'La Aroma de Cuba', or Artura Fuente brands (not the really commercial low price ones), Comacho, Alec Bradley, to name but a few, can easily cost $65 to $200 per box on line, much much more at a tobacco B and M store.
If you calculate that cost per smoke, paying $500-$600 for a Dunhill or other fine brand that will last you into the next lifetime isn't that costly, is it?
Mind you, I've only purhased estate Dunhill's so far...
Allan
I have been smoking pipe for 18 yrs now. I got my first Dunhill about 2-3 months ago. It is a bent 1953 Dunhill Tanshell Patent, I want to smoke it, and only it, all the time. I got this one for a steal, but ppl tell me it is worth $300-$500.00. I wish I had another one or several more so I could smoke them exclusivley, that is how much I now think they are worth it. Before I got it, I would wonder why ppl would pay so much, now I know.
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