Buy a Dunhill pipe?
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My experience with Dunhill is not that vast. I bought 2 brand new Bruyere group 5's that retailed for 600 or so back in 2001, I only paid 175.00 for each because I traded Cuban cigars for them. I smoked them for a while and sold them because I just did not care for them. In June of this year, I bought a 1977 Dunhill Shell and a 1980's Dunhill made Astley, both were estates and both were below 200.00. They are good smokers but not as good as my American artisan pipes. They do not smoke as cool or dry and the stems are no where near as comfortable to me. I will keep them because they are my two smallest pipes( group 4) and they come in handy when I want a shorter smoke. I will buy another Dunhill, my birth year when I can find one. I think they can be a good value on the estate market and I do understand why people love them. They are consistent, the history and the fact you can date them is very cool, but for my money, I would rather spend 350-400 for a brand new Rad Davis than a Dunhill.
I do love the classic looks of the Dunhill's, to me nothing says pipe like a Dunhill.
I do love the classic looks of the Dunhill's, to me nothing says pipe like a Dunhill.
I am looking forward to the day I can snag a Rad (in my size and style), but right now they are over my budget. However, I can believe what you say. The nice thing about Dunhills is that very occasionally one can be had on the cheap. And for under $200, it's a superb pipe.
roth, good point about artisan pipes being hard to find and pricey on the estate market because people are not letting them go. As with anything supply and demand rules the markets and the fact that Dunhill has been producing thousands of pipes a year for decades means that they are much easier to get a deal on. Artisans just don't produce that many so when they do appear on the estate market, the good ones hold their values very well. I have seen estate Rad's sell for more than their original retail price. I recently watched a JT Cooke pipe sell for hundreds of dollars above original retail, it was nuts. It is a good thing if you own these pipes, but not so great if you are looking to buy one. I have done pretty well on some estate Rad's but in terms of percentage off retail, no where near as good as I have done on others. Back in June I bought a Upshall that had a 675.00 retail for 200.00, where as a 350.00 Rad retail I paid 250.00. Funny thing is I sold that Upshall close to what I paid because it was just too big. Upshall's are one of the best deals on the estate market right now, and they really are an artisan pipe because Barry Jones does all the work. I still have 2 and they are great smokers.
I like the appeal of a dunhill but I rather have three or four petersons in rotation and one chubby pipe which I'm still looking for then one dun hill I'd be to scared to smoke lol
it's funny though my first pipe was the Medico Varsity when i first smoked it, it was alright but nothing special. However, now that I'm used to it and know how to use it i find it smokes great for a cheap pipe.
Then i got my Peterson Wicklow shape#69 i loved the way it smokes but there is just one draw back, the moister that escapes from the p-lip from time to time turns my off.
so the point I'm trying to make is between these two pipes i am able to determine what my "holy Chalice" would be. it must have the benefits of both these two pipes and non of the cons.
after thinking hard and long about it this how i will determine what i want for my next pipe. based on the experiences i had with these two and the pros and cons of my experience with my current pipes.
Medico varsity
Pros
- inexpensive
- Filtered(no moister)
- easy maintenance
- light and compact
Cons
- Plastic Stem
- draws too easy
- not a sitter
- Filters(have to buy)
- Stem fitment in Shank not strong
Peterson "Wicklow" Shape # 69
Pros
- P-lip controls draw and directs smoke away from tongue
- No filter
- light weight
- Ebonite stem
- easy cleaning
- tight fitting stem
- Estate buy so it wasn't pricy
Cons
- Too much moister
- varnish makes pipe smoke hotter then it should
- stem is on too tight sometimes
- not a sitter
in conclusion my ideal pipe would have the pros of these two with out the cons or less of the cons at least.
The Peterson System Pipe # 306
- System designed to stop moister
- Its a SITTER YAY!!
- has a p-lip to help with sipping right
- nice big bowl since my other pipes are smaller
- Nice fitting stem not to tight not to light
- and the cost at 100$ isnt going to break the bank for me.
i realize i just hijacked this thread but in all honesty all this hype about dunhills and they are probably not the right pipe for you. the way i see it is if your going to buy a pipe go through a list and see what you dont have already or what you want in your next pipe. sure its nice to have a big boy name brand pipe on the self but if the smoke isnt all that great for YOU then whats the point its all about the smoking experience is it not and the name of your pipe and the way it looks is only about 35% of that experience cause lets face it you got to have a pipe your attracted to also right?
Then i got my Peterson Wicklow shape#69 i loved the way it smokes but there is just one draw back, the moister that escapes from the p-lip from time to time turns my off.
so the point I'm trying to make is between these two pipes i am able to determine what my "holy Chalice" would be. it must have the benefits of both these two pipes and non of the cons.
after thinking hard and long about it this how i will determine what i want for my next pipe. based on the experiences i had with these two and the pros and cons of my experience with my current pipes.
Medico varsity
Pros
- inexpensive
- Filtered(no moister)
- easy maintenance
- light and compact
Cons
- Plastic Stem
- draws too easy
- not a sitter
- Filters(have to buy)
- Stem fitment in Shank not strong
Peterson "Wicklow" Shape # 69
Pros
- P-lip controls draw and directs smoke away from tongue
- No filter
- light weight
- Ebonite stem
- easy cleaning
- tight fitting stem
- Estate buy so it wasn't pricy
Cons
- Too much moister
- varnish makes pipe smoke hotter then it should
- stem is on too tight sometimes
- not a sitter
in conclusion my ideal pipe would have the pros of these two with out the cons or less of the cons at least.
The Peterson System Pipe # 306
- System designed to stop moister
- Its a SITTER YAY!!
- has a p-lip to help with sipping right
- nice big bowl since my other pipes are smaller
- Nice fitting stem not to tight not to light
- and the cost at 100$ isnt going to break the bank for me.
i realize i just hijacked this thread but in all honesty all this hype about dunhills and they are probably not the right pipe for you. the way i see it is if your going to buy a pipe go through a list and see what you dont have already or what you want in your next pipe. sure its nice to have a big boy name brand pipe on the self but if the smoke isnt all that great for YOU then whats the point its all about the smoking experience is it not and the name of your pipe and the way it looks is only about 35% of that experience cause lets face it you got to have a pipe your attracted to also right?
I watched an auction close on ebay last night for a 1956 Tanshell. It was a beautiful pipe. In the last minutes it went from $125 to $300. I was going to bid but forgot my password and couldn't get on in time. I wouldn't have gotten it anyways. Wow the competition is fierce for the Dunhills.
Thats too bad bentmike, but a good reminder to make sure you are logged in if you plan a last second bid (that is what I do). Your ebay name will be at the top of the page if you are signed in. I missed a pipe because of the same reason (well, missed a shot at getting in a bid).
Old thread, but I thought I'd post my thoughts. I own 10 newer Dunhills, all made since 2005, all of them blasts. I've been piping for about 30 years. Have about 35 pipes. These new Dunhills are amazingly consistent. Every single one has a fit and finish near the best artisan pipes, and the smoking quality is virtually as good. I did say "nearly" and "virtually". I have a few artisans which are superior but have also bought some which I don't like. So the trade off is consistency.
Besides inflated prices, the strong and weak point of Dunhills are the shapes, which are classic but limited, as opposed to the creativity of artisan pipes. You can purchase Dunhills at lower prices overseas and by asking for a discount.
Besides inflated prices, the strong and weak point of Dunhills are the shapes, which are classic but limited, as opposed to the creativity of artisan pipes. You can purchase Dunhills at lower prices overseas and by asking for a discount.
I don't own a Dunhill and have never smoked one. In general, I like a pipe that feels like an old friend, not an investment portfolio. On the quality smoking side, I have a Ser Jacopo and a Ferndown that I enjoy very much, and some (to me) very nice upper-mid level Savinelli's with superior fit and finish. I might afford a Dunhill, or an estate Dunhill, but I'd feel funny with air conditioning repair and property tax bills on hand. To offset what might sound like sour grapes, I do appreciate the always snappy fit and finish of the Dunhill, its high-tone branding and marketing, and especially their upholding of classic shapes and the traditions of piping. They are mostly notably handsome pipes. I'm glad they are there, but I just don't need one at the prices. +1brad. Out of respect, I will say, my many other pipes from various nations and at many price levels, give good to outstanding to superb smoking, favoring this blend or that, but often equaling or exceeding other pipes, when the pipe and blend are well paired.
I started out with 2 cobs and smoked them for years before I got a new cob and a Mr. Brog briar in 2008, since then I have acquired about 25 quality mid range pipes. Recently I purchased my first pipe that didn't cost more than $75, an ASPC (Curt Rollar) pipe that I am excited about. If you want a Dunhill then get one, but don't just jump in cause "they are the best" there are many fine smokers out there that will serve you well
I have a couple of Parkers, which supposedly came from the same factory, but didn't make the grade cosmetically. They look fine, smoke great, and cost me less than 10% of what a white spot would have cost. Win!
I was at The Briary yesterday visiting with Skip, and he took a phone call. I think it was someone vending at his upcoming Pipe Show bring Dunhills. This is just based on my nosiness and from one side of the conversation, I heard him say, "What? So, Dunhill isn't even putting their names on the pipes anymore?" I know that it has been several years since Dunhill has had anything to do with the pipe industry. They are 100% sourced out, and not even called Dunhills, but "White Dots," but based on my eavesdropping, it sounded like Dunhill is no longer even allowing their name to go on the pipes. Has anyone else heard anything about this?
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