Do Dunhill Shells Really Impart A Bad Taste?

[peckinpahhombre]

Yes, when you buy a new one and pay big bucks only to realize it is a mediocre smoker, then that will surely leave a bad taste in your mouth.

 

[mso489]

Picking up on ssjones post -- and I'm not a Dunhill owner -- foggymountain is my source on Dunhills, but he dislikes shells and Cumberlands, though he has about 80 Dunhills in other series. He worked at a Manhattan pipe shop in the 1950's when Dunhills weren't priced as high as today. He has long experience with the brand.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Mostly posts from chasing embers!

I've only complained about Dunhill no experience with The White Spot though I've read negative thoughts about them. Kevin has an interesting Dunhill comment years ago too. :mrgreen:
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/capri-pipes-anyone-heard-of-them#post-53390

 

[ssjones]

My lone White Spot, a bulldog is brilliant and the equal smoker to my 1960's era Dunhills. Stemwork is excellent (better than a new Castello, at a similar price point)

 

[mikethompson]

Mostly posts from chasing embers!

haha maybe so! Maybe it is just the usual 'they don't make them like they used to' chestnut. I have a 1955 Dunhill which is supposed to be made before they were 'bad', but that year in question seems dependant on the individual.

 

[pappymac]

Fascinating discussing.

I only have one Dunhill and it's a 1926 Bruyere Ao 151 so I have nothing to offer.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another estate Dunhill though.

 

[mso489]

Dunhill pricing offends me, so I don't feel impartial on the subject. For folks who thoroughly enjoy their Dunhills, I don't want to rain on their parade. When I feel really grumpy on the subject, I go smoke my Kaywoodie Drinkless.

 

[Briar Baron]

I have 1955 and 1957 shells and they are some of the finest "tasting" pipes. Both were pipes that had been lightly smoked so I guess that any estate pipe that was broken in would have lost any strange taste long ago (if it was present at new).

 

[samuelgawith01]

I own several shells,big and small,purchased new mostly in the late 90s,and they are some of my better smokers.But,like anything else made by humans/machines/nature,you may get one that is a BEAR to break in once in a while.In that case,just smoke the dickens out of it,clean it,polish the stem,let it dry out ,then smoke the dickens out of it some more.An oxidized stem will impart a bitter taste,so keep it polished.I have never smoked a Dunhill that I did’ent like.Hey,Joseph Stalin smoked Dunhills,and he never cleaned them,but that didn’t stop him.So somome’ s

Comment on a website somewhere shouldn’t stop you.Go buy a new shell!

 

[sablebrush52]

Do Dunhill Shells Really Impart A Bad Taste?

Only when you pay the bill.

 

[foggymountain]

It depends on the stain. The Shell Briars are very poor tasting pipes. They have given more importance to the black color than to taste. The same for the Cumberlands. Stay away from both finishes. The other Dunhills are great smokes if well broken in.