Sure you could get 2 $200.00 pipes from other carvers, but if it's a Dunhill you desire, I would drop the hammer and order it. I don't own one, but if i was in your shoes, I would be hitting the "Add to Cart" button
Dunhill pipe opinion please.
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doc, all we are saying is that for 400.00 you can buy a much better smoking pipe than dunhill. If dunhill is what you have your heart set on, then that is fine, go for it. If you want brand new, you will not get a very big dunhill for 400.00. From the sound of you, you are big guy like me, and trust me, the dunhills you have showed us are small( group 4).
Here is a great pipe, a great name and a big pipe that will smoke circles around any dunhill.
http://www.pipes2smoke.com/Ferndown/LW_20.htm
edit, I just saw the poker is a group 6, that is a decent sized pipe. But for my money, there is no contest between Ferndown and Dunhill.
Here is a great pipe, a great name and a big pipe that will smoke circles around any dunhill.
http://www.pipes2smoke.com/Ferndown/LW_20.htm
edit, I just saw the poker is a group 6, that is a decent sized pipe. But for my money, there is no contest between Ferndown and Dunhill.
I've read and reread this thread a few times and I can see a couple different sides of the argument.
I can TOTALLY understand the allure of the White Spot. They are undeniably excellent pipes exhibiting classic shapes. Dunhill practically invented the standard shape chart. But they are quite expensive. Some will say that if you spend $500 on a Dunhill, it's $250 for the pipe and another $250 for the white spot.
Ferndowns and Castellos are both excellent pipes, too. And points have been made that you can get an equal or greater pipe from those makers for less than you'd pay for a Dunhill, and that could very well be true. But I still understand the allure of the White Spot.
I've owned probably a dozen Dunhills over the years and have sold or traded all but two, and I may put one or both up for sale at the Columbus show (stay tuned!) I guess I'm over my Dunhill phase though I still can appreciate their quality (if not their value). If I had $500 to burn, I'd prefer a hand made pipe from a North American artisan, but that's my personal preference. So I find myself agreeing with almost EVERYBODY in this topic (except maybe for Igloo... a Wessex? Seriously?!)
Anyway, good luck in your decision making doc. The decision is ultimately yours.
I can TOTALLY understand the allure of the White Spot. They are undeniably excellent pipes exhibiting classic shapes. Dunhill practically invented the standard shape chart. But they are quite expensive. Some will say that if you spend $500 on a Dunhill, it's $250 for the pipe and another $250 for the white spot.
Ferndowns and Castellos are both excellent pipes, too. And points have been made that you can get an equal or greater pipe from those makers for less than you'd pay for a Dunhill, and that could very well be true. But I still understand the allure of the White Spot.
I've owned probably a dozen Dunhills over the years and have sold or traded all but two, and I may put one or both up for sale at the Columbus show (stay tuned!) I guess I'm over my Dunhill phase though I still can appreciate their quality (if not their value). If I had $500 to burn, I'd prefer a hand made pipe from a North American artisan, but that's my personal preference. So I find myself agreeing with almost EVERYBODY in this topic (except maybe for Igloo... a Wessex? Seriously?!)
Anyway, good luck in your decision making doc. The decision is ultimately yours.
Dunhills are great smokes and, if you are interested, there are some beautiful Dunhills (estate pipes only) at www.briarblues.com. They typically go for around $250.
I confess to having a lot of Dunhills. They are cured in oil, which gives them a different taste than other briars, less woody tasting. They are also made and drilled better than most. They are quite overpriced though. Does anyone know to whom Dunhill sold the pipe business? Are they still 100% made in England?
I guess I wasn't clear in my post.. I was only asking about the shape. There are always the guys who say you can buy better cheaper. watch forums, gun forums, fishing forums, not so much on the Porsche forums. I'm 62, retired, everything is paid for.. so whether a pipe is 300 or 500 doesn't really worry me. I like what I like. I like blasted black pipes. I'm pretty sure my son would rather get a box of Dunhills in 20 years then a box of current 'artist' who will be long forgotten. (Yes, I have a couple from Mark Tinsky that I really like but again they ain't no Dunhill) I've had very nice and very fast Honda's but they ain't no Porsche. As I've told both kids.. don't depend on getting much from me when I die.. they might even have to cover my last check.
Buy what I tell you to buy and shut up. :nana:
Seriously, I think you understand that we are just offering opinions because you asked for them, and you will of course buy what you want. I am sure you will be happy with whatever you choose. You will find that everyone has their favorites and will be happy to expound on their virtues if asked.
I recently was asking about No American carvers and bigvan gave me a list to look through. I ended up buying one from Rad Davis and liked it so much I am commissioning him to make me more, that is how good it smoked. My point is is that if I had not been willing to listen, I would have never gotten the opportunity to experience something that truly blew me away. Now of course I was able to appreciate Rad's work because I have had pipes from Dunhill, Castello,Former, Reiner Barbi and many other high line carvers. If I had just started with a Rad pipe then I wouldn't have anything to judge it by.
Dunhill makes a good product there is no doubt and I like many others had to get one to see what the hype was about. I happen to also love black sandblasted and rusticated pipes and Dunhill is the epitome of that look.
Seriously, I think you understand that we are just offering opinions because you asked for them, and you will of course buy what you want. I am sure you will be happy with whatever you choose. You will find that everyone has their favorites and will be happy to expound on their virtues if asked.
I recently was asking about No American carvers and bigvan gave me a list to look through. I ended up buying one from Rad Davis and liked it so much I am commissioning him to make me more, that is how good it smoked. My point is is that if I had not been willing to listen, I would have never gotten the opportunity to experience something that truly blew me away. Now of course I was able to appreciate Rad's work because I have had pipes from Dunhill, Castello,Former, Reiner Barbi and many other high line carvers. If I had just started with a Rad pipe then I wouldn't have anything to judge it by.
Dunhill makes a good product there is no doubt and I like many others had to get one to see what the hype was about. I happen to also love black sandblasted and rusticated pipes and Dunhill is the epitome of that look.
All six of my Dunhills smoke beautifully.
In my experience, money is there to be spent on things that we enjoy. If you save all of your money and get hit by a train, You died without ever owning the pipe you've always wanted. And the person who inherits your money might spend the $400 on some shoes or some coffee beans that were passed through a critters digestive system.
That said, estate Dunhills can be acquired for a lesser price if you hunt them down and do a bunch of research on who's selling them.
Live a little! And only buy a Wessex pipe if it is around $40, but that's another man's opinion
In my experience, money is there to be spent on things that we enjoy. If you save all of your money and get hit by a train, You died without ever owning the pipe you've always wanted. And the person who inherits your money might spend the $400 on some shoes or some coffee beans that were passed through a critters digestive system.
That said, estate Dunhills can be acquired for a lesser price if you hunt them down and do a bunch of research on who's selling them.
Live a little! And only buy a Wessex pipe if it is around $40, but that's another man's opinion
Love the thread resurrection on this one, it needs to happen more often rather than creating the same damn new threads, over and over and over and over again. I could go do a search on ebay and find no less than around 10 estate dunhill pipes for $300 or less. All in fair to very good condition and all pre-'69. All you have to do is devote some time into searching for the right one and be PATIENT. IMHO buying a new dunhill is just plain stupid, unless you get a good deal on an older unsmoked estate. The prices they charge for them brand new is crazy silly and there is certainly a reason why Smoking Pipes has 3 pages and 110 new Dunhills for sale, the cheapest being $450, FOR A FACTORY PIPE made with briar that is notoriously of inferior quality than in decades passed. Now this is just my opinion, so don't go getting your panties in a bunch all you dunhill fan boys and girls.
One question for Doc: What pipe did you end up getting as a result of this conversation?
Next: I have older Dunhills. I also have 2 Cumberlands that are less than 10 years old. Good smokers but I didn't pay more than $175 for either of them.
Love my older Dunhills, but when Brad was talking up Ardors he wasn't kidding... those are amazing smokers, too.
So many good smoking pipes. So many opinions.
I just have to say MERRY CHRISTMAS TIME to you all.
Next: I have older Dunhills. I also have 2 Cumberlands that are less than 10 years old. Good smokers but I didn't pay more than $175 for either of them.
Love my older Dunhills, but when Brad was talking up Ardors he wasn't kidding... those are amazing smokers, too.
So many good smoking pipes. So many opinions.
I just have to say MERRY CHRISTMAS TIME to you all.
I own around 25 Dunhills. I love them!!! I just recently branched out a bit and picked up a JT Cooke that captivated me from the moment I saw the photo and was better in person. You can LOVE Dunhills and appreciate other pipes and vice versa.
Here's the Cooke...
Here's the Cooke...
Dear Layinpipe: I guess I should change my site name to Just Plain Stupid, because I have 100 Dunhills. Even worse, they were all bought new in this century. But, stupid or not, I enjoy them enormously. I don't ever buy used pipes for two reasons. If a pipe has been smoked too much it gets, to my mouth, a soggy taste. After that it may only be smoked rarely, with good results. The other reason is that I do not want to smoke a pipe that belonged to a dead guy. Just a personal preference, but one that matters to me. I got my first Dunhill around 1958 or 59. I never liked it as much as the recent versions, so I do not think the older ones were better. Many guys form erroneous impressions of Dunhills by getting black shell briars. The shells and the Cumberlands are the worst tasting Dunhills. They over apply the stains, and that is what you taste. You haven't really tried a good Dunhill unless you have tried a Root, Amber Root, Chestnut or Bruyere, well broken in, but not oversmoked.
Sincerely
Just Plain Stupid
Sincerely
Just Plain Stupid
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