Dunhill Pipes... Worth the Money?

[alexj52]

@admiral (how do I tag someone?) Yeah that was drastic... Saving 200 dollars seemed very reasonable, especially after witnessing how the ideas vary so much. Like many people advised me, I'll just save up and look for a premium pipe when I feel like I'm an experienced smoker.

 

[sablebrush52]

alex, everyone here is kidding you. Dunhills are the greatest pipes ever made, the ONLY pipes worth smoking, and if others tell you differently it's because they are the sort of failed human beings who are jealous of anyone who can afford a real pipe! And Dunhill is the only REAL pipe made today and the only REAL pipe ever made. All other pipes are crap! Crap! Crap! Crap! Danish Carvers? Crap! All of them! American carvers? Same. Brits? Them too! And don't get me started on the French, much less any carvers east of the Rhone! All crap!
Get yourself a Dunhill and accept no substitutes! Load it up with Captain Black Grape or Holly's Non Plus Ultra and you will experience empyrean bliss such as few have ever known!

 

[danish]

If you are looking for a new lightweight classic English design/shape and prefer comfortable ebonite stems and bites, I believe the factory made alternatives are not that many today. I really like the few Dunhill (estate) pipes I have but I also have a lot of cheaper (estate) pipes that I enjoy almost as much. Perhaps Ashton pipes (also English) could be an alternative, though they are not cheap either. I am myself looking forward to being able afford an Ashton pipe some day. A classic light weight artisan pipe of the same quality standard, smokability and timeless design would often cost the same or even more, I believe. Good hunt!

 

[aldecaker]

Well, Alex, usually what people do is this: Buy a Dunhill, because it's a Dunhill and you just can't help yourself. Then, when you come to the crushing realization that it smokes like a Pepsi can full of Bugler, tell everyone what a sublime smoking experience it gives, and how that huge wad of money you pissed away was the best money you've ever spent, blah blah and etc. Then, very quietly, months later when no one is paying attention, dump that pile of shit off on eBay. Seems to work for most.

 

[saltedplug]

Dunhill is still making bank on the marketing genius of Albert Dunhill, the founder of the company, who successfully associated the brand with superlative performance and the English gentry. Dunhills have not been handmade since ~1965 yet cost double their worth. Dunhill can no longer be used to market the pipes as Dunhilll the company divested itself of smoking, as it was clear that the money was anti-tobacco. If I had the money I might be willing to waste it on an over-priced, has been pipe, but not otherwise.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yep, Dunhill has marketed their pipes so well since the beginning that Lord Dunhill himself could come out and piss on everyone who likes his pipes and they would eat it up... which is pretty much what is happening. The Dunhill name can no longer be associated with pipes, according to how I understand the latest actions by Dunhill. But, they forced the company that was making the pipes to change the name away from the "Dunhill" brand, and now they are "White Spots."

I have some estate pipes. They are good, but I couldn't bring myself to buy any more of them. I am not as much of a fanboy as some. Plus, with all of Dunhill's decisions of late, I just distance myself from the brand as much as possible. So, everyone can have at it. ::

 

[craiginthecorn]

Dunhill makes a very good pipe. So do a bunch of other companies. I own a half dozen or so, from a 1927 Shell to a 2010 Amber Flame DR. A couple of those are in my top 20 pipes, but not the DR, by the way. For me, the smoking quality of a pipe is 50% the drilling, 40% the mouthpiece, and 10% briar. Don't get hung up on brand name. Peterson, Savinelli, BriarWorks, Alan Brothers, and MANY others all make affordable pipes that smoke very well.

 

[mso489]

When I look at what I consider exorbitantly priced items, whether it is a $1,100 pipe or an $800 t-shirt, or whatever, I always remember, there is a cohort out there who has opened the water main of money -- sold off their dot-com company, hit the mother lode on Wall Street, inherited the grandmother's fortune, or whatever it is. They posit the big bucks in real estate, equities, corporate bonds, or whatever. Ridiculously priced consumer items are a craving and distraction from trying to get the money working for permanent wealth for these people. I'm not that guy. So let him seek the needed comfort in a $75K wristwatch and pipes at unimaginable prices. My Ser Jacopo bought on sale from SP will do me just fine, as will my MM Charlie Towne cob.

 

[cigrmaster]

I would buy a Castello over a Dunhill. You can find some very nice Castellos for a reasonable price.

 

[mso489]

Seems like U.S. retailers carry mostly XL Castello pipes, but I hear tell they make good medium and small pipes as well, if that's your preference, if you look for 'em.

 

[bnichols23]

^^^^ I'm with you & Craig, Harris. You can't smoke "brand." Castello, I'd think about buying specifically, but because I know their long-established rep for excellent briars. I can buy a lot of Savs, Nordings, or other faves for what Dunhill hype costs. If somebody else wants to put their coins on one, fine, but for me, there's just no sense....

 

[npod]

http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/is-a-dunhill-worth-the-cost
http://www.brothersofbriar.com/t32240-why-are-dunhills-so-expensive
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/dunhill-pipes-4
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/are-dunhill-pipes-even-worth-it
https://www.reddit.com/r/PipeTobacco/comments/5ps9us/are_dunhills_worth_the_price/
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/why-are-so-many-pipes-so-darn-expensive
http://greatnorthernpipeclub.org/Myth.htm
https://thebriarpatchforum.com/thread/2239/dunhill-pipes-thoughts-pics
And ... Chasing Embers Giving A Positive Review Of A Dunhill Pipe :puffpipe:

http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/thoughts-on-my-1974-dunhill

 

[Chasing Embers]

And ... Chasing Embers Giving A Positive Review Of A Dunhill Pipe :puffpipe:

You didn't read my post in this thread did you? The one in your link became a bonsai container.

 

[npod]

Yeah I know. I was poking fun. And I knew that pipe became the famous Dunhill Bonsai Planter. So awesome.

 

[mso489]

I hear that Briar Works does some excellent pipes at about $100 to $140, as does Blatter and Blatter in Montreal at similarly reasonable prices. Either of these would give decades of good smoking without denting the savings. Nothing wrong with splurging, if you will, and nothing wrong with saving a few bucks either.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Yeah I know. I was poking fun.

I'm surprised no one called me out on that post above. :mrgreen:

 

[danish]

Cobs and Castello etc. instead of a Dunhill, come on...

We all have different tastes and preferences, so basically we can only disagree, whether you get full value if you buy pipe X from manufacturer Y.

I will stop here. As my teenage son recently said to me: 'Dad, you do not need to have an opinion about everything !'

 

[Chasing Embers]

I would actually take a cob over most of them.

 

[aldecaker]

Sounds like someone is stuck with a bunch of Dunnies they can't unload on eBay. :rofl:

 

[crashthegrey]

buy some raw material from Vermont Freehand to try making a pipe on my own! After all, I'm a college student and I can always use some more cash

:rofl: More cash?! From making pipes? Hahahaha. Heads up, making pipes is the worst way to make more cash. Some guys here have some stories for you.