Dunhill The White Spot: Ring Grain or Ruby Bark?

[damacene]

I have my eye on a couple different new Dunhills, a 4103 Ring Grain and a 3104 Ruby Bark and was wondering if you gents could offer any advice you might have. I have older dunhills, this would be my first Albert's White Spot, and I know people have their issues with the new branding but I would like to give it a go and compare to the older pipes. If you happen to own anything in these lines, what has your experience been?

 

[verporchting]

Ring grain is a thing of beauty and would be my choice. I’ve got a white spot from the early 2000s and the ring grain is impressive and I find the quality to be quite acceptable although I greatly prefer my Dunhills from the 60s.

 

[kcghost]

I've never owned a white spot, but I have looked a number of them, and I prefer the Ring Grain.

 

[damacene]

Ring grain is a thing of beauty and would be my choice. I’ve got a white spot from the early 2000s and the ring grain is impressive and I find the quality to be quite acceptable although I greatly prefer my Dunhills from the 60s.

Interesting, for my own edification; what do you think is better about the old 60s Dunhills? I've heard the drilling can be hit or miss with the new White Spots. I'm leaning towards the Ring Grain, though I like bulldogs, I want to start a collection of Dunhill Billiards.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Do you ready access to a B+M, or is this an online purchase?

Please put your location in your Profile!
How: Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down.

 

[damacene]

Do you ready access to a B+M, or is this an online purchase?

Please put your location in your Profile!
How: Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down.

This would be an online purchase. My B&M doesn't sell The White Spot. When I asked the owner about it, they seemed to have mixed feelings about the product.

Sorry about that, I added my location now.

 

[PaulRVA]

I have both Older “Dunhill” and “White Spot’s” both are excellent.
I wouldn’t have any concerns at all.
As far as “ Ring Grain” I have several
And for me it has been dependent on the particular pipe as I have some standards that are just as nice.
Get what you want and enjoy it.

 

[jpmcwjr]

This would be an online purchase. My B&M doesn't sell The White Spot. When I asked the owner about it, they seemed to have mixed feelings about the product.

Sorry about that, I added my location now.

No worries. Thanks.

Is the Tinderbox still going? Who is your B+M? LA used to have good shops, but have things changed!

I loved the one in Beverly Hills, Kramers, closed now several years.

 

[damacene]

No worries. Thanks.

Is the Tinderbox still going? Who is your B+M? LA used to have good shops, but have things changed!

I loved the one in Beverly Hills, Kramers, closed now several years.

Things have definitely changed over the years. I go to Tobacco Trader in Marina since the Tinderbox in Santa Monica closed. The only Tinderbox left except for Palm Springs is down in Costa Mesa. I take the trip down there once and awhile, but the new dunhills are usually sold before they hit the floor. Which tells me they must be doing something right.

 

[damacene]

I have both Older “Dunhill” and “White Spot’s” both are excellent.
I wouldn’t have any concerns at all.
As far as “ Ring Grain” I have several
And for me it has been dependent on the particular pipe as I have some standards that are just as nice.
Get what you want and enjoy it.

As long as my wife doesn't read this forum; I may get the group 4 Ring Grain and throw in a group 3 standard shell for good measure and scientific research...

 

[PaulRVA]

As long as my wife doesn't read this forum; I may get the group 4 Ring Grain and throw in a group 3 standard shell for good measure and scientific research...

Absolutely,
If you can swing it nothing wrong with that. I love my Group 3’s
Very Convenient do all size for me.

 

[damacene]

Absolutely,
If you can swing it nothing wrong with that. I love my Group 3’s
Very Convenient do all size for me.

I recently bought a Comoy's from Al on here and its about the same dimensions as a Group 3 Billiard. Its perfect for me. Not to turn this into a Comoy's thread, but the draw is amazing on that pipe.

 

[damacene]

Well gentlemen, I settled on the Group 4 Ring Grain Billiard and it arrived a couple of days ago. I have to say, I am blown away by the quality of this pipe. The stem work is magnificent, the draw perfect, and the ring grain is beautiful. Part of it may be psychological, but when I gave it its inaugural smoke of MM965 (my goto tobacco), it was one of the best experience's I've had with that blend. I don't know why people give them so much flack and I don't know if I just lucked out with this one, but I think these are exceptional smoking pipes. It was about $300/$400 more than a Savinelli or Pete, however I notice about that much difference in quality of the makes. I have a group 3 standard shell billiard on its way and hope to receive the same quality pipe.

Will post a few pictures of the pipe when I can.