Dunhill - Whats with all the Allure?

[papipeguy]

Do Dunhills carry a certain cashe? Yes. In their day they were the Rolls Royce of pipes. The chance to own and smoke one now is like getting behind the wheel of a great classic car or sitting at a Steinway Concert Grand and bangning out a tune. If the opportunity comes, you take it.

I have no doubt that some of today's artisan makers make pipes that are "better" but they don't carry the hiistory of the brand. I have 2. One I got from my brother that he bought me in Barbados in 1974 and the other was my grandfather's and dates from 1932 or 1933. Would I get another? Someday, perhaps; but for now there are way more pipe blends calling to me to try. However the siren call of the Dunhill will always be in the background for me.

 

[bubblehead33]

i dont own a Dunhill and maybe never will but they do make a fine looking pipe. you all seem to be talking about the older ones but what about their pipes that are made today? what are they like and are they still as good? i think i would do terrible things to get one of their dress pipes haha.

 

[foggymountain]

I have a very large number of Dunhills. I believe that they give a great smoke. I do not care about collectibles or history. They are a reliable indicator of what you will get. A Dunhill has a predictable taste, and it depends on the stain. It has to do with the oil curing and the quality & aging of the briar. They are also well made, not sloppily drilled like many brands, no junky or bad fitting stem, easy breakin, no woody taste. I would rather have a $500 Dunhill than 2, $250 so so pipes. Yes they are somewhat overpriced. I got my first around 1958. It was a smooth 4 square #4 that cost $22 new. Today a similar pipe is $650.Since things cost about 15 times what they did in the 50s ($2500 Chevy, 15 cent subway token) that pipe should cost $330. You know I saw a mid 1950s version of the same pipe on an Ebay auction up to about $2250. That is lunacy. The pipe was probably smoked up already.

 

[rigmedic1]

For me it is the forbidden fruit thing. I want one because I cannot afford one, lol. I have 2 high end Pete's, and old American, and a Randy Wiley, all estate purchases in my range ($200 or less). If I did have $400.00 to spend on a pipe, it would probably be an Ashton or a Rad Davis.

 

[k9shag]

I just picked up a Dunhill 4122 Shell Briar from 2000. I am looking for the right 1965 but saw this on ebay and it is my favorite shape (poker) and picked it up for $152. As I prefer estate pipes over new it is the single most expensive pipe I have purchased. Smoked one bowl out of it so far and must say it did not disappoint. I put it right up there with my McCranie Bill Taylor Ashton Poker and my Castello Old Antigua.

Just to compare here is a Hardcastle poker that I bought new for $90. Hardcastle and parker are made in the Dunhill Factory. Some will say they are seconds and some will say they are just made in the Dunhill factory. It too is a very nice smoker and in my rotation. I have yet to find a Parker in this shape, so I cannot offer any opinion there, but I am always looking.

 

[cigrmaster]

rigmedic1, if you look around and are patient, you can find Rad Davis estate pipes in the 200-250 range. I have 5 estate Rad's all in that price range.
I own 1 Dunhill and 1 Dunhill made Astley, both are fine smoking pipes that I bought for very good prices. I would not pay for a new one, but if you take your time and do some research, you can find them for a fairly good price. I am still on the hunt for my birth year ( 1957) Dunhill, but after that I will be done with that line. It is not that I do not enjoy smoking them, I just like my artisan pipes better. The stems on a Dunhill are not bad, but not as good as my artisan pipes. I think that many people have a myriad of reasons as to why they collect Dunhill's. Some love the history, others the smoking properties, others the fact you can date them, others the classic shapes. It really doesn't matter as to why, as long as the people are having fun doing it, more power to them I say. To me they do not represent the best value for my money, but that is just my opinion.

 

[pitchfork]

I think previous commenters have covered the main reasons why Dunhill has such allure (quality, history, consistency, iconic image, etc.). I'd just add that Dunhill pipes have a smart, restrained aesthetic in terms of shaping that can't be found much anywhere else. The small Group 2 pot, for instance, is just plain dapper (imho), especially when the stem is extra slim. Dunhill's 4-square paneled billiard is also hard to beat. I'd say the same thing about their zulu. Lot's of brands make a zulu, but there's an energy and tension in the curves of a Dunhill zulu that you won't find, for instance, in a Rad Davis zulu (though his undoubtedly smokes better and is a fine zulu in any case).
Group 2 Pot 2106

Group 2 Zulu 2421

RAD Davis Zulu

 

[pitchfork]

k9shag,
That's a great deal you got on a sweet Dunhill poker. One of my favorite shapes.

 

[rondyr]

I think part of it is the same reason why people will buy an Apple iPhone when there are better phones on the market that cost less - because it's an iPhone. I'm guilty of that myself :nana:
But part of it may be that Dunhill is a name that commands respect. They have a certain appeal that I can't place a finger on, but that would cause me to drop $400.00 or so on a Dunhill pipe if I could afford one.

 

[tbradsim1]

That was a good buy Roth, plus 15% off you are a smart shopper. The old Cajun, PS I bought 3 weeks ago the Blackbriar 1975, wanted a Dunhill beater pipe. The old cajun

 

[foggymountain]

pitchfork: I have 2 Rads. They are very good pipes. But to my taste, not as good as a Dunhill, though 1 of them is about equal, after I removed the wax & bad tasting stain and broke it in for months. The Dunhills smoke well from the first smoke. Rad is certainly more creative though.

 

[pitchfork]

That's very interesting, foggymountain. I've heard nothing but good things about Davis's pipes, at least in terms of smoking quality. Glad to hear your Dunhills have smoked well for you.

 

[rigmedic1]

Thanks for the the tip, Cigmaster: patience is one thing I do have, having raised 9 children, lol. Unfortunately, procrastination is my vice to that virtue. But I will keep looking!

 

[tbradsim1]

I know were 8 of his blocks are. They are pipes of his I have bought, love his briar. The old cajun

 

[cigrmaster]

foggy, what year are your Rad Davis pipes? I am asking because I had spoken to Rad about buying one of his earlier works as an estate and he told me to stay away from it. He said there was a reason as to why his early works only sold for a 150-200 as he was just beginning to learn his craft. The earliest pipe of his in my collection is a 2006 and it is a great smoker.
I have owned 4 Dunhill's over the years and the first 2 were brand new Bruyers in 2001, I was not impressed and sold them. My oldest is a 1977 and while it is a good smoker, it is not as good as my artisan pipes. The button is not as comfortable and the pipe is not as dry. My Dunhill made Astley is also a good smoker but it has the same issues as my Dunhill. I have yet to smoke a Patent Era Dunhill which I have read are the best smoking ones.
Roth, congrats on your 1957 from Dave. It is a beauty for sure and I hope it is a great smoker for you.

 

[foggymountain]

My Rads are about a year and a half or two years old. They are very good pipes. There was a problem with the stain, not anything else.

 

[colesradioactive]

Found what seems to be a good deal on a root briar if your still looking for a Dunhill

http://www.thepiperack.com/products/Estate-Pipe%3A-Dunhill-Root-1963-Shape-715-Stack-%252d-Bargain-Priced%21.html

 

[allan]

Hi all
This is my first post on this forum (tried two days ago but it didn't go in ?).
I've been smoking for about forty years, first with pipes and then to cigars for the last 35 years or so. Recently I watched a professional jewelry polisher work while he was smoking a pipe (I'm a jeweler in the Bronx, NY) and the aroma just made me pine for a pipe again. I saved three of my original Peterson pipes, cleaned them out and started smoking them again.
In reading and studying about pipes I found the Dunhill name coming up again and again. Web sites containing dating, maintenance etc were everywhere. In addition, the value of the resale of the pipe was extraordinary, IMHO.
So, how come? Why? I've always loved my Petersons (bent shape, always). But the prices on the new pipes for a group 4 or 5 in a shiny finish, no matter what color were north of $500.00.
I figured the best way to find out was to buy an 'estate' pipe. Now for many folks, the idea of putting someone else's used pipe in your own mouth would make them sick; I don't suffer from that malady. So off to ebay I go.
I am (or was not in the past) familiar with ebay but quickly got the hang of it. After missing out on several pipes that I thought I'd like to try because I didn't realize the 'sniping' technique of waiting until the last 10 or seconds to put in the offer. Or simply actually putting in the maximum value you would spend on the pipe to start with.
Finally I bought a cumberland finish bent group 4 from Germany. For those of you who play with Ebay, it really made me disconcerted to see that I was absolutely the only one who put in the starting bid of $199.00, with no challanges.
Oh me, oh my! Did everyone else know something that I didn't? Was this fake? Was it damaged in some way that everyone else could see but I was too inexperienced not to be able to tell? Why did all the other Dunhill's I was watching increase in price exponentially at the last 20 seconds??
Well, it was delivered, and although it wasn't fully cleaned out (the stem had some real junk in it). The first thing I noticed was the weight. It was about 1/2 the weight of the Peterson's I own. I am not aware if that is good or gad, but it did strike me as an inital impression.
I tried some Frog Morton cellar suggested by De La Concha in NYC and dutifully filled it only 1/2 way for several bowls. I have been smoking De La Concha's Marbella blend aromatic which I really like, but it is very moist and the pipe expert at the store definately 'frowns' on the 'flavored with syrupy stuff' so I felt that I should try the 'good stuff'.
Ok. Enough. What do I think?
I love the clear draw of the pipe. I love the bowl. The Petersons have a very small bowl for the size of the pipe itself compared to the Dunhill. The weight of the pipe is friendly to my mouth and teeth.
I believe that this pipe is a precision instrument and i have ordered several more dunhill estates.
I also own a rolex and I can tell you the Rolex is not worth the money. I am a jeweler and have been in the business forever (my father started in 1939)
The Peterson's were just fine until I tried the Dunhill. My Bulova watch was just fine until I owned the Rolex. I'd rather have a Patek Phillippe, but at over $20,000 I draw the line.
Is it worth it?
I think if you can afford it, it is a nice treat to have. We all know that we can get a steak at a local restaurant or diner, or we can get a steak a Morton's, Peter Luger's, Ruth's Chris, Ben and Jacks, Uncle Jacks, (I could go on and on).
Thank you for letting me express this to the only people who will possibly listen to me and my reborn obsession
Allan

 

[ghost]

Great post Allan, welcome aboard. I'd say a lot of us have a similar obsession. ::

 

[lestrout]

Allan - re your experience with the German EBay, you will find some of the EBays across the water are less competitive and often have lower prices. They also close at odd times relative to the US and that cuts down the sniping. But you have to reckon in shipping prices, but that tends to depress the competition from the US.
Great that you're back into piping, and also with Dunnies.
hp

les