We don't hear much about Dunhill Groups as the way of designating pipe sizes. Sensibly, most pipe retailers list specifications such as bowl height, chamber depth and diameter, and length and weight of the pipe, and that summarizes it nicely. But for years going back, and still, the oldest pipe shop in Chicago and maybe the nation, still refers to Group sizes. Group 1 are the smallest pipes; the Peterson Belgique would be an example. Group 2 and 3 are small bowls you see, along with others, from many French pipe makers notably. Group 4 is your standard medium size pipe beloved by many as the work horse of the pipe smoking world. Group 5 and Group 6 are your really big pipes in two steps. So far as I know, Dunhill never worked out a chart pinning down the required size specifications for the groups, but after a few years of buying pipes from Iwan Ries, i was used to it, and it made dependable sense, so I thought I knew what I was buying, and I never felt misled. But this is a sort of mysterious corner of pipe lore, the Group sizes, helpful but not really specific, that you have to learn by experience. I just thought I'd share this so new pipe smokers who haven't encountered it will know what it is. I say, check out the specifications, the actual measurements and weight, and don't make it guess work.
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