Identifying Dunhill Pipe

[madox07]

I am looking to buy this Dunhill estate for Easter, but I am having a hard time identifying it and therefore putting a price tag on it. The only inscriptions it has are "R F/T" followed by "DUNHILL SHELL BRIAR" "Made in England" and "4S". From what I have seen on other Dunhills xS inscription and F/T relates to a 1960s series, but that most often comes with the inscription "Root Briar" not "shell" - although I have seen it with the "shell" wording as well. I haven't seen a 4S one for sale ... I guess that the 4 denotes the bowl size, as 2S and 3S all seem to be smaller in size. Any idea?

 

[lightmybriar]

The R means it's a Pot shape. The F/T refers to the bit...it will have a Fish Tail mouthpiece. The 4 is the Group Size, and the S is for "Shell." Whatever the little number immediately following the word "England" is, that will be the date code. Pictures always help!

 

[madox07]

The number is an 8 ... will post pic once I get to a computer.

 

[lightmybriar]

Okay neat! So that makes it a 1968.

 

[dmcmtk]

Okay neat! So that makes it a 1968.

Not necessarily...

 

[lightmybriar]

Not necessarily, true, but most likely. The only other thing it could be, all other stampings taken into consideration, would be a 1958, but the 8 would be underscored. I know there are some rare outliers, so it isn’t entirely conclusive without a picture, but... ::

 

[madox07]

voila images

I think you pretty much nailed it, fish tail stem it is, pot bowl it is, pretty large hence the "4S". The year is the only unknown remaining.

 

[lightmybriar]

That's beautiful! And I say, 1968 without a doubt. Anyone else feel free to overrule me if I'm in error, but I think several details make that pretty conclusive. Also, that guitar in the corner is pretty cool too! Is that from the 1960s as well?

 

[madox07]

lightmybriar thanks for the input. No, that's actually a replica ny washburn, signed by a famous local rock guitarist.
Would you guys say EUR 65 is a good bargain on that pipe? German ebay auctions on 60s dunhills are in the hundreds of EUR...

 

[dmcmtk]

1968, definitely. Nice looking pipe, condition looks excellent, EUR 65 a good bargain...YES!

 

[lightmybriar]

65 EURO is a great price, especially considering the condition! Somebody obviously took good care of that one!

 

[madox07]

It has a small defect, where the tenon is inserted, better said a bit of the wood is chipped where the stem meets the shank. Other than that I did give it a good clean, a bit of briar wax on the bowl, the stem is in oxy clean for de oxidation. The stinger seems crap though, in spite of the fine quality of the whole thing. It's one of those dunhill signature long ones.. One more thing. The bowl is HUGE. That's gonna be one heck of a smoke.