Mind Experiment on Dunhill Prices

[bnichols23]

Would new Dunhills at half the price make you jump?

In a word, nup.
Nothing against the pipes, just my opinion is they're overpriced by a factor of 3 at least. If the choice is 3 great Savs or one Dunhill...?
Nup.

 

[3rdguy]

Could I change the original post to this?
Not to beat yon dead horse, but this subject seems perpetually of interest. This question crossed my mind. If fancy briar pipes were exactly one half what they currently are, at the retailers with the best prices like one or two of our sponsors, would they be a great deal or still pretty pricey? They would still be several hundred dollars. They would still be comparable to many quality other pipes. Would new fancy briar pipes at half the price make you jump? Or would they still be pricey fancy briar compared to other briar pipes you could buy at that price or somewhat less? (I'm not a briar guy, so I'm a little cold hearted on the subject, but admire the wood, just not the prices compared to a cob.)

 

[sablebrush52]

The two birth year Dunhills I have were both $150. Would never pay more than that for a factory pipe.

It’s a point of view I don’t share. There’s no inherent superiority to an artisanal pipe over a factory made pipe, or vice versa. And,a lot of factory made pipes are made in a way not dissimilar from artisan made pipes. Reminds me of the debates we had over hand made versus machine made and other irrelevancies. Dunhill made good pipes, but conducted superb marketing that convinced people that they were a “status symbol” and paying a luxury price was proof of ones material success. People are invested in this crap.

Most of the pipes I have smoke equally well if I use them properly. The major differences are either cosmetic or a matter of comfort. I have both factory made and artisan made, machine and hand made, cheap and expensive, and they all do just fine.

 

[mso489]

Factory pipes are often excellent. I think I have about a third artisan and two-thirds factory. Factory pipes can be fine examples of industrial design (art applied to mass produced products) and the craft applied is often first rate.

 

[lawdawg]

I have a 1950s patent Dunhill that smoked no better than any other pipe I owned, and of 200? pipes I smoked none smoked better than any other. A "good smoker" is the trite appellation offered by stooges who feel compelled to respond to the unending posts by those who must strut their pipe stuff. Lame and meaningless. However, I will own that certain smokers are possessed with a palate I never had and can pronounce with veracity on the smoking characteristics of their favored instruments.

I like the descriptor, "good smoker." It seems that the term is commonly used to describe a pipe that smokes without fuss, and doesn't tend to gurgle, and doesn't impart any bitter or sour tastes. In short, "good smoker" = good draft mechanics and nothing else weird going on. I've got more expensive pipes (expensive, for my collection that is) that are not good smokers, and some cheaper basket pipes that are good smokers. "Good smoker" is a fair and useful description.

 

[timt]

This post seems to check off all the boxes!! (OK on Dunhill; but no praise; OK to receive one; twitting the haters!) Well done! [Nudge, nudge, wink, wink]

Ok, let me totally honest. This little 1966 Dunhill billiard that I happen to be sipping on as I type this post has got to be the most fantastic pipe ever made. It's absolutely beautiful. It has perfect balance (it actually levitates), the most perfectly comfortable vulcanite stem money can buy, smokes bone dry and last but not least, it was created in the most perfect year in human history. It's completely understandable why anyone would be full of lust just thinking of this gem and I understand if any of you would hate me for possessing it. It's ok.

 

[lawdawg]

It’s a point of view I don’t share. There’s no inherent superiority to an artisanal pipe over a factory made pipe, or vice versa. And,a lot of factory made pipes are made in a way not dissimilar from artisan made pipes. Reminds me of the debates we had over hand made versus machine made and other irrelevancies. Dunhill made good pipes, but conducted superb marketing that convinced people that they were a “status symbol” and paying a luxury price was proof of ones material success. People are invested in this crap.

Most of the pipes I have smoke equally well if I use them properly. The major differences are either cosmetic or a matter of comfort. I have both factory made and artisan made, machine and hand made, cheap and expensive, and they all do just fine.

Not gonna lie, I'd like to eventually get a few old Dunhills mainly because I like the "aristocratic English gentleman" image which Dunhill previously cultivated.

 

[Chasing Embers]

It’s a point of view I don’t share. There’s no inherent superiority to an artisanal pipe over a factory made pipe, or vice versa.

And not the point I was conveying. My point was cookie cutter versus made the way I want it.

 

[beefeater33]

MSO- The New Dunhill's don't interest me at all.......... but show me a 1920's-1950's Shell Blast and I'm Smitten!........ LOVE those oldies!....... ::