Sell me a Dunhill.

[ssjones]

The newer White Spot pipes are as nice as any oval Dunhill I own, and despite the change in nomenclature I like the new ones as much as I ever have.

I agree with Mike. I own one new Dunhill, nee "White Spot" and it is a fine a pipe as I own (vintage Dunhills included). It has an edge over:

- new Castello, also from 2015 (Dunhill button is much better)

- new Ashton (Dunhill stem/shank fitment is much better)
It rate it as an equal to a new Ferndown but give the edge to Dunhill in shaping and size choices. Ferndown seems to only sell larger pipes (9 out of 10 are 3 Star sized pipes). You can still get a Group 2-3 or 4 from Dunhill, in shape and finish you desire.

 

[thedudeabides]

Like McIntosh in the hi-fi world, Dunhill seems to engender rather polarizing responses. Do people want one to say they own one? Is it the price that makes one good, or is the price indicative of superior build quality? In my experience, clearly there is a romance and mystique amongst both brands that is partially due to marketing genius and partially due to long track records of delivering high quality products that are collectible and aspirational for many. People who own these brands are sometimes viewed as taking a shortcut to owning the "best," or as more concerned with logos and their accompanying prestige than the actual serious investment of time and experience in a hobby that will allow one not to own "the best," but to do something far more challenging - to own what one likes - and to understand WHY.
While this may be an interesting line of thought, it is also a bit of a shortcut. One can easily spend more money buying an artisan pipe (oh how I loathe the term "artisan"), and few these days would argue that a modern Dunhill is "the best" in any event. If one has the money and inclincation, he or she could buy an outrageously expensive Danish pipe and impress their new friends at the local pipe club. Having said that, Dunhills are the archetype for a "fine pipe" and their decades of branding, their aspirational price points, their relatively high availability (due to over 100 years of continuous production) and yes, their generally high quality, make them desirable, while the ability to "date" them, the wide variety of shapes and their continued high demand make them collectible investments.
Being popular does not make a thing inherently crass or unworthy of respect of the initiated. Sometimes popularity and quality can go hand in hand, and I think Dunhills are indeed quality pipes with a rich history that can cut both ways. While subjectively they may not be your "best," many find them to be worthy additions to their collections and enjoy them for their merits. And who knows, maybe you will love your Dunhill and invest the time to know why you love it.
Having said all of that, everyone knows that if you really want the very best, you have to buy a.....

 

[davet]

Having said all of that, everyone knows that if you really want the very best, you have to buy a.....

Dr Grabow :worship:

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Each Dunhill you purchase comes with a free night at Foggymountain's B&B in Woodstock NY.
'Nuff said.

 

[mso489]

I'd get a Ferndown. They are artisanal pipes carved by a former Dunhill carver, and though they are expensive, they are far less than a comparable Dunhill. If I were a salesman, I'd say, with a Dunhill you are sure you are getting the very best experience. With some Dunhills that's true, with others not so much, but I think it might help sell a pipe. Forums member foggymountain has many many Dunhills, but there are some series he strongly dislikes. As with any pipe, you can get a lot more by doing homework and shopping carefully. You can get a excellent smoke out of some pipes that cost $80 new, or $50, and with cobs much less.

 

[sablebrush52]

I own about 16 Dunhills. Only still smoke 4 of them on a regular basis, and those 4 are brilliantly good for some of the blends that I smoke.
The thing about Dunhill is you can't be sure who made the pipe, since they outsourced part of their production throughout their entire history. "Made in London" means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. There is no legal requirement for a pipe stamped "Made in London" or "Made In England" to actually be made in London or England. You can thank Dunhill for that since they led the charge to defeat legislation that would have required pipes stamped "Made In London" or Made In England" to actually be made in London or in England. At the time, Dunhill said that such legislation would be "A disaster for the British pipe industry."
The only one of the top five historic makers who made all their own pipes in their own London factories was Barling.
I'd also not be looking at the new stuff unless you can find it for a very attractive price. Otherwise, you're paying for the name. I'd be looking pre 1968, when Dunhill had the best briar available and were still hand making the majority of their pipes. The really early shells - Pre WW2 - are some of the best looking blasts ever made.
So why buy a Dunhill? So you can say that you own one.

 

[davet]

So why buy a Dunhill? So you can say that you own one.

:clap:

 

[jpmcwjr]

I own one Dunny, 1965 I believe. I bought it to replace a gifted pipe (in that year) that I lost in a leaf pile at night, not realizing it till the next day, and found it partially crushed by the machine that ran over it. Still kept it and smoked it, but fear a wife or GF chucked it out. I'm in the market for that garage sale we all dream about where there are rafts of Barling, Dunnys, Comoys, Charatans, etc. for ten bucks a bushel basket.....

 

[neverbend]

Pipes (briar) are simple, two pieces, stem and bowl. What does Dunhill, do to make their pipes superior to another brand, such as Savinelli, Neptune or Barling?

 

[fitzy]

Sure, there are clerks at Dunhill stores who'll show you a pipe

I've got a Dunhill store 2 blocks from my office and I'm pretty sure they stopped selling pipes in that location a long time ago.
Edit: I just called and they DO have pipes. I could have sworn they had stopped a while back. I should stop in on my way home and ask why I should buy a Dunhill pipe.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Fitzy- Are you in London? A few months ago I stopped in the St. James' store- chockablock with everything but pipes! Yes, they did have some, and I guess would sell them, but it was very de-emphasized.

 

[billinsfl]

I enjoy Dunhills, pre-transition Barlings and Ferndown pipes, among others. Dunhill pipes are not cheap, but all I have are excellent smokers and beautifully made. And if you're the sort who likes to buy and sell, they hold their value quite well. Buy a nice estate Dunhill from Smokingpipes.com or one of the other quality sellers of estate pipes, perhaps a group 3 or group 4 (size) and see how it goes. If you don't like it you can probably sell it for what you paid for it, or, if you bought it right, maybe a little more.

 

[ssjones]

that Ashton does compare to Dunhill.

Taylor Ashtons? Occasionally

Craig Ashtons? Not by my experience
I stand by my earlier statement (presuming by using "salesman" you implied a new Dunhill). Dunhill is the only current British manufacturer where you can by a specific shape in almost any shape, size and finish. No one else offers as many combinations, particularly in the Group 2/3/4 (even 1)bowl sizes. IF you want a LARGER British-made pipe, you have options (Ferndown, Ashton, Northern Briars). My new White Spot is slightly superior to my new Castello on all accounts. And Castello is largely regarded as a world-class pipe. Al Pascia for examples has pages of available Dunhill shapes. For the other pipes mentioned, you are lucky to find a dozen by any given vendor. So, Dunhill has the edge on quality and an unmatched variety of options.
Don't forget the salesmans mantra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO_t7GtXO6w

 

[ssjones]

Sorry for the language, but its a dog-eat-dog world out there!

 

[fishingandpipes]

I ask this question earnestly, but do Dunhill salesman even exist? I think there are Dunhill representatives, but it's difficult to imagine there are those going door to door trying to get you to purchase a Dunhill. Sure, there are clerks at Dunhill stores who'll show you a pipe, but I think it's a bit like going into a Rolls-Royce showroom. They're not there to sell, only to facilitate a purchase.

Peretti's just had a Dunhill trunk show, I did not attend. There was a Dunhill salesman there, I guess.
I've had maybe six or seven Dunhills pass through my racks and the only thing I've liked about them is their resale value. I don't knock pipes due to price - I'm a Castello guy, which is around the same price league - but none smoked particularly well.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Australian slang for a toilet is a "dunny". I traded a ruby bark billiard for three tins of Mephisto. Too many great quality artisan pieces can be had for less than a Dunhill.

 

[iamn8]

CM, everyone knows you're working for The Artisian Cabal. There's room for both. I obviously love the handcrafted pipes, but I also adore Dunhill. Prestige? Hardly. Nobody gives a rats ass if I have a Dunhill. Anyone here impressed? Hell, for all any of you know I've never actually owned a pipe. I could be lying. This is yet another case of antidisestablishmentarianism. Even my number one favorite Artisian LOVES Dunhill pipes, but some people just hate expensive brands, although I've yet to understand why, short of principal.

 

[fitzy]

@JP I'm in NYC and I could have sworn they had done away with anything smoking related in that store but the woman on the phone said they still sell pipes there. I didn't get a chance tonight to stop in but I will tomorrow.

 

[iamn8]

Fitzy, ask the clerk "so why should I buy one of your Dunhill pipes?" I suspect this will illicit a laugh

 

[buroak]

The distinction between Taylor and Craig Ashton pipes seems also to be evident in sizing. For example, I have handled a 1980s Ashton XX that was a large Group 4, maybe even a 5. A 2014 Ashton XX I got at a bargain price MIGHT be a Group 3. My experience is limited, so others may have more to say about Ashton sizing.