Should I Buy a Dunhill Estate?

[Civil]

Hello fellow pipers - first official post!

Some background: I have been piping for ten years and have a small collection pipes; 10 to be exact. I bought myself a Vauen natural for my birthday tomorrow and am very excited to take it for a spin. My other pipes are medium grade pipes. I have some Savinelli, Peterson, Neerup, Bugz Choquin, and a Rossi.

My Rossi is kind of a junk pipe, amd it is my go-to-pipe for gardening, fishing, working, etc… because this is often when I smoke, it is my most smoked pipe. Over the years I have beat it up, dropped it, threw it in the mail box, left in my vest, and so on.

I have recently decided that my work horse needs an upgrade. I am thinking of buying a dunhill estate pipe for this purpose. I have always wanted a Dunhill, mostly for bragging rights. But I am conflicted…

I am thinking If I buy a shell, it will take the abuse without showing due to the sand blast finish. Do they really smoke that nice? My Neerup and Savinelli 925 both smoke exceptionally well. I am expecting my Vauen to preform well too, although it is a pampering pipe.

anyway, what are your thoughts on these old Dunhill? Are they worth it? Thx.

edit to Note: that’s my Rossi in my pic.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Do they really smoke that nice?

No better than the pipes you already have.

I have always wanted a Dunhill, mostly for bragging rights.

Keep you're eyes open and you can sometimes get a good deal on one. This was a $20 ebay purchase.

will take the abuse without showing due to the sand blast finish

Well, they make good planters.

 

[verporchting]

Go for it. I’ve gotten several lovely Dunhill estates at very reasonable prices and they all smoke great. I’m quite pleased with them.

 

[JimInks]

I would say if you can get one you like and afford, go for it. Depending on your finances, I also recommend Dunhills made before the 1970s.

 

[jpmcwjr]

All my Dunhills (eight or so) are estate pipes, and they all smoke very well, and look good. Not about bragging rights, but about part of a stable of good solid pipes.

 

[skydog]

Well I've got about a dozen Dunhill's and I've never bought one new so I'd say go for it. I've never gotten a crazy deal on one but you can find decent deals without too much effort. I mean, you do have to take into account the law of diminishing returns, a Dunhill is not going to be 10x better than a cob. But I prefer briar to cobs and I prefer better briar and craftsmanship to the alternative so a Dunhill is well worth the going estate rate in my mind. I do think there is a clear distinction in the used market between the smokers and the collectors grade. All of my oldest Dunhill's are repaired, otherwise they'd be out of my price range. As long as they smoke great and are structurally sound I'm happy to take a non-collectors item and smoke it and enjoy it. Like any estate, the more you've researched the more likely you are to find one that works for you.

 

[OzPiper]

I have several, of which only 2 of which were new (both gifts from generous friends).
I wouldn't say my Dunhills smoke better than my other pipes (my palate is not fine enough to detect such nuances), but I'm happy with all of mine.

If you find one and the shape and price pleases you, go for it. You only live once

 

[STP]

I always say get what you want. If not, you’ll most likely regret it

 

[kcghost]

If you can get a pre-1970 Dunhill at an attractive price then go for it.

 

[Mr_houston]

I see 3 reasons to buy a Dunhill above another pipe brand:

1) Name recognition. Everybody knows Dunhill and you could easily sell it if you want to.
2) Date stamps. I bought mine specifically as a birth-year pipe - a pipe as old as me.
3) Sandblast. Many of the old ones now have an exceptionally craggy deep blast. Bill Taylor (Ashton) sandblasted many of these.

I own one, as a birth-year pipe.

 

[ssjones]

Its an itch many pipe smokers have to scratch.

 

[cigrmaster]

I have one Dunhill and it is a 1966 LB Billiard. I don't use it as a beater pipe as it is too nice. From all I have read over the years the 1969 and earlier Dunhill's are better smoking pipes than later pipes. I am partial to American made artisan pipes with Jack Howell and Rad Davis being my favorite 2 artisans. All of my artisan pipes smoke better than the Dunhill. The stems are better and the pipes just smoke better. I will say that the 1966 LB is the best looking Billiard ever made shape wise. They don't have the best sand blasts, but they do have the best shapes in my opinion. I am a real fan of the billiard and shape wise means a lot to me and I have never seen anything nicer than the 1966 Billiard.

 

[jpberg]

Oh heck yes. Buy one. I think it’s a logical and almost necessary step in the journey.
Once you’ve had one or two, you have a terrific benchmark to work from - one way or the other.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Oh, yeah, there's only one or two who assiduously beat the anti-Dunhill drum. (Or horse if you prefer!)

The most vociferous one has already appeared to underline his total disdain, which you will find anytime Dunhill pipes are the subject- same lines, same photos.

Yes, go for it!

 

[bayareabriar]

If you are going to, my advise is to save up about $600. Purchase a large lot on eBay that has a few pipes you want (dunhill etc) keep those and sell off the rest.

you’ll average $20-50 a pipe and probably break even selling the ones you don’t want.

it’s a gamble, and requires investment and time, but you pretty much get pipes for “free”.

 

[mso489]

In another era, Kaywoodie was the top premium pipe, with Dunhill running second. Kaywoodie still makes fine smoking instruments that now sell for remarkably modest prices. I suggest you get one of those new, if you can bring yourself to this clear historical perspective. Pretend it's 1955. I have three Kaywoodie pipes and find them excellent.

 

[anotherbob]

I wouldn't but I find Dunhills to be slightly above average with a price tag that would fit on a pipe much more worthy of that price point. Like often times when I see one I think nice pipe then I look at the price and laugh. Cause the thing is I've seen just as nice pipes for the high end of low (around 100 not around 4 or 5 hundred).

 

[bullet08]

If you like the look of it, why not? You have to like the pipe you smoke if you want good smoke out of it.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I would say if you can get one you like and afford, go for it. Depending on your finances, I also recommend Dunhills made before the 1970s.

This is also where I stand on this issue, generally speaking, Dunhills are darn fine pipes ,yes pricey they are no doubt , I also have had a few of contemporary Shells and still have two, all these are fine smokers,nonetheless somehow it seems me briar what they used on those prior to 70ies Dunhills is superior to what White Spot A D uses today

 

[mso489]

Some pipe smokers simply don't think they have lived until they have a Dunhill/White Spot, or several, or a rack of them. If you are one of those people, find a good deal on an estate and buy it. I'd say, also shop other up-market pipes and see if you'd prefer several fine pipes for the price of one White Spot. If it's still tugging at your sleeve, go for a good deal.