I at least expect expensive things to be put together properly when I pay good money for them. That looks like an example of a company living off of a good name for too long.
The Obligatory Newbie Thread: Dunhill
- Thread starter RudyH
- Start date
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
There haven't been any Dunhills made since 2011 but I have heard a couple of complaints about the White Spots.
No.
Nothing to do with good money or company arrogance.
It's geometry.
You sometimes can't GET "there" from "here" with a straight airway---it's a physical impossiblity---so then must choose between the chamber or the mortise "receiving" the miss.
The better makers always choose the mortise. It's the lesser evil.
(Low quality makers don't care. I've seen airways enter the chamber halfway up the side, while the mortise is spot on. Try smoking that. lol)
I have no doubt a Dunhill is worth every Penny it costs, I’m just an old Scotch hillbilly and won’t pay that much.
I admire the one at a time, hand built design philosophy of a Dunhill.
But I cannot fathom worrying about air holes being off center, bowls not drilled straight and perfect, or a mortise not centered.
Lee figured out perfect quality control in 1946.
There may be no perfectly hand made Lee masterpieces but every one was perfectly made or it didn’t leave the factory.
Quality is consistency.
I admire the one at a time, hand built design philosophy of a Dunhill.
But I cannot fathom worrying about air holes being off center, bowls not drilled straight and perfect, or a mortise not centered.
Lee figured out perfect quality control in 1946.There may be no perfectly hand made Lee masterpieces but every one was perfectly made or it didn’t leave the factory.
Quality is consistency.
Yup. Called it.
BTW. Dunhill continues to bring $$$$ whether you like it or not.
This is actually one for the High End thread.
I prefer Sasieni or Charatan but the 1920’s One Dot Sasieni I just sold went for a fraction of this $. As much as I adore Sasieni “it ain’t no Dunhill”.
Last edited:
I have exactly one Dunhill, a “Root” Oom Paul. That pipe, if bought new, would be a grand, though I didn’t pay that much for it. That being said, my mid to upper end Italian pipes such as Ardor, Castello, Caminetto, Radice, etc and my artisan pipes all put it to shame.Don’t get me wrong, It’s a beautiful pipe, but imho it’s not worth it’s original price tag at all…. It doesn’t even make my top 20…..
White Spot is among the very few factories left, which still produce pipes of interest to me. They are probably too expensive because there is hardly any competition any longer, if eg good ebonite stemwork and authentic classic shapes means anything to you. Unless you are willing to pay for artisan 'clones', which are not exactly cheap either.
I’ve owned two Dunhill’s: a petite shell billiard from the late 50’s and a really pretty Cumberland rhodesian from 1980. Both smoked fine, but both have ended up getting sold. I got both pipes for $100 or less, and I think they were great deals. Nothing particularly wrong with either, they just didn’t get reached for as often as my other pipes. No complaints from me.
That said, I think the price tags on new Dunhill’s are sheer insanity. I can’t imagine paying $500 and up for a factory made pipe. Taste and beauty are subjective, but I also happen to think the grain and stains on most Dunhill’s are a total snooze fest. I admire the Cumberland and County lines on occasion, but the rest are a complete bore to me personally.
I’m sure the new Dunhill’s being produced are probably fine smoking pipes, but I wouldn’t be caught dead paying what’s being charged for them.
Estate Dunhill’s: good value to be had for the money (although many will poopoo the quality of this decade or that).
New Dunhill’s: NOPE.
Just one guys useless opinion on the subject.
That said, I think the price tags on new Dunhill’s are sheer insanity. I can’t imagine paying $500 and up for a factory made pipe. Taste and beauty are subjective, but I also happen to think the grain and stains on most Dunhill’s are a total snooze fest. I admire the Cumberland and County lines on occasion, but the rest are a complete bore to me personally.
I’m sure the new Dunhill’s being produced are probably fine smoking pipes, but I wouldn’t be caught dead paying what’s being charged for them.
Estate Dunhill’s: good value to be had for the money (although many will poopoo the quality of this decade or that).
New Dunhill’s: NOPE.
Just one guys useless opinion on the subject.
They are the only pipe manufacturer that makes (or did make) a perfectly shaped straight billiard, in my modest opinion. Not all their billiards, but many. I speak as a freak for the shape, of course. "But I have an X billiard that is perfect!" one might hear. Yes, but I'll bet it's nearly a one-off for that company. I can pick a Dunhill from a vast array of billiards, just by the silhouette. I think it, so it must be true, being pretty much perfect in judgment of all things.
Nevertheless, I have a mere three, chosen for the above reason. One only meets my high standards, an LBS with tapered bit. The smoking qualities I would describe as good, not great. Fit and finish are great. I will never buy a White Spot, the company that dare not say its name.
Nevertheless, I have a mere three, chosen for the above reason. One only meets my high standards, an LBS with tapered bit. The smoking qualities I would describe as good, not great. Fit and finish are great. I will never buy a White Spot, the company that dare not say its name.
Once anybody reaches this level of technical perfection in a pipe, the only thing left is beauty of proportions and pride of ownership.
The only difference between the huge freehand Preben Holm and these Lee Star Grades is the burls of briar and hard rubber were manufactured in two different factories thirty years apart.
Wall Frank marketed beautiful straight grain pipes as Wally Frank Seconds.
Briar pipes are luxury items, much like a stainless steel diver’s watch waterproof rated to 200 meters.
How much luxury do you want to buy?
Last edited:
The problem with Dunhill is that a certain part of the brand's fanboys adhere to a series of myths created on the internet that have little to do with reality and if you point it out they fly into a rage.
It is futile to ask if without good pipes, it is obvious that yes since "you can fool a few people for a long time and a lot of people for a short time, but you cannot fool a lot of people for a long time".
Are they worth what they cost? Yes, because the interest they generate keeps the price constant and the buyer's market is deep. Therefore, if purchased well, it does not represent a risk of loss.
Paraphrasing a politician from my country: "We should stop talking about Dunhill for two years"
It is futile to ask if without good pipes, it is obvious that yes since "you can fool a few people for a long time and a lot of people for a short time, but you cannot fool a lot of people for a long time".
Are they worth what they cost? Yes, because the interest they generate keeps the price constant and the buyer's market is deep. Therefore, if purchased well, it does not represent a risk of loss.
Paraphrasing a politician from my country: "We should stop talking about Dunhill for two years"
What are you saying that of the most ubiquitous shape ever made in the history of the pipe, only one company has done it perfectly?
It is a difficult argument to maintain beyond personal opinion, which of course is very valid.
You should check out Butz Choquim's Shape 1601.
Greetings.
In my drawer is a genuine Swiss Made Tudor my mother gave me for my 35th birthday.
Beside it is a Tissot Seastar 1000 rated at a thousand meters, or feet, I forget.
Today I’m on a mission to carry two huge tires to Humansville in order that my Amish renter will make a frost proof cattle waterer.
My Orient dive watch will mark the time as well as any.
In my pocket is a Lee Three Star Dublin and a pouch of Half and Half.
Poor people, aren’t ever privileged to have such luxuries.
The stemwork and design on Duhills is second to none ,they are simply classic and very sophisticated looking pipes nontheless I'd look on the estate market since those brand new ones are about $100 overpriced ,also I have come to the conclusion the briar they'had used back in the days(1950-75) seem to be somewhat better than today
That's where I stand too, I find their shapes pretty perfect. No gimmicks, no edgy emo designs, no excesses. So conservative one could say they are politically incorrect :P
Nothing like the androgynous clothing branded "Dunhill" nowadays.
...
Not to mention they still believe Dunhill pipes are still being produced. When the brand decided to walk away from the pipe market, the Dunhill stamp was retired eleven years ago.
