Unusual Dunhill pipes. Help needed understanding.

[halogen]

Hi all,

This is my first post. I recently acquired three vintage Dunhill pipes, all of which have something unusual that I'd love help understanding. Each has a fixed metal sleeve insert inside the shank (I’m not talking about the stinger, this is shorter and fixed, see last picture). All three lack standard Dunhill date codes. One of them has the “C” stamp under the shape number, which I understand may indicate it was a complimentary gift and therefore did not have a date code.

Here are the pipes:

1. Shell Briar 248 – 1S F/T – Made in England (no date stamp)
2. Bruyere 34 F/T – “C” stamp beneath the shape number – Made in England
3. Bruyere 64 F/T – Made in England (no date stamp)

Has anyone seen this kind of internal fixed metal insert on a Dunhill before? Does the “C” stamp confirm these are not-for-sale pipe

Appreciate any historical insight or similar examples you've encountered.

Thanks in advance!

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I may be wrong, but it looks like the metal inner tube came out of the stem and is now lodged in the shank of the stummel.

 

[halogen]

I may be wrong, but it looks like the metal inner tube came out of the stem and is now lodged in the shank of the stummel.

The stinger broke off? Don´t think so. You can fit a stinger inside the metal sleeve and it´s on all three pipes.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

@georged has seen more unusual Dunhill pipes than most people and might have an answer.

 

[orlandofurioso]

I may be wrong, but it looks like the metal inner tube came out of the stem and is now lodged in the shank of the stummel.

Methinks you are correct.

 

[orlandofurioso]

It is not a stinger, but the (in)famous Dunhill inner tube .
When hot from smoking your device they become very "flexible" and are inclined to break off.
I tinkered quite a few from the stummel, or the mouthpiece.

 

[halogen]

It is not a stinger, but the (in)famous Dunhill inner tube .
When hot from smoking your device they become very "flexible" and are inclined to break off.
I tinkered quite a few from the stummel, or the mouthpiece.

Okey thanks, I´m unfortunately not that familiar with Dunhill. Was it hard getting them out? These seems to be pretty sunken. EDIT: I may be confusing the terms stinger and inner tube. Two of the pipes came with the inner tubes which will slide into these metal sleeves.

 

[Waning Embers]

Yep looks like an inner tube.

 

[Questionable Source]

I've never seen that metal insert/sleeve probably aftermarket from the previous owner, the inner-tube inserts are easy to take out and clean.

Yes, the C stamp should be for complimentary I have the below pipe:

1975 Dunhill Shell 90 Poker Stand-up – rebornpipes

Posts about 1975 Dunhill Shell 90 Poker Stand-up written by rebornpipes

rebornpipes.com

 

[ssjones]

Okey thanks, I´m unfortunately not that familiar with Dunhill. Was it hard getting them out? These seems to be pretty sunken. EDIT: I may be confusing the terms stinger and inner tube. Two of the pipes came with the inner tubes which will slide into these metal sleeves.

I would try an ez-out of a diameter small enough to fit inside the tube (or a small, tapered drill bit). CAREFULLY screw it into the tube just enough to grab it. If should tug out. Before doing this, insert a pipe cleaner soaked in alcohol, that will allow any build-up to soften and release the tube.

 

[Alejo R.]

The inner tube was probably welded to the wood due to tar buildup. If these were mine, I'd try a little alcohol until it dissolved. Anyway, those are three nice Dunhills you have there.

 

[orlandofurioso]

As Al says.
This is what I do; put the stummel in a pipe rest, or an egg carton, shank up.
Fill the shank with alcohol till the dirt dissolves. Carefully remove the tube with a pair of tweezers. Bob's your uncle.

 

[halogen]

Yep looks like an inner tube.
View attachment 401375

Two of the pipes had these inner tubes and the ones fixed are much wider. You can slide the inner tubes inside them.

 

[ssjones]

They come in different ID's. Can you see the tip of the tube protruding into the bowl?

 

[halogen]

They come in different ID's. Can you see the tip of the tube protruding into the bowl?

When I slide the inner tube in or the fixed one? I can slide the inner tube so the tip goes into the bowl easily. If you are asking if I can see the fixed tube when looking into the bowl, I can on the Shell Briar (pretty much in flus with the bowl) but not on the other two.

 

[ssjones]

Ok, there is no "fixed tube". The inner tubes snug fit into the stem tenon, then into the shank They should not be held in place in the shank. If that is the case, it needs to come out, using one of the methods above.

That is odd - are you sure the shank wasn't cracked, and that is a repair to hold the two pieces together? It doesn't appear to have a crack, from your pictures.

 

[skydog]

Ok, there is no "fixed tube". The inner tubes snug fit into the stem tenon, then into the shank They should not be held in place in the shank. If that is the case, it needs to come out, using one of the methods above.

That is odd - are you sure the shank wasn't cracked, and that is a repair to hold the two pieces together? It doesn't appear to have a crack, from your pictures.

That was my thought. I've got a Dunhill with a similar fixed tube inside it and I suspect it was glued in to fix a break based on some sanding on the outside that looks to be part of a repair. I don't actually see the line of the crack on my pipe either but I can't think of another reason it would have been sanded like it has been or why the tube would be inside it. Smokes fine with the tube in there so I haven't messed with trying to remove it.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Ok, there is no "fixed tube". The inner tubes snug fit into the stem tenon, then into the shank They should not be held in place in the shank. If that is the case, it needs to come out, using one of the methods above.

That is odd - are you sure the shank wasn't cracked, and that is a repair to hold the two pieces together? It doesn't appear to have a crack, from your pictures.

My first notion too, but all three pipes look to be in original, unrepaired condition.
Perhaps the former owner opened up the airway and inserted the tubes for strength ?
Hmm, unlikely.

 

[halogen]

Ok, there is no "fixed tube". The inner tubes snug fit into the stem tenon, then into the shank They should not be held in place in the shank. If that is the case, it needs to come out, using one of the methods above.

That is odd - are you sure the shank wasn't cracked, and that is a repair to hold the two pieces together? It doesn't appear to have a crack, from your pictures.

There are no visible cracks or anything that might suggest why this was added by the previous owner.

 

[Alejo R.]

The only thing I can think of is that some previous owner decided he needed the draught hole wider and then decided to reinforce the area where he removed wood with metal.