Why are Dunhills so Expensive?

[JAWz]

Great reason to take a vacation.

They are outstanding smoking pipes. Their briar is obviously excellent.
Finishing and engineering are also outstanding.
They are beautiful pipes. The sense of proportions at Dunhill is right on.
They now what they're doing.
The true test to understand is buying an unsmoked White Spot.
That's when you'll realize they stand apart from the rest.
A pre-smoked one is no good to grasp this and does not enable anyone to pass
judgement on the brand.
This being said, prices in Europe (specifically, in the UK and Italy) are much better
than on our side of the Pond.

 

[Alejo R.]

I found it fascinating that back in the '60's, one of my Jima pipes would have sold for more than a Dunhill.

Honestly, I wouldn't want to contradict you, but if you look at the catalogs from the 40s, 50s and 60s, Dunhill is by far the most expensive brand.

 

[Alejo R.]

Why does Dunhill charge so much more?

Same reason as why dogs lick themselves......because they can.

I own you a beer Sir

 

[Chasing Embers]

Honestly, I wouldn't want to contradict you, but if you look at the catalogs from the 40s, 50s and 60s, Dunhill is by far the most expensive brand.

Kaywoodie prices exceeded Dunhill as well in that era.

 

[SpookedPiper]

Out of five, this was the best drilled one. My dislike comes from shoddy craftsmanship.

View attachment 142180

I would have to agree that their drilling is less than honorable. I picked up a new white spot not too long ago, as I wanted the shape but boy the driller had one too many pints, or a lazy eye or maybe they were 12!

It smokes fine, no gurgle or moisture and still very enjoyable. But, the original "Dunhill" of old, different story all together! Damn fine smoking instrument and gorgeous to look at!

 

[Chasing Embers]

But, the original "Dunhill" of old, different story all together!

The one in the photo is prior to the White Spot being a 2002. I've owned one 2008, a 1975, and two 1974s. Drilling horrendous on all.

 

[Alejo R.]

Kaywoodie prices exceeded Dunhill as well in that era.

Sorry but don't. if you give five minutes I'll find the image

 

[Alejo R.]

Kaywoodie prices exceeded Dunhill as well in that era.

Same catalog. The most expensive Kaywoodie hits the price of the average Dunhill (Standard and Shell). The average Kaywoodie was 3.

 

[Searock Fan]

I don't own any British pipes (that I can think of). The reason is because they use rubber stems and I prefur lucite. That includes Dunhill, unless they've changed and I don't know about it.... The Brit pipes I have smoked I could taste the rubber so that was that. I have however compormised with my "aromatic" pipes which are mainly Savinelli filters. They have a stem material which is some formula of vulcanite (rubber) that is pretty good... no taste. So, if I'm going to spend big bucks to buy my "English blends" pipes I'll buy high grade Italians such as Castello (ironic, isn't it?) .

 

[Chasing Embers]

View attachment 142188
Same catalog. The most expensive Kaywoodie hits the price of the average Dunhill (Standard and Shell). The average Kaywoodie was 3.

Depended on the line.

 

[Alejo R.]

The answer is consistency. Do something right, and do it right for 100 years and you'll build yourself a respectable name that you can charge a premium price for. I've seen Savinellis, Peterson's, Chacoms and Butz Choquims (especially from the 80s and later) with cringe-inducing putties. Today it does not happen because the smoker is much more educated. Dunhill has never done that, a Dunhill may not be spectacular, but it is unlikely that you will find one that arrives at a tobacco shop with a major defect. It's the same as Rolex, it was never too superior to its competitors, but when the quartz crisis hit and everyone started doing stupid things, Rolex kept making its classic and reliable models, improving them and emerged from the Crisis as the luxury brand par excellence. .

 

[Alejo R.]

Depended on the line.

View attachment 142193

This image has no price comparison with Dunhill.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Dunhill has never done that

Why fill when you can sandblast and create a shell?

 

[Chasing Embers]

This image has no price comparison with Dunhill.

Yours has no date and only one line of each pipe.

 

[Alejo R.]

Why fill when you can sandblast and create a shell?

Is been smart a sin now?

 

[Alejo R.]

And yours has no date.

Yes sorry, 40s something
From Chris Keene's pipe pages.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Is been smart a sin now?

Not at all, but it does show a use of flawed briar. I know artisans that use the same tactic.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Yes sorry, 40s something
From Chris Keene's pipe pages.

Got any from the '50s?

Here's something from early on.

Kaywoodie Topped Dunhill in Price :: Pipe Talk

Someone mentioned on Forums that in the 1950's Kaywoodie pipes were generally priced higher than Dunhills. This is a dazzling thought, and Kaywoodie's briars are still pretty good pipes, made in Tampa. Something to think about when encountering those Dunhill's that cost $700 plus for a...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[Papamique]

Out of five, this was the best drilled one. My dislike comes from shoddy craftsmanship.

View attachment 142180

None of mine were misdrilled. Of course that is a small sample of 20-30 but larger than 5. I have had Other major brand including meerschaum and handmade artisan pipes that weren’t perfect but I wouldn’t call dunhill “shoddy craftsmanship” Here is the first dunhill I grabbed that is drilled dead on.

 

[Chasing Embers]

None of mine were misdrilled. Of course that is a small sample of 20-30 but larger than 5. I have had Other major brand including meerschaum and handmade artisan pipes that weren’t perfect but I wouldn’t call dunhill “shoddy craftsmanship” Here is the first dunhill I grabbed that is drilled dead on. View attachment 142194

Five strikes did them for me. Did yours come with an inner tube?