orley
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First Name: Paul
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Post by orley on Nov 5, 2017 13:31:54 GMT -5
My history with Dunhill pipes goes back about 35 years. With no internet all I had for info was the local pipe shops, and maybe a book or two if you could find them. Early on I came to the conclusion that they were the best pipes you could get, and at the time maybe they were. So I bought quite a few estate Dunhills along with many others. Along the way, I decided that they actually didn't smoke any better than most of my other pipes, so I sold all of them, and became quite indifferent about them. In the last few years I again became interested in them again mainly due to the ability to shop on the internet. I accumulated a few and slowly realized that again they did not perform better than many other pipes. Now however, there is a lot more info, and many pipes in their price range and well above, that can be considered. I no longer have the funds to buy such high end pipes, so I just recently sold all but three of my Dunhills to buy other pipes I wanted. I see Dunhills as more of a collector item now as they can be accurately dated, and no, I have nothing against them as they are fine pipes, but to me they look and smoke just like other pipes that cost much less. I'm sure there are those of you that think they smoke better than any other pipe, and that's fine, enjoy them as my purpose is not to start a debate which would serve no purpose. The three I kept were in horrible condition and had to have major repairs done, which I did myself because I enjoy the challenge. So now I have the worst Dunhill pipes I have ever owned, but they smoke just like most other pipes, that being really good! Oh, and I did put a MM cob bowl on the one as I didn't see much other choice. So here are the before and after pics of my current Dunhills. I would be interested in what your views and experiences are with Dunhills. Sorry for the long winded post.       |
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Post by PhantomWolf on Nov 5, 2017 13:38:50 GMT -5
Great repair jobs. I've never smoked a Duhill, but I would like to own one someday.
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Post by lestrout on Nov 5, 2017 18:02:50 GMT -5
Yo mut
Spectacular work, there! How did you rebuild the bowls?
hp
les
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sjmiller
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First Name: Sammy
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Post by sjmiller on Nov 5, 2017 18:08:13 GMT -5
The first one is a mystery to me but I think the second is the rare Dunhill cob and that briar dust was used in the third repair. Excellent jobs on all.
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Post by papipeguy on Nov 5, 2017 18:23:17 GMT -5
Wonderful job on those. I have 4 Dunhills ranging from 1938 to 1975. All nice pipes but not necessarily better than some other brands I own. Just neat to have for various reasons.
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duffer
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Post by duffer on Nov 5, 2017 19:52:42 GMT -5
Great work. Very nice. I only have one so far, it is a ‘63 Shell Briar. Will add to it someday.
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Post by peteguy on Nov 5, 2017 20:30:48 GMT -5
Same feelings here on Dunnies. I have a birth year and that is it. Just to high dollar for what you get, imho. If other pipe lines were able to be dated similar to Dunhill I wonder how Dunhill would fair. Just above middle of the road, still highly sought after, etc. Don't get me wrong, some are terrific smokers, but that goes for most brands imho.
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orley
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Post by orley on Nov 5, 2017 22:16:20 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments everyone!
sjmiller, The first and second pipe were from the same person. I have no idea how he managed to damage those pipes! The cherrywood shape, the bottom of the bowl was actually sanded or filed down so it was round. There was a crack in the shank that he used tape and a piece of metal he used to try to fix it, but the stem wouldn't go all the way in and the white dot was missing. I managed to get the stuff off the shank, and went and glued the crack up. Not ideal, but didn't feel it was worth it to send it out for a repair band. Been smoking it over a year with no problems yet. And yes, that is the rather rare patent era Dunhill Cob! LOL
The last pipe I repaired with a piece of briar from a junk pipe that I cut to fit in the hole and some of the inside of the bowl to build up the thickness that was missing. I used wood weld epoxy but also I did end up using some super glue with briar dust to finish it off. It looks more noticeable in the photo than in real life. Lots of pipe mud was used too. I've been smoking that pipe for over two years and it's still together. Maybe I'm better than I thought at repairing pipes, or Dunhills are just so much better that they are easier to fix! (ya sure)
peteguy, interesting thought on the subject of other pipes being dated the same as Dunhills. I do believe you're right, except that Dunhill has played such a great historical role in pipe history.
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Post by Nevadablue on Nov 6, 2017 0:15:41 GMT -5
Nice work, very interesting.
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Post by Darin on Nov 6, 2017 7:59:30 GMT -5
Agree completely ... great resto work and love the Dunnie Cob!  |
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goose
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Post by goose on Nov 6, 2017 9:26:28 GMT -5
Love the Cob  |
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Post by danno44 on Nov 6, 2017 9:59:51 GMT -5
Nice restorations. My first Dunhill was a small pre WWII Billiard with 18K band. If had been repaired at one point in its life. Over buffed it appeared after repair and the normenclature was partially buffed off. It smoked hot, very hot no matter the cadence and sold it. Currently I have a birth year (1966) Size 4 Bruyere that smokes flakes like a champ. I got it for a pretty good price and happy with it. My Savinelli 1028 (yes 4 digit so at least 40yrs old) deLuxe Milano smokes flakes about as well, but both of them are head and shoulders above other Billiards for flakes for me.  |
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Post by Wolfman on Nov 6, 2017 10:12:26 GMT -5
I love Dunhill pipes, but not because they're superior. It started when my dad got his first Dunhill, in 1997, an Amber Root, smooth grain, bent bulldog with a Cumberland stem. The pipe was problematic early on. First the shank became loose and required a refitting. He sent it to London and it took six months for Dunhill to get it back.
When he passed away in 2007, I inherited it (took it actually). It developed a crack within a few months. I continued smoking it. Eventually the shank broke off, and I had it repaired. Since 2012, it has smoked ok, but I recently noticed a new crack. It doesn't smoke any better than my Savinelli or Peterson's of the same age (20 years).
I bought my second Dunhill in 2004, a Cumberland pot. I was in Boston at the time, and wandered into a pipe store near my hotel. It turned out to be Peretti. I never got into it and stupidly sold it in 2011.
Last year, my wife bought me a 1956 bruyere Canadian. I smoke it regularly, but it's nothing special.
So to wrap this up, I love these overpriced, average smokers purely for sentimental reasons. When my finances improve again, I will not hesitate to buy another Dunhill.
By the way, I love your Dunhill's, and you did a great job restoring them.
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Post by sparks on Nov 6, 2017 10:13:56 GMT -5
I have one Dunhill, a 4110 Bing. I was fortunate enough to buy this off a friend at a "somewhat" reasonable price compared to brand new.
Honestly, probably the worst money I have spent on a pipe in my opinion. I was not impressed with the stem, it was like putting a 64 ring gauge cigar in my mouth. In hindsight, I could have spent that money on another commission from Scottie and got exactly what I wanted.
Not worth the money or the hype for me.
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Zach
Pro Member
If you can't send money, send tobacco.
Posts: 4,365
First Name: Zach
Favorite Pipe: Too many currently, bound to change
Favorite Tobacco: Haunted Bookshop, Big 'N' Burley, Pegasus, Habana Daydream, OJK, Rum Twist, FVF, Escudo, Orlik Golden Sliced, Kendal Flake, Ennerdale
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Post by Zach on Nov 6, 2017 11:39:31 GMT -5
Don't own any. Thought about a couple, held a few, don't like the prices, and I don't really consider new modern day Dunhills to be like the "golden days" pipes so if I got one I'd kind of rather have one from the 1940s-1960's.
Those are great looking repairs you've made yourself, and thanks for the back story on your experiences. I'm of the side of the fence and opinion that I don't want spend over $100 on a pipe unless I REALLY know it is x times better than other pipes I've bought for that price. I like finding BBB's and other high end pipes in antique stores for $2. One day, I'll find that Dunhills for $5-10 in the bottom of a box.
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Post by Matthew on Nov 6, 2017 19:59:31 GMT -5
I've a complete selection of Doctor Grabows and all but one smoked great.The one
was a colored Viscount and I didn't want to remove the stinger.I've several
estate pipes that are great smokers,some due to modifications I myself made.
I prefer the airway be a bit bigger than most pipe makers make them, but a
slow hand with a drill bit takes care of that. I have one Dunhill that was
gifted to me by a Brother on another forum.It's perfect in my hand,has a fishtail
bit that is slender and thin.Easily one of my favorite pipes.But the one that
tops my list is the Doctor Grabow Savoy my wife picked out for me.It has a saddle bit,
with a sandblasted finish.It's just as light and comfortable to smoke as my Dunnie.
All that to say,if I stumble on a Dunhill in a basket for $5 to $10,I'ld buy it,
but not for $100 plus.I can get/modify estates that smoke just as well.
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Post by Ronv69 on Nov 6, 2017 20:32:35 GMT -5
I have a 1950 Lovat Root Briar. It was a gift.
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Post by bonanzadriver on Nov 6, 2017 23:01:30 GMT -5
As a novice pipe refurber I have to tell ya that your work is FANTASTIC!
Love seeing those special ol briars brought back to life.
Thanks for resurrecting em.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 14:20:13 GMT -5
I have a 1974 Bruyere Dublin. It smokes as good as any pipe I own, but as you note, no better. Mine is an Ebay pipe rescue that I fixed the cracked bowl via similar method you employed. It was $17.00 and has given another 10 years of service, smoked on a semi regular basis.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2017 20:48:13 GMT -5
I have one, a 4203 Shell Ring Grain that I picked up about 10 years ago.
I will echo Sparks and say it is the worst pipe investment I have made. It smokes no better than machine-made pipes that I have purchased for 1/3 to 1/4 of the price. I even had to go to work on the inside of the stem with needle files to remove rough edges and burs that were catching cleaner fluff and clogging the airway. And speaking of stem, this pipe is one of my top offenders when it comes to oxidation. Relatively low quality ebonite considering the price of the pipe.
Oh, and I just remembered . . . I returned the first one because an area on the front of the bowl was over blasted, making the wall noticeably thinner.
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Post by PhantomWolf on Nov 9, 2017 21:30:42 GMT -5
Maybe I will be avoiding Dunhill after reading these replies. -[My wallet sighs in relief]
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sablebrush52
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Favorite Tobacco: whatever is in it
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Post by sablebrush52 on Nov 10, 2017 2:25:52 GMT -5
I never thought that Dunhill was the best made pipe, just the best known pipe. They're good pipes for the most part, but not exceptional. I still have about a dozen of them, but only smoke three on a regular basis. When I smoked my first Barling, the Dunhills went in the drawer. But to tell you the truth, there are plenty of much less expensive pipes that smoke as well, or better, than my more expensive pipes. One of my friends is a Barling collector. We've had a friendly competition going on for several years. At last weekend's WCPS, I gave him a new Brebbia Avanti, an inexpensive pipe that smokes as well as anything I have smoked. The look on his face when he packed it and lit it up was priceless. It's now in the top three of his favorite pipes. He loves the open draw, the sweetness of the smoke, and the quality of construction. And, this is a guy that knows pipes. Of course, the unfortunate aspect of this is that I'll now have him buying up Brebbias. Maybe I should have kept this to myself!  |
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