Dunhill

[Anonymous]

Guess what ? Every truly great violin on earth is some old dead guy's violin. The last of them were made around 1760.

:face:
OK WITH OLD DEAD GUYS

 

[s.ireland]

Guess what ? Every truly great violin on earth is some old dead guy's violin. The last of them were made around 1760.

:face:
OK WITH OLD DEAD GUYS

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

The same can be said for many handcrafted items...

 

[Harlock999]

Only bedding virgins, because who knows where the used ones have been...
Hmm...
Nice thought, in theory, but not too practical in the real world.
The idea of estate pipes may seem a little weird at first, but when chosen carefully, and thoroughly cleaned, the estate pipe market can open up access to a wide variety of pipes at different prices, without the sharp depreciation in value inherent with new pipe purchases.

 

[BriarBrad]

Ok, I see we have a bunch of "Estate Fans" here. Thats great I am glad you all like them. I am 100 percent uninterested, that leaves more for the rest of you. It is preference, just not mine. So for all of the thoughtful replies involving estate's and or new, I thank you for the input. I am going to buy a new pipe, just not a Dunhill.

I really was hoping this would not derail into this discussion of estates, I however, did not specify in the op that was not an option.

 

[SpeedyPete]

Ok, I see we have a bunch of "Estate Fans" here. Thats great I am glad you all like them. I am 100 percent uninterested, that leaves more for the rest of you. It is preference, just not mine. So for all of the thoughtful replies involving estate's and or new, I thank you for the input. I am going to buy a new pipe, just not a Dunhill.

I really was hoping this would not derail into this discussion of estates, I however, did not specify in the op that was not an option.

You want something similar to a Dunhill for a fraction of the price?

Look as Stanwell, Savinelli or (especially) BREBBIA

 

[s.ireland]

I am going to buy a new pipe, just not a Dunhill.

Okay, you don't like estates. Got it.

Back on track:

I'm a bit confused. You want a new pipe. You wanted Dunhill to be better than X brand. The consensus was that ALL pipes have the potential to be good or bad smokers, regardless of brand.

Now you're sure that you won't buy a Dunhill. Based on what exactly??

I mean, was there a particular Dunhill that you saw? I just don't get how you could be so ready to buy one and now so sure you won't.

One thing to keep in mind (and I'm sure I'll get some "nuh uh!"s from a few people):

More expensive pipes usually (IMHO) have one advantage over cheaper alternatives; more time is spent on the bit and button. Dunhills have nicely cut stems. They have changed over the years but even the modern stems are wayyy above the quality of many more affordable pipes :bom:

 

[kaiser83]

Dunhill seconds a.k.a. Barber B-line. Although I do not own one myself there are guys on BoB who absolutely love them and they come at a reasonable price. http://www.smoke.co.uk/acatalog/Barber_B-Line.html
You will get worlds of advice on this forum regarding what pipes perform best, but when it comes down to it good briar and a good craftsman make a good pipe. There are sections on here where you can view the brothers here who craft pipes and talk to them about what exactly you want. Sasquatch, Growley, Andrew Staples, Wayne Teipen, etc. If they are brothers here you can pretty well be assured they are good guys. Outside that there are hundreds of manufacturers who make a darn good pipe at a reasonable price and numerous ones have been mentioned. Just to add a little input myself:
Peterson
Nording
Stanwell
Brebbia
Mario Grandi (only available on their eBay store new, not in stores, and damn fine pipes)
Karl Erik
Savinelli
Ben Wade
Any of these brands can be had for around a hundred dollars and all will suit you well. I can attest to all except Karl Erik and Peterson because I have at least one of each of the other brands in my collection and they all smoke well.
Since estates are not an option for you any of those brands will enable your PAD and do a darn fine job. The guys here, I am sure, were not intent on derailing the thread into an opinion on estates they were just trying to give viable options that save money, in the spirit of brotherhood. I have new and I have estates and they perform equally well, but to each his own. New pipes are awesome, but I like others will spend equal time with new briar and smoking the presence of the ghost of prior owners :affraid:

 

[Jers]

Top tip kaiser - visited Mario Grandi's eBay site and picked up this little beauty..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310418360579?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_1763wt_922

To keep the thread on topic....... I am fairly new to pipe smoking and, although initially reluctant to consider estate pipes, I have recently (following excellent advice from other brothers) purchased an old Parker Briarbark (very similar to a Dunhill).

I must admit that I will probably purchase a new Dunhill - will it be worth its relatively high cost? It will to me as their reputation being excellent it should be a good smoke, and having stretched the purse strings to buy it I'm going to make sure I enjoy smoking it.

Why a new Dunhill and not an estate? Simply because I like the thought of an expensive pipe being all mine. At the same time I would be very happy if, following my death (once I have attained age 100), the pipe was taken over by my son or brother.......but initially I want it new.

It is difficult to rationalise as a large part of the decision making process is emotional and therefore individual.

Thanks again kaiser.

Fraternally

Jers

 

[kaiser83]

Yes sir no problem. Mario Grandi is brand from a carver out of Italy. The Grandi pipes are a sub of Mastro Beraldi I believe and so far I have not been disappointed yet by any of the Grandi pipes. They aren't a line run where you will see a bunch the same, they are all different. So far all of mine have passed the pipe cleaner test. I definitely plan on adding quite a few more Grandi's to my own collection. Here is a link directly to their new pipes http://www.ebay.com/sch/futurepipes/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg= They are Italian so they are unique and not the classic shapes but darn good pipes for the money.

 

[BriarBrad]

I am going to buy a new pipe, just not a Dunhill.

Okay, you don't like estates. Got it.

Back on track:

I'm a bit confused. You want a new pipe. You wanted Dunhill to be better than X brand. The consensus was that ALL pipes have the potential to be good or bad smokers, regardless of brand.

Now you're sure that you won't buy a Dunhill. Based on what exactly??

I mean, was there a particular Dunhill that you saw? I just don't get how you could be so ready to buy one and now so sure you won't.

One thing to keep in mind (and I'm sure I'll get some "nuh uh!"s from a few people):

More expensive pipes usually (IMHO) have one advantage over cheaper alternatives; more time is spent on the bit and button. Dunhills have nicely cut stems. They have changed over the years but even the modern stems are wayyy above the quality of many more affordable pipes :bom:

I asked the question what made them 200 bucks plus more than most everyone else. I have a particular pipe from their line in mind, but remain undecided. The cost is really irrelevant to me. If it's 50 bucks or five hundred bucks. I'll drop over five hunded on two boxes of cigars and be left with nothing more than a paper band and a cedar box when finished smoking them. In this case I will still have a pipe.

 

[Jers]

(Quote from BriarBrad in previous post)
“........The cost is really irrelevant to me. If it's 50 bucks or five hundred bucks. I'll drop over five hunded on two boxes of cigars and be left with nothing more than a paper band and a cedar box when finished smoking them. In this case I will still have a pipe."


Brad, if money isn't a consideration I'd suggest you couldn't go wrong buying the quality item. If it's a Dunhill you want then why not buy the Dunhill?

I'm not qualified to say whether Dunhills fully justify their price but the fact they can maintain their marketplace points to a quality item.

It's suspect it's similar to high end audio equipment. You can buy speakers costing very little to astronomical amounts, but what's going to make you happy - just the sound quality, or owning a brand name synonymous with quality? Will you be able to tell the difference between speakers costing £50 and £500? I would say you should, but between speakers costing £500 and £1000? Possibly, if you have a very fine ear for music.

The Dunhill price point sets them apart from other brands - it very likely also makes them a more desirable item, but as they are marketing high end goods they will be forced to maintain a consistently high production standard.

Therefore, for the additional cash, it stands to reason that you are purchasing a quality item. Will you be able to tell the difference between smoking a Dunhill and a pipe costing half as much?............Unfortunately you will have to smoke the Dunhill to find out but it's unlikely to be a bad smoke!

Purchasing pipes should be fun.....they are a luxury item. For some people the joy in purchasing can be in getting a bargain, at the other end of the scale some guys get a kick paying big bucks for high end gear - but it's got to be about fun. It's possible to overwork a decision......I say buy what makes you happy and enjoy it.

Fraternally

Jers

 

[Rob_In_MO]

Wow, guess I don't belong in this thread. :roll:

Since I started smoking a pipe almost 20 years ago, I bought 4 new Savinellis, a new Peterson, a new Nording, a CAO Meerschaum, a few Grabows, and a quite a few Basket Briars and Cobs. Most are good smokers, some are great smokers.

Most of my pipe purchases over the years have been Estate Pipes - and once again, most are good smokers and some are great smokers.

Dollar for dollar, i'll just stick with my MM Cobs. Brand New and some smoke very well.

But then, i'm on a budget and i'm not an Elitist, nor am I above Estate Pipes.


Translation = I'm a cheapskate and not trying to impress anybody.



A good smoke is a good smoke, regardless of purchase price and/or whether it comes from a Briar, a Cob, or a Meerschaum.

 

[s.ireland]

@Rob:

That's the best part about this hobby! Cobs really are as enjoyable and loyal as Dunhills or any other high grade! I have a lot of buddies that collect high grades etc. and every now and then when we get together I like to pull out a cob and laugh at their reactions. Some guys have never even tried a cob! I tell them it's because they are scared it will smoke just as good as their Bangs and Eltangs and blah blah blahs lol Last Sunday one guy told me "do you need to borrow a real pipe?" HA! All in good fun.

In fact, I'm going to smoke some Irish flake in a cob right now!

On topic:

Briarbrad,

If money isn't the issue then go for the Dunhill you like. I'd bet that the likelihood of it being a GREAT pipe is pretty high. And like I mentioned before, Dunnies do have a pretty good resale value... Im a big fan of their shaping... Which shape are you looking at??

 

[Rob_In_MO]

Cobs really are as enjoyable and loyal as Dunhills or any other high grade!

Shane - many of them are good pipes and great smokers regardless of price/value.

You would, however, be hard pressed to find a pipe made of a more porous material that handles heat so well.




Back on topic - if money is no object and you want to try to impress people, buy the Dunhill.

If you want a very nice pipe that will smoke just as good, contact one of the Brothers here that make pipes = Sasquatch, Growley, Andrew Staples, Wayne Teipen, and a few more.

If you want a high end pipe but are worrying about a couple hundred bucks, maybe you should research this more.

 

[Jers]

Back on topic - if money is no object and you want to try to impress people, buy the Dunhill.

@Rob - purchasing luxury items (ie non-essential) probably shouldn't be about trying to impress people. If it were, any saitisfaction gained from purchasing an expensive pipe would be fairly shallow, and I believe short lived.

Smoking pipes is a hobby which I suspect that the majority of brothers complete, most of the time, whilst alone. So unless you intend to smoke your pipe in front of a mirror and pass compliments to yourself - “Mighty fine Dunhill sir!" “May I say that is one hell of a Dunhill buddy" then impressing people isn't going to be at the forefront of any pipe purchase.

I think it's fair to say that contemplating the purchase a Dunhill pipe may indeed be influenced by the reputation of the firm, and a desire to own something that has the allure of sitting apart from the norm, but I believe that it's probably a little unfair to brand prospective Dunhill owners as insecure individuals in need of props to impress people.

Of course it's your opinion you are expressing and I respect that even if I don't necessarily agree with it.

Hold on a minute and I'll check with my mirror buddy what he thinks...*to mirror*...“Well big guy - what's your view on this?"........*mirror guy sips his pipe for several seconds, then smiles and answers*.......“May I say that is one hell of a nice Peterson buddy!"

Fraternally

Jers

 

[gravel]

Back on topic - if money is no object and you want to try to impress people, buy the Dunhill.

@Rob - purchasing luxury items (ie non-essential) probably shouldn't be about trying to impress people. If it were, any saitisfaction gained from purchasing an expensive pipe would be fairly shallow, and I believe short lived.

Agreed Jers. Besides, who will be impressed by a white dot?

*crickets*



Pipe smokers might be, if they know what it means. As we see here, Dunnies are polarizing among pipe smokers who know.
Non pipe smokers will want you to move out of "their" air.
I enjoy my Dunhill, but I enjoy my Teipen more.

 

[SpeedyPete]

I find it very hard to imagine that a Dunhill will smoke so much better than any of my Savinelli's or Brebbias or Stanwells. I mean, how well a smoker must a Dunhill be then?

It will be very nice to own a Dunhill. But say I pay $400 for a Dunhill and I find it smokes just a good as any of the pipes I've mentioned? Mind, just as good, not much, much better. Then I'm going to regret buying it because I could have bought 4 Brebbias. Say two of the Brebbias are duds (which I can't really see), then I will still have the other two which will be good smokers. Thus, two good pipes for the price of one Dunhill.

Also, if I should pay $400 (R3,200) for a pipe, I'm going to nurse it and maybe only because of that, never enjoy it to the fullest.

So, I will stick with what I have. I have many pipes which are truly excellent smokers and for which I don't feel sorry. I'd rather keep it that way.

 

[BriarBrad]

:cheers:

Back on topic - if money is no object and you want to try to impress people, buy the Dunhill.

@Rob - purchasing luxury items (ie non-essential) probably shouldn't be about trying to impress people. If it were, any saitisfaction gained from purchasing an expensive pipe would be fairly shallow, and I believe short lived.

Smoking pipes is a hobby which I suspect that the majority of brothers complete, most of the time, whilst alone. So unless you intend to smoke your pipe in front of a mirror and pass compliments to yourself - “Mighty fine Dunhill sir!" “May I say that is one hell of a Dunhill buddy" then impressing people isn't going to be at the forefront of any pipe purchase.

I think it's fair to say that contemplating the purchase a Dunhill pipe may indeed be influenced by the reputation of the firm, and a desire to own something that has the allure of sitting apart from the norm, but I believe that it's probably a little unfair to brand prospective Dunhill owners as insecure individuals in need of props to impress people.

Of course it's your opinion you are expressing and I respect that even if I don't necessarily agree with it.

Hold on a minute and I'll check with my mirror buddy what he thinks...*to mirror*...“Well big guy - what's your view on this?"........*mirror guy sips his pipe for several seconds, then smiles and answers*.......“May I say that is one hell of a nice Peterson buddy!"

Fraternally

Jers

Jers is or has got the grasp of this, and I thank you.

Rob, and others kind enough to offer advice I thank you as well. I am not typing this final reply with malice or demeaning attitute so please do not take it as such.

After all, I have been called an elitist, not sure why. I only asked justification of a future pipe purchase and whether or not Dunhill is a great product more or less.

I did not bring up the issue of estates, I simply dismissed it as not an option for me personally. Hence, I have been labeled an elitist.

I would not have gotten to where I am in life if I was trying to impress anyone. I am a trample the weak and hurdle the dead kind of guy. Sooooo let me try to break this down for you and others of how I percieve things through lessons learned in life.

I have a hobby of shooting sporting clays. For those of you that are familiar with this shooting sport you will likely understand where I am going with this. This sport can be played with a shotgun that requires nothing more than the ability to fire two rounds. Let me repeat this again, any shotgun of any quality, two rounds need to be able to be fired. The faster, the better. Read that again, the faster the better.

It requires 100 rounds of ammo, you walk through a simulated course that has the similar characteristics of hunting different game birds.

Now, a 100 year old shotgun you paid 40 bucks for at a garage sale will accomplish the task of completing the course, maybe. Maybe you say? Yes Maybe. Is that 100 year old shotgun mechanically sound enough to do this week after week with todays ammo?Maybe. 10,000 rounds per year? Maybe.

So lets look at this:

You may or may not have ever, let me repeat, ever have shot sporting clays. You have NO, or limited equipment and are looking to start. Where do you start? Do you run out and find the cheapest product you can find that will fit the bill for you to shoot 100 rounds. Or do you buy a tried and true new Wal-Mart Remington 870, 1100 or a Mossberg 500 for under 600 bucks and you are now the king of the course.Either way you chose is fine, no trickery going on here.

So you show up on the "big day" because you are now a shooter, you have the equpment right. Right.

So out of the 20 plus stations of shooting you make it to about the 8th station and you are flinching like a son of a gun because the recoil on that shiny new or used piece of iron you bought is kicking you like a mule from recoil. The fun is fading, right, shoulder hurts.

By station 15 you have not broken a clay because you are closing your eyes whincing from the recoil that is occuring in the wrong place because the shotgun you bought doesn't fit you. Read that again it is not fitted for your body, cast off is wrong, length of pull is wrong, drop at heel is wrong. No, I am not speaking about clothing, there are actual dimensions involved in fitting a long gun to your person. Your thumb or forefinger hurt from feeding shells into a bottom loading magazine, inherent with the DESIGN of this finely selected shotgun you chose.

By the last station you are convinced this is a terrible sport and you don't want to waste another Saturday doing this again.

Meanwhile, the group in front of you are all shooting well, not flinching from recoil, not fighting sore thumbs and are likely going to shoot another hundred rounds the same day. How can that be?

Well, that can be, because the are rolling through the course with different firearms than you have.

Let us look at a Beretta DT10 Trident or a Beretta 682, Browning Superposed, Ceasar Guerinni etc: Different design of shotgun than the pump or semi you bought as mentioned above. These are all Over Under designs "One barrel on top of the other, requires no physical effort on your behalf other than pulling the trigger, once, or twice. This is true of semi autos as well.

All are available with 26", 28", 30", 32" some with 34" barrels, most are back bored and force coned. This increases pattern density. Ideal for this sport.

Break open action, saves on the thumb, remember it's sore.

All are available with extra grade walnut stocks. Added charges apply. Does not increase your ability, increases viewing pleasure and value at resale.

Fit and finish is done by hand where metal meets wood. Pretty smooth transition, easy on the eyes as well.

All come with cast off inserts of varying degrees. This improves the fit to your body and eye alignment. The gun will look crooked where stock meets reciever, looking top down. all are available with adjustable comb. Increases fit, keeps cheek weld aligned.

All are available with match grade trigger groups, lightening trigger pull and removing travel and creep. Meant to take the abuse of 10000 rounds plus. easily changed out on the course if need be. I deal for this sport as well.

Custom and standard engraving available, adds no benefit to the shooter, but the name of the man that engraved it drives the cost.

The design of the shotgun along with engineering in the above listed reduces felt recoil tremendously. Your shoulder hurts, remember.

Where am I going with this you ask.

The garage sale gun will get the job done at 40 bucks. Period. Right up until it mechanically quits. Feed ramp breaks, trigger spring gives up and so on.

That Wally world special can get the job done at well under 600 bucks. You will find quickly if you are serious about the sport that the quality of materials will not take the abuse round after round, week after week. Quite frankly it is hard on the body, I know I did it. There is better to be had. Makes a fine gun for the field, that is where it ends.

The Beretta 682, a workhorse for sporting clays, Shoots all day every day without punishing the body. A very clean looking gun that was put together with pride and mostly by hand. Lines flow into one another and it is a fluid piece of steel and wood. Is it 3500 bucks better than the Wally world special. In my eyes it really is. Shoot 10000 rounds and get back to me on how your body feels.

The Beretta DT10 Trident, truly a work of art. not a flaw to be found fit and finish are superb. Is it worth 6500 bucks more than the 682? If you really like pretty it is. Will it perform better no, it is pretty, it was made to be tough and pretty.

How in the hell does this relate to pipes you ask? Pipes have no moving parts in most cases. Pipes smoke tobacco, they do not shoot shotgun shells. I understand. All I can tell you is that I like the look of a certain Dunhill, by the replies I have recieved it will smoke tobacco as well or better than a Grabow. Cost difference has been addressed mostly by opinion of why the hell would you buy a new Dunhill when you can buy some dead guys old pipe. I have addressed this, It is not for me, I am not an elitist. This is not a life changing decision for me. I came here looking for input and am now a supposed elitist. I just like nice things. I can live with owning a few of top quality instead of thirty plus.

So again, I would like to stick around a while and participate here. You all have been a wealth of information. You just won't find me in the estate debate. I'll gladly tell you they look nice and you made a great find. Just keep your creepy estate religion to yourself :roll: . I will post a pic of my decision when it lands. May be a Dunhill, may not be. :cheers:

Brad

 

[gravel]

Isn't that the bottom line? Smoke the tobacco you like in what you like.

I look forward to your picture or a new Dunnie, Ashton, Castello, or Peterson.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

This discussion has gone NASCAR. A few fun crashes, but we're generally just going in fast circles. The entertainment quandary lies in the lack of beer. :lol:

Go smoke and buy what you like, for the reason you choose. I'm still under the impression that spending the extra money isn't because Dunhill guarantees you the best smoke, it's because you want to buy a Dunhill.

That's pretty much the short and skinny--incidentally, from the guy who probably types and talks a lot more than the rest of you.

8)