Dunhill - prices?

[SidRox7]

So the least expensive NEW Dunhill I have found was about $498 so far. I know it is a very high quality pipe so if you can pick an estate Dunhill up on ebay for less than 100 bux are you doing pretty good???

Do they smoke better then a Sav or Stan?

Do people make replica's of certain pipes?

[AcworthAl]

Like many pipe smokers, I always wanted a Dunhill, but simply could not bring myself to pay 400+ for a pipe. However, on my birthday my wonderful sister sent me a beautiful Dunhill Cumberland Cherrywood (or Poker). The pipe I believe costs $448.00 and it is lovely. I have yet to completely break it in. Before I received this thing of beauty, the most expensive pipe in my collection was a $144.00 Danbark. OK, is the $448.00 Dunhill a better smoker than a good quality Peterson or Savinelli? I am not sure. However, unless I win the Lotto I am not sure any pipe is worth $400+ dollars. Most of my pipes are in the $50.00 to $90.00 range with the exception of some Cobs and Dr. Grabows. However, the fit, finish, and quality of the Dunhill is magnificent.

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by SidRox7

Do they smoke better then a Sav or Stan?

Subjectively or objectively?

Most folks that pay big bucks for pipes as a rule believe that the expensive ones do indeed smoke better than less expensive ones. I suspect bias plays a strong role in that. Frankly, I think you're paying for better grain, a better/longer guarantee, bragging rights and the popularity of the brand/carver more so than a better smoke.

Currently, my three best smokers are a Savinelli Hercules ($90), a Viprati ($180) and a Dunhill ($550 new). I also have great smoking $50 pipes, and an old meerschaum that looks like something someone threw away that smokes great. Do those three above actually "smoke" the best, or do they just hang better in my teeth or give me greater satisfaction due to brand or have the best break-in or have just the right bowl size or any number of other factors?

I would not care to have to guage the smokability of pipe brands. That's probably because over 25 years of pipe familiarity, I've found no formula that is good at determining how well a particular pipe will smoke. My favorite negative story is the old Lane-era Charatan Special I owned. Perfect shape, perfect size, beautiful looks, nice brag factor, smoked like crap. After two years of trying, I gave up and sold it to Barry Levin.

[AcworthAl]

Originally Posted by dmkerr

Subjectively or objectively?

Most folks that pay big bucks for pipes as a rule believe that the expensive ones do indeed smoke better than less expensive ones. I suspect bias plays a strong role in that. Frankly, I think you're paying for better grain, a better/longer guarantee, bragging rights and the popularity of the brand/carver more so than a better smoke.

Currently, my three best smokers are a Savinelli Hercules ($90), a Viprati ($180) and a Dunhill ($550 new). I also have great smoking $50 pipes, and an old meerschaum that looks like something someone threw away that smokes great. Do those three above actually "smoke" the best, or do they just hang better in my teeth or give me greater satisfaction due to brand or have the best break-in or have just the right bowl size or any number of other factors?

I would not care to have to guage the smokability of pipe brands. That's probably because over 25 years of pipe familiarity, I've found no formula that is good at determining how well a particular pipe will smoke. My favorite negative story is the old Lane-era Charatan Special I owned. Perfect shape, perfect size, beautiful looks, nice brag factor, smoked like crap. After two years of trying, I gave up and sold it to Barry Levin.

Interesting. I suspect you are correct. My three best smokers are a Savinelli Hercules Arthur ($90.00) and Danbark Poker ($ 144.00) and a Peterson River ($110.00) I will not judge the Dunhill yet, as it is not broken in. It is funny, but my best smokers just happen to be my FAVORITE pipes. Your post made me think. Is it because of what I smoke in them, that is, the combination of the tobacco and the pipe? The other feature all of these pipes share is that they all are easy to grip, they stay put in my teeth

[DubintheDam]

I just bought my first Dunhill, well two actually just about an hour ago:

DUNHILL Pfeife Shell Briar 253 F/T ohne Filter - eBay (item 120464182546 end time Sep-24-09 11:30:00 PDT)
DUNHILL Pfeife Bruyere 51031 ohne Filter - eBay (item 120464190437 end time Sep-24-09 11:45:00 PDT)

$263 for two in mint condition, but $1000 for the two on smoking pipes...so that's why I bought em.

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by DubintheDam

I just bought my first Dunhill, well two actually just about an hour ago:

DUNHILL Pfeife Shell Briar 253 F/T ohne Filter - eBay (item 120464182546 end time Sep-24-09 11:30:00 PDT)
DUNHILL Pfeife Bruyere 51031 ohne Filter - eBay (item 120464190437 end time Sep-24-09 11:45:00 PDT)

$263 for two in mint condition, but $1000 for the two on smoking pipes...so that's why I bought em.

Great buys, Dub! Sweet looking pipes, too. Dunhill blasts are usually really nice and I've always liked that bruyere finish. Enjoy 'em!

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by AcworthAl

Interesting. I suspect you are correct. My three best smokers are a Savinelli Hercules Arthur ($90.00) and Danbark Poker ($ 144.00) and a Peterson River ($110.00) I will not judge the Dunhill yet, as it is not broken in. It is funny, but my best smokers just happen to be my FAVORITE pipes. Your post made me think. Is it because of what I smoke in them, that is, the combination of the tobacco and the pipe? The other feature all of these pipes share is that they all are easy to grip, they stay put in my teeth

And then we step back and muse "Does it really matter"?

But yes, there are so many factors involved, it's hard to quantify them all in order to make any objective claim of superiority of one pipe over another. Then again, we're all subjectivists on this bus, so all that matters is what we like, not why.

[Crazycoonass]

Anything I've seen on Ebay with the Dunhill name seems to draw major attention and sell for big bucks, I saw an unrepairable Dunhill pipe with a big ole crack and chip in the bowl go for like 45$.

[DubintheDam]

Personally I swore I'd never own a Dunhill, too English, too hyped and too snobbish. But the more I smoke a pipe the more I realize that I love a classic English shape.

[SidRox7]

Originally Posted by DubintheDam

I just bought my first Dunhill, well two actually just about an hour ago:


$263 for two in mint condition, but $1000 for the two on smoking pipes...so that's why I bought em.

Now that's what I'm talking about! Very nice indeed! Please update us how they smoke.

[DubintheDam]

I mentioned this in the 'Dunhill Prices' post...they arrived today. This one is a gigantic LB Dunhill, is in mint condition bar a few small scratches....I bought these from German Ebay, there was no bidding war and I was actually I was surprised I won. Shipping was very cheap. For $148 I got a bargain.

DUNHILL Pfeife Bruyere 51031 ohne Filter - eBay (item 120464190437 end time Sep-24-09 11:45:00 PDT)

DUNHILL Pfeife Shell Briar 253 F/T ohne Filter - eBay (item 120464182546 end time Sep-24-09 11:30:00 PDT)

However the second is probably a 1963 or 1965, the markings are thinly worn. It has been over reamed with a knife tool and the bit is also quite worn. This was $110...so really I would have rather seen better resolution shots of the bit and bowl inside...however is does smoke very well for a first time estate. Some you win, some you loose. For me Ebay and Dunhills can be very dangerous waters. Old pipes go for higher prices but tend to be worn and smoked heavier. This would not happen at Smokingpipes.com, but then I would pay almost double...you live and learn. To conclude both smoke great but I think many Dunhills on Ebay tend to be overpriced.


Excuse the duplication here. This above post is from the Ebay buys section. Parklane1 suggested I elaborate. Simply put many Dunhills go for high prices because people want to pay high prices. Are they worth it, no there not. One pipe I purchase is more than worth what I paid the other is not. From what I see on Ebay and other websites clearly they're over priced on average by 50%.

Yes, they taste great, both my pipes taste surprisingly good for first time 'estate' smoke. But many pipes can, this is not unique to a Dunhill.

I have noticed that in recent months the prices have reduced on average by 25%-30% for most estate pipes on Ebay. So it seem you can now pick up a nice Dunhill for under the $100 mark, which is how it should be.

To conclude I feel there is an element of collectors needing something to collect, they need a Holy Grail. I buy pipes because I love smoking a pipe, so much so that I buy too many. But any antique dealer will tell you things are meant to be used, not be stored away in a closet or attic.

Lastly I would advise caution when buying a Dunhill on Ebay, as many close-up shots as possible, a very reputable dealer and remember "older may be better, but it will also be older!"

[MarkC]

If you think eBay prices on Dunhills are high, try this link...

24 Rare Dunhill Set

[Mister Moo]

I doubt I would buy a Dunhill but, recently, my brother gave me his 1964 shell billiard. I am the world's biggest skeptic about high-priced overblown crapola, nonetheless, this pipe is without a doubt the best smoker I've ever enjoyed. The bit isn't that comfortable in my mouth and the shape/finish is nothing special to my eye - I never would have picked it out - but the pipe has some kind of perfect geometry. No gurgles, no restrictions, no turbulence? I don't know why - no problems is all I know.

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

I doubt I would buy a Dunhill but, recently, my brother gave me his 1964 shell billiard. I am the world's biggest skeptic about high-priced overblown crapola, nonetheless, this pipe is without a doubt the best smoker I've ever enjoyed. The bit isn't that comfortable in my mouth and the shape/finish is nothing special to my eye - I never would have picked it out - but the pipe has some kind of perfect geometry. No gurgles, no restrictions, no turbulence? I don't know why - no problems is all I know.

I think 200-250 year old briar was still being used in that era by Dunhill, Barling and Charatan, at the least. I'm told that those three pipe brands from that era and earlier are indeed some of the best smokers due to the age of the briar.

[DubintheDam]

One of the things I mean to point out here is that there are a lot of Dunhill estates around because of their reputation, and many of those are going for high prices because of the hype and not their condition. Equally I see some real nice Dunhills in top condition on German Ebay going for the $100 mark, while similar type/condition on Ebay.com can go for $250.

I think its fair to say Dunhill is an Ebay nightmare, I'd almost goes as far to say, pay the extra bucks to buy from someone like smokingpipes.com.

The Large Briar one that I bought is going for $590 on Smokershaven, that being 1968, mine being 1981. For a saving of $450 odd dollars I can live with it being a decade newer.