Dunhill pipes...are they special?

[Mike in Cincy]

I've got a couple of corn cobs, a Peterson, and a Stanwell. Very reasonable prices for what you get with those brands.

But I can't help but be astonished by the prices on Dunhill pipes. What makes them command such value?

There's a video on YouTube of a gentleman smoking a Dunhill pipe (a gift) and commenting on how effortless it is.

Do Dunhills make that big of a difference?

 

[senatorxmg]

I have a Dunhill and can confidently say it smokes better than some of my pipes and worse than some of my pipes. I think Dunhill makes a great pipe...but I also think Peterson, Savinelli, and Stanwell do, as well. Also, you can buy a handcrafted pipe from a pipemaker tailored to your likings for a much better price.

You are somewhat paying extra for the name....but I'm ok with that if the product is also top quality. However, "how much" extra is one willing to pay is the question. I get a fantastic smoke out of my $100-$200 Petersons...I'm not so sure I would double or triple the quality of the smoke of a Dunhill.

However, like I, you just need to try one for yourself in order to truly know if they're worth it.

 

[COHunter]

Special? No. Quality item with a noted history for producing products that perform well? Yes. I personally don't own one and may well never own one because I can get good quality smokers for ~$50-$125 all day long and for my $$ I'd rather have 2 or more great performers that I'm not afraid to use than 1 really expensive one that I'm paranoid about.

They will maintain their value too, so it's not a bad "investment" if you needed to resell.

 

[Mike in Cincy]

thanks for the advice guys. yeah, I've got a Falcon on the way and want to get a nice poker soon as well. I'll save the Dunhill for another time down the road.

 

[zatopus]

Awesome. So it was a Falcon that your father used to have?

thanks for the advice guys. yeah, I've got a Falcon on the way and want to get a nice poker soon as well. I'll save the Dunhill for another time down the road.

 

[COHunter]

I need to try a Falcon. I have a Kirsten and it's either the best thing in the world or a complete pain! Keep us posted on how that Falcon performs.

 

[Uncle Jackie]

The biggest disappointment I had with my first Dunhill was when I realized it is just another pipe. Much of what you are paying for is the brand recognition and the status symbol.

 

[xraygun]

They do make a very impressive gift that doesn't require expertise to purchase.

 

[Argonaut]

Estate Dunhills are the way to go. Great pipes, but not for the new price IMO.

 

[Mike in Cincy]

Awesome. So it was a Falcon that your father used to have?

Actually, it was a Dr. Grabow metal pipe, however, I'd rather have the Falcon. lol

 

[DC_MPA]

I don't see any quality difference between a $70-100 pipe and a $300-500 pipe. All brands of pipes will have their bad smokers and their killer smokers. I have a $300 bad smoker and will still tell you that Radice makes some amazing pipes. This one was just a dud. Dunhill makes duds too

 

[Kazeryu]

This is my (amateur) opinion:

After around $75, you are paying mostly for the looks - the character of the grain, quality of the carving on an unsual or unique shape, etc.

After around $250, you are pretty much paying for the little stamp on the stem and/or the signature. (YMMV)


Most of the cost of an expensive pipe is about the esthetics, not the functionality. Let's face it - functionally speaking, pipes aren't that complicated. The difference between a mediocre smoker and a great smoker isn't even remotely comparable to the difference between a machine-made violin and a Stradivarius. (Please don't mistake my meaning - I'm not saying that there isn't a great deal of skill that goes into pipe-making. I'm just saying that the "smokes well" factor is just a very small part of it.)

 

[Senetsomed]

Sometimes I wonder about this too, I personally love L'anatra pipes, but I also get a great experience from other brands. I smoked a Dunhill once, I lost it in a trip,the most interesting factor for me was the "mystique" around it. The smoke was as regular as any other.