monbla256
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2012
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Well as I said when it arrived it's time for my "report Card" on my new Dunhill Cumberland grp 4 Pot! I've put 5 bowls of McClelland's Fragrant Matured 2000 through it ( 1 bowl a day since I got it) now and it's getting a two/three day rest before I smoke it again. I'll get back to it's baptismal 'bac later.
First I'll address this pipes price. It ( as are most new Dunhills these days) is FAR MORE than I am able to or will pay for a pipe no matter who makes it. It was OVER $350.00 w/shpg from Italy and that is out of my current price range for ANY pipe today. Just my opinion
Next the quality of construction, finish etal of this pipe is EQUAL to ANY high grade I currently own or "Artison" pipes I have recently seen and handled. Stem to bit fit is perfect, blasting is even and consistent over the whole pipe and the stain/finish is PERFECT all over. Dunhill makes some of the FINEST Cumberland/Brindle type of ebonite bits made today in my opinion, and this one is no different. As to bit material, my dentures prefer the softer ebonite/vulcanite material so this fits perfectly with my preferences. The nice wide, thin tapered fishtail bit it has is my fave bit shape and this one is perfect in that regard.
Now to the most important aspect for a pipe, how it smokes! This factor is not one I feel can be accurately assessed in just a short 5 day smoke but some early indicators of the future can be picked up on. ( I personnally feel it takes around 10 years for a pipe to "come into it's own" so to speak) This pipe came with a sort of pre-carbon type of interior coating from what I could tell, and I don't really think these do all that much one way or another in the break-in process. I'm of the "full bowl school" of pipe break-in practitioners and that's what I;ve done with this one so far. I also like how a good St.Red Va starts building cake in a pipe so that is what made me change to some McC's FM 2000 to start this one off with. First bowl was warmer and more moist than in one of my older pipes and I used 3 clnrs during it's first smoke due to there not being any cake yet on the bowl walls. The "draw" was even and smooth and nice and open allowing me to "sip" almost effortlessly. After these 5 bowls, it still is and the exterior of the bowl barely warms up now. I'll probably smoke it every other day for the next month to build some cake, then clean it out and put it in the rack for a month before using on a regular basis. When I do that I will introduce it to it's "bac cousin, Royal Yacht
In summary, I'd have to say that Dunhill is STILL making some premier SMOKING instruments as they have been known for but sadly, due to my current and future finances, not any I would be able to purchase new anymore . I am so VERY GRATEFULL to my daughter for this one and will always treasure it
First I'll address this pipes price. It ( as are most new Dunhills these days) is FAR MORE than I am able to or will pay for a pipe no matter who makes it. It was OVER $350.00 w/shpg from Italy and that is out of my current price range for ANY pipe today. Just my opinion
Next the quality of construction, finish etal of this pipe is EQUAL to ANY high grade I currently own or "Artison" pipes I have recently seen and handled. Stem to bit fit is perfect, blasting is even and consistent over the whole pipe and the stain/finish is PERFECT all over. Dunhill makes some of the FINEST Cumberland/Brindle type of ebonite bits made today in my opinion, and this one is no different. As to bit material, my dentures prefer the softer ebonite/vulcanite material so this fits perfectly with my preferences. The nice wide, thin tapered fishtail bit it has is my fave bit shape and this one is perfect in that regard.
Now to the most important aspect for a pipe, how it smokes! This factor is not one I feel can be accurately assessed in just a short 5 day smoke but some early indicators of the future can be picked up on. ( I personnally feel it takes around 10 years for a pipe to "come into it's own" so to speak) This pipe came with a sort of pre-carbon type of interior coating from what I could tell, and I don't really think these do all that much one way or another in the break-in process. I'm of the "full bowl school" of pipe break-in practitioners and that's what I;ve done with this one so far. I also like how a good St.Red Va starts building cake in a pipe so that is what made me change to some McC's FM 2000 to start this one off with. First bowl was warmer and more moist than in one of my older pipes and I used 3 clnrs during it's first smoke due to there not being any cake yet on the bowl walls. The "draw" was even and smooth and nice and open allowing me to "sip" almost effortlessly. After these 5 bowls, it still is and the exterior of the bowl barely warms up now. I'll probably smoke it every other day for the next month to build some cake, then clean it out and put it in the rack for a month before using on a regular basis. When I do that I will introduce it to it's "bac cousin, Royal Yacht
In summary, I'd have to say that Dunhill is STILL making some premier SMOKING instruments as they have been known for but sadly, due to my current and future finances, not any I would be able to purchase new anymore . I am so VERY GRATEFULL to my daughter for this one and will always treasure it