Question from another forum

[Idlefellow]

This question was asked on a shotgun forum I frequent. I'd always supposed they were "seconds" but certainly don't know. Any input?

"I have a Parker and I just got a Hardcastle, both pipes were made after Dunhill took over the 2 companies. The parker is kind of plain, but a good smoker. The Hardcastle is well executed, but has a number of fills, don't know how it smokes yet. So my questions are: Were these stand alone brands that made pipes under the oversite of Dunhill but were not Dunhill craftsmanship? OR Were these pipes that got carved by Dunhill, but then didn't, for some reason make the "Grade" and were stamped/branded to Parker/Hardcastle?"

 

[mosin1932]

This seems like a pretty reasonable explanation, but is probably not the gospel. Hopefully there are some Dunhill pipe historians who can set the record straight though!

https://pipedia.org/wiki/Parker

 

[UkuleleDude67]

I have a couple of GQ tobacco’s house pipes and they are made by Parker. Some say they are Dunhill 3rds. But lots dispute that story. I even heard the burn the Dunhill seconds for warmth in the factory to keep from besmirching the Dunhill Brand.