1964 Dunhill Shell EC Sandblasted Canadian Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

To veteran pipe smokers, Dunhill needs no introduction. Beginning in 1907, Alfred Dunhill began selling Dunhill pipes at the tobacconist shop he owned on London’s Duke Street. Very quickly, these pipes gained the reputation of being the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of pipes due to how expertly crafted they were. Today, Dunhill is likely Britain’s most famous pipe manufacturer, and continues to produce some of the most treasured pipes a smoker can buy.

Debuting in 1928, Dunhill’s EC was among the make’s “quaint” shapes, so called because they were distinct, non-standard offerings whose form had been determined by the affordances of the briar block used. This one is from the 1960s, considered by some to be Dunhill’s golden era, partly due to the oil-curing process that was applied to bowls during this time. It’s a nice, slender Canadian, with plenty of craggy ring grain brought out by the sandblasted Shell Briar finish. Being a Dunhill, it’s also incredibly lightweight, making it an ideal clencher.

The condition is fair. There’s some rim darkening and finish fading on the stummel. I do wonder whether the rim has been topped, as I’m not used to Shell Briars of this era having smooth rims. When I looked for other mid-century EC examples, I did find some with smooth rims, so it may well be original. Just to err on the side of caution, I’ve lowered the price accordingly.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.70 / 17.78mm

Bowl Depth: 1.18″ / 29.97mm

Weight: 1.1oz / 32g