Dunhill 1977 Red Bark 41032 w/ 9ct Gold Band 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.

The Red Bark is one of several discontinued lines within Dunhill’s history, with its closest contemporary analog being the Ruby Bark. It was introduced in 1972, featuring a sandblasted, almost claret red finish. This one, from 1977, is a rather special Red Bark, with two main reasons for this. The first, and most obvious, is that it sports a 10mm, engine-turned, 9 karat gold collar (possibly fitted by Les Wood, given the time frame), a rare feature sold by Dunhill at a steep premium. Such pipes were often advertised by Dunhill as potential gifts or awards for the lucky pipe smoker in one’s life. The second reason this Red Bark is special is that, as a pipe from the late 1970s, it was made when Dunhill’s shape chart included design variations not available for Dunhill pipes today. This is why the pipe has a five-digit shape code, with the last digit indicating some variation on the base shape indicated by the first four. This 41032, for example, is the 4103 “billiard,” but with a slight difference in the style of the bowl to the 41031 or 41033 models. This shape system only existed for a few years, with Dunhill soon reducing it to the four-digit system still used today, with 4103 being the sole group 4, taper stem billiard manufactured.

The condition is good. Some rim darkening and a couple of spots of char on the inner rim, and some finish fading. The pipe has nevertheless been well preserved, and deservedly so.

 

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.56″ / 39.62mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g