Group 5 Europe
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Charatan’s Make SPECIAL, Straight Dublin shape 33
The stamping on this pipe is so worn it took the camera to show me the true credentials and value. Mind you I did have a clue when I picked it up – incredibly light.
A fine piece of briar, with a good-sized bowl.
The bowl has strong cross-grain front and back, with very faint BirdsEye between. It seems that there is too little soft wood for a distinctive grain. However the cross=grain continues over the shank showing a nice differentiation of hard and soft briar.
I don’t think the mouthpiece is original. Certainly there is no logo, and the join with the shank is not flush.
The pipe has been well cared for, only slight burn marks around the inside rim of the bowl, and very few dings.
Thanks to the camera I can just see that the stamping is “Charatan’s Make” “London England” SPECIAL 33.
But even the camera couldn’t help with the scratchings to the left of the stamp.
Dating is very difficult, maybe you could try for yourself. https://pipedia.org/wiki/Dating_of_Charatans
It doesn’t seem to be from the period when the pipes were made in France since there are no letters after the shape number. It appears that all the other manufacturing periods provided pipes of Charatan/Dunhill quality – a great smoke.
Vital statistics:
Weight 33g
Inside bowl diameter 22mm
Inside bowl depth 39mm
Dunhill Bruyere Dublin shape 142, with oval shank
A classic Dublin shape bowl, with the oval stem streaming seamlessly from the bowl.
The modern Shape Chart has no indication of an oval stem for a Dublin.
The dark Bruyere finish has lightened over the years to a delicate golden brown.
Now you can enjoy the grain on the bowl of this pipe from any angle:
Birdseye on one side, another heart of Birdseye on the opposite side with flaring Flame Grain. The flames continue around and under the bowl and along the top of the shank.
Eye-catching!
Dating
Circled 4 indicates after 1951; A for Bruyere, top quality; shape numbers changed to 3, 4 or 5 digits in 1976.
No patent no. after 1955
So this pipe is pre 1976 – add 30 – 50 years aging and curing, and the briar is now at least 80 years old.
Weight 34g
Inside bowl diameter 19mm
Inside bowl depth 38mm
Dunhill Bruyere shape LB, Group 4
The original rich Burgundy Bruyere (A) colour has faded leaving a glowing brown
colour. You can see a variety of patterns – all with plenty of hard wood and
enough softer wood to form the contrasting grain.
A few dings, otherwise in excellent condition.
The pipe has a replacement mouthpiece – very well fitted. Just a slight ridge at the
join.
But I’m glad they weren’t tempted to sand the shank so that the fit would be smooth.
Dating
Unfortunately the polishing was too enthusiastic and I can only see the start of the name Dunhill and the shape LB.
On the other side of the shank the letter A (for Bruyere) and a number in a circle. This is a clue to the age of the pipe.
From around 1976 the circled numbers were replaced with 3, 4 or 5 digit shape numbers, so this beauty was manufactured at least 48 years ago – add the aging time, the briar must be 80 to 100 years old.
Current price Group 5 Bruyere refurbished pipe R7200.00 (New over R10000.00)
Weight 58g
Inside bowl diameter 21mm
Inside bowl depth 42mm
Dunhill Pipe, Bruyere 254-RfDHDPB5213 Estate Pipe
What a stunning pipe.
Exact dating was not easy.
The underlined 2 digits after England are the same size as the D which puts the date between 1970 and 1999. The digits are very blurred - possibly twenty something. However the 4 digit code tell us the pipe was probably manufactured after 1985. Then from 2000 the 2 digits after the D were no longer underscored. In addition, definitely before 2012 when the stamping was changed from the word Dunhill in an ellipse, to the words The White Spot with Alfred Dunhill’s above and below.
So this pipe was manufactured around 40 years ago, and that was after curing, and after at least 50 years in the ground.
In its 40 years since the burgundy bruyere stain was applied to the pipe, the colour has faded to reveal fine grain with plenty of hard wood. Beautiful close birdseye on one side of the bowl, spread birdseye on the other flaring into the matching horizontal grain across the front of the bowl.
A fine piece of briar. The bent apple shape offers a comfortable handful.
Group 5, Saddle mouthpiece, Bent Apple
Weight: 44g
Inner Bowl Diameter: 19mm
Inner bowl depth: 41mm
Dunhill Tanshell, Group 4, shape LB F/T
The Tanshell finish was introduced in 1952.
The sandblasting has been smoothed with years of use, in places almost completely smooth.
But the condition of the bowl is excellent, just slight wear on the rim.
The original mouthpiece was damaged near the bite, and has been repaired.
Tested, pipe cleaner runs through smoothly. Just in case, a replacement mouthpiece is included.
Some pictures are with original mouthpiece, one with the fine quality replacement mouthpiece fitted.
Note: Between 1962 and 1968 Algerian briar was not available, and sandblasted pipes were made from slightly harder Greek briar using a double blast technique.
Dating:
This pipe is stamped with a circled 4 and T (Tanshell) but is larger than the Group 4 pipes we see today.
Date of manufacture 1968 as shown by the digit 8 after, and the same size as, the D in England.
Current price of refurbished Tanshell LB with original mouthpiece R6000.00
Weight 53g
Inside bowl diameter 22mm
Inside bowl depth 44mm