Dunhill pipes are some of the most sought after, desired, and collected pipes in the world, and for good reason — immaculate quality control, some of the best briar in the world, their oil curing process, and patented sandblasts.

Some of those factors still exist today, but the modern blasts are a lot tamer than the older ones, the good old Algerian briar has already been used up, and the blocks are not oil cured anymore… In order to experience what made Dunhill the most popular pipe brand in the world, you have to get lucky enough to find a Patent Era pipe.

Well, this is exactly what we have here — a Patent Era Shell straight billiard from 1947. The condition of the pipe is excellent, since it wasn’t smoked much in the last almost 80 years. The blast is very well defined and the stamps are very crisp.

Please keep in mind that I do my restorations of pipes with such historical value a bit differently — you will see a thin ring of oxidation on the stem near the shank, for example… I am generally not a fan of over-restoring pipes, but the older ones I go extra gently.

People put a lot of weight on the collectability of a pipe, but this one just has it all — performance and historical value, in addition to the extreme rarity.

The pipes go through one final check before shipping, so if you notice any inconsistencies in the carnauba finish or smudges they will be taken care of before your pipe is shipped to you.