Dunhill 1964 Root Briar 252 (4) Smooth Billiard 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.

It’s difficult to beat a good English billiard, especially if it’s made by Dunhill. The “252” was one of Dunhill’s flagship “Classic” billiards in the mid-century, having what I would consider to be just about ideal proportions for such a shape. A group 4 design in Dunhill’s size system, it is neither too long nor too short, too stout or too slender. The chamber capacity is more than reasonable but, as it’s a Dunhill, the pipe is exceedingly lightweight making for easy clenching and general portability. This one comes from one of Dunhill’s golden decades, the 1960s, and is dressed in a well-earned Root Briar finish—likely awarded due to its brilliant bird’s-eye patterning.

The condition is very good. There’s a small burn mark at around 7 o’ clock, but it is very slight. There’s also a little finish fading and slight faded nomenclature (though still perfectly legible), but nothing major.

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.83 / 21.08mm

Bowl Depth: 1.54″ / 39.11mm

Weight: 1.2oz / 36g