Dunhill 2018 Ruby Bark 6109 Sandblasted Canadian w/ Silver Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

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.

In 1972, Alfred Dunhill Ltd. introduced a new finish for Dunhill pipes: the Red Bark. Following the Shell Briar and the Tanshell, it was the third sandblast finish in the company’s portfolio and, true to its name, it was a striking red hue. Production of the Red Bark continued for the next 15 years, but, in 1987, Alfred Dunhill Ltd. ultimately decided on giving it an upgrade. The Red Bark was officially discontinued, but it was also “born again,” one might say, this time as the “Ruby Bark.” Compared to its predecessor, the Ruby Bark’s sandblasting was more refined, its stain was tweaked, and each and every pipe was mounted with a sterling silver collar, a standard matched only by Dunhill’s iconic Dress line. This one’s a beautifully finished Canadian rendition, with blasting itself exposing layers of crisp ring grain around the bowl. Though the Ruby Bark is still in production, this one is far rarer than most, as it is a group 6 size, coming in at just under 7 inches in length. The group 6 is the largest of Dunhill’s “standard” sizes, and it is here that one finds some the largest pipes produced by Alfred Dunhill Ltd., rivaled only by certain “OD” shapes and a few other very limited production pieces. As with the “OD”s and comparable limited releases, production of group 6 pipes is very low, especially compared to Dunhill’s more traditionally proportioned wares.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating.

Details:

Length: 6.8″ / 172.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.54″ / 39.11mm

Weight: 1.7oz / 50g