Birth Year Pipe Quest

thewanderingdude

So my wife has given me the green light to begin my quest for a birthyear (1975) Dunhill. I have had Shae (highly reccomended) over at Vintage Pipes searching for me already, even before the green light. But is there any other shops/refurb guys any of you would recommend?

PappyJoe

I need a 1953 pipe. Good luck on your search.

daveinlax

I need a 1953 pipe

Cool! The last Patent year!

  I have had Shae (highly reccomended) over at Vintage Pipes searching
for me already, even before the green light. But is there any other
shops/refurb guys any of you would recommend?

I'd cut out the middle man and search eBay daily. Be picky and find one that looks naturally new and doesn't need much work. Look for a crisp rim and something that hasn't been over reamed and buffed with strong nomenclature. If your not specific on a size, finish or shape pass until you find the one. I avoid refurbishers and buffing wheels and try to do most of the work myself by hand.   

drac2485

Unfortunately I lucked out with some of my Birthyear pipes that I own.  Ebay was my go to and I got some not so horrible deals. I also got lucky on smokingpipes.com and was able to pick some up.  @thewanderingdude  I found a 1975 Dunhill on smokingpipes.com I don't know your budget but its listed at $530  https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/estate/england/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=208088

thewanderingdude

@drac2485 good looking out Sir! But I think I'm hankering for a sand blast, like their shells. I'm going to be a picky bastard for sure. Thanks for the heads up though

pylorns

Mine fell in my lap, local tobacco shop gets people who walk in periodically with pipes they want them to sell or buy and resell.  A week before I told my tobacconist I was looking for my birth year dunhill, and bamn he walks up and puts it into my lap. 

thewanderingdude

@pylorns you lucky dog! Now that you have one, do you think my quest worthy? Or would I be better off spending my Dunhill money on a custom artisan pipe and forget about the birth year pipe all together? 

pylorns

Worthy quest, don't kill yourself over it though and don't pay more than $200 for it.. setup a search on ebay to notify you when a dunhill for your birthyear pops up.

dstrib

Honesty not sure if their are any good pipes made in 82. Any recommendations?

drac2485

@thewanderingdude I agree with @pylorns I found most of mine setting an ebay search and it still produces them. Some people want a fortune and some pipes are beat to death but its still nice to see the variations some companies produced for my birth year.

drac2485

@distrib Personally, I love petersons and those were the ones I normally go for.  I find the idea of owning a pipe made the year I was born cool and don't really focus on a specific pipe, I go for the ones that speak to me.  I know the common theme is owning a dunhill from your birth year, and I do have one.  If you have a brand you like I'd try and find one from them

thewanderingdude

@pylorns @drac2485 I set up the search function on ebay, thanks for the idea. In the process I found something a little bit cheaper, and pretty cool on its own, a birth year zippo in the box for under $20. That's quite a bit more manageable than the Dunhill will be! 

drac2485

Glad you found the zippo. I've seen a few for my birth year but some one wanted about $100 bucks for it. The Dunhills are crazy unless you get lucky. I think I paid something above $200, not to far, for mine and I love it

drac2485

@thewanderingdude I came across this on eBay today and thought of you. It's a 1975 Dunhills Shell Briar https://www.ebay.com/itm/291853405331

judandhispipe

Good luck in your search!

thewanderingdude

@drac2485 You sir are the hero! It was exactly what I was looking for, and I am happy to say I was the high bidder at $105. Good looking out! 

Woodsman

I'm looking for a 1941 Peterson, the year letter is an Uncial Z

Kirbyb

If someone runs across a 1958 I'd love to hear about it.

drac2485

@thewanderingdude Glad to be able to help