Dunhill Tanshell 4T - Collector's Piece ('58 or '68 Production) Pipe

Note: The pipe that will be shipped to you is the very same pipe you see in the photos. After your order the product will be marked as "Sold Out". Only one of each pipe is available on our website.

Brand: Dunhill Tanshell 4T

 

We are looking at a very special estate pipe selected for our community. 

 

At this point I should explain what the difference between Shell Briar and Tanshell is, why Tanshell Dunhills are far rarer and why they are far more valuable.

 

What Is Shell Briar? 

 

It is Dunhill's patented line, the forefather of sandblasting. The patent dates to 1917 and it pioneered the sandblasting technique. However, the Shell Briar line is colored with a very dark brown or black stain and the sandblast is quite deep. The deep blast was used above all to hide the sand pits known as pits. 

 

What Is Tanshell?

 

It was launched in 1953 using briar of Sardinian origin. Because the briar from this region is quite hard, a shallower, single blast was used instead of a deep blast. Since this blasting style cannot hide flaws in the briar, much higher quality briar was needed than for the Shell Briar line, and it was produced in smaller numbers. 

 

In addition, Tanshell is not stained dark brown or black but in much lighter tones, close to the natural color of the briar. Because this light color takes on a natural patina from tobacco smoke, heat and the oils of the hand, it is far more valuable than Shell Briar.

 

Model: Billiard
Filter: Filterless
Mouthpiece: Vulcanite
Length: 13 cm
Height: 4.5 cm
Bowl Diameter: 2.5 cm
Bowl Depth: 4 cm
Weight Without Mouthpiece: 25.9 g
Total Weight: 33.2 g

 

 

Briar Quality

 

Very Poor
Poor
Good 
Very Good
Excellent ✅

 

Shank: Quite clean.

 

Draft Hole (Air Hole) : Dead center of the bowl, but it does not come flush with the bottom of the bowl. A good bottom-up break-in is needed.

 

Bowl Cleanliness: Reamed very well, but there is a structure that narrows toward the bottom of the bowl.

 

Condition: 8/10

 

Flaws: The bowl and the draft hole are not as we would like. These are only issues that can be sorted out with a bottom-up break-in. The reason for them is the age of the pipe and the fact that it has been restored more than once.

 

Score: 9/10

 

Comment: Because the Tanshell is not an easy Dunhill to find, in the case of this pipe we can genuinely speak of collector value. Given the high-quality briar that this line required and the fine sandblasting technique, many collectors will not sell the Tanshells they own, and since production numbers were far, far lower than for Shell Briar, finding an estate Tanshell is also quite difficult. For those looking for a collector's pipe, this is a piece not to be missed.