Dunhill Red Bark Hungarian shape 591 Gp 4
SOLD

This is a lovely block of briar, much bigger than one would expect from its Group 4 classification.
In very good condition, original mouthpiece too – and no bite marks.
Unfortunately there is a hole in the bottom of the bowl, most likely though the use of a pointed instrument to clean out the dottle.
Even more unfortunately the previous owner didn’t try to have the hole plugged, instead a plate was glued over the hole so that the pipe is able to be smoked.
I can’t tell what the material of the plate is – it isn’t wood, and when tapped it doesn’t sound like plastic.
Judging by past prices, Colin would have marked this pipe at around R7000.00.
Although it is in perfect condition, the hole in the bowl reduces the price, and I have marked it R3950.00.
An option – If you are not happy with it after you have smoked it a few times, you could return it to us (or to some other pipe repairer) to have the plate removed and the hole plugged. I estimate the cost as about R1500.00.
Back to the pipe. It is stamped shape 591. The shape is what Dunhill now call “Hungarian” shape 26.
Very interesting is the stamping.
On the Red Bark Dublin Gp3, the stamp started with F/T and ends with R/B.
This pipe has similar stamping, but because of the steep curve, there was no room for the R/B at the end of the shank.
Part of the stamp, the R/B, has been continued onto the mouthpiece !
Dating:
Red Bark was introduced in 1973 (maybe end 1972)
From 1971-1975 there was a double digit suffix, sometimes underlined.
This pipe shows a small underlined 13 after D in England, so it is from 1973; One of the first of the Red Bark range.
That is over 50 years ago, and the briar was already 20-50 years old at that time. The pipe is almost a Centurion.
This finish was only produced for about 15 years, so the pipe is a real Collectors’ piece.
Weight 60g
Inside bowl diameter 20mm
Inside bowl depth 47mm