Tanshell (3104) (2009) Tobacco Pipe

The Dunhill Shell Briar went into full-throttle production in 1917 and, not only was an immediate "hit", it still ranks as Dunhill's top selling finish. So why did Dunhill break out the Tanshell as a line some three and a half decades later? The Shell Briar is crafted from Algerian briar, an exemplary heath if one is looking for deep grooves/channels to result from blasting. Dunhill wanted to offer a sandblast line that presented a finer, more "surface" etching and turned to Sardinia for a more uniformly hard wood suitable for the task. Fun bit o' trivia: During the 60's and 70's Dunhill couldn't get its hands on Algerian briar and the blasts (lo' and behold!) became quite shallow. As always, the White Spot lads showed that they could think on their feet, and came up with a "double blast" method to make Shell Briars look like. well, Shell Briars once again. (Bear is now desperately seeking a way out of this tangent). The blast of the Tanshell in front of you is light, surface and the most prominent grain appears in vertical ripples on the fore and aft of the bowl (though some of the birdseye is awesome). We can't tie back the depth of blast to Algeria v. Sardinia any longer, haven't been able for years. Still, part of the fun of Dunhill is all of the history, lore, even myth that surrounds the iconic pipe in your hands.

--Bear Graves