Dunhill: Ring Grain (5233) (2020) Tobacco Pipe

The "33" is Dunhill's take on the bent Brandy. However, this particular pipe revises the traditional "33," opting instead for a Volcano shape. The defined ridgeline at the bottom of the bowl, along with the flat, smooth-finished bottom, gives this pipe a stable sitting posture. A well-bent shank and vulcanite saddle stem frame the Group 5 bowl, which is stamped with Dunhill's prestigious "Ring Grain" designation.

Having earned the English marque's prestigious Ring Grain designation, this Dunhill piece wears a particularly choice iteration of the Shell Briar sandblast — displaying stunning waves of ring grain across the stummel. The Shell Briar's addition to the Dunhill catalog was a pivotal moment in pipe-smoking history. Before 1917, pipes with sandblasted finishes had never been made, and Alfred Dunhill's innovative mind created arguably the most popular finish for pipes today when he unveiled the Shell Briar. With its dark, reserved color palette and delightful texture, it's no surprise that it's still wildly popular over a century later.