Dunhill: Ring Grain (5101) (2023) Tobacco Pipe

In robust Group 5 size, Dunhill's classic "01" Apple presents a considerable amount of palm-filling substance, offering a comforting in-hand feel and generous depth of chamber for relaxing smoking sessions. The bowl is bulbous, tapered toward the rim, and the shank is relatively thick, complimenting the bowl's heartiness. The underside is flattened, allowing the pipe to sit sturdily, and the dark, inky sandblast and black vulcanite stem of the Shell Briar finish keep the composition feeling solid and serious: the finish revealing grain handsome enough to earn this pipe the coveted 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.