Dunhill: County (6217F) (2023) (9mm) Tobacco Pipe

The Bulldog is a classic shape, of that there is no doubt, with a distinctly muscular design that focuses the attention on the bowl. Dunhill has here rendered that shape in an interesting way with this robust, Group 6 "17," featuring muscular shaping cues and a powerful squatness. The stem is a diamond-shaped saddle of vulcanite whose base is lined with a quartet of firm ridgelines, informing the shape of the shank, a stout stretch of briar that transitions smoothly into the bowl. The bowl itself is incredibly squat, resting on a ridged heel and featuring a single ridgeline that denotes a taper toward the rim. This particular offering is dressed in the crisp sandblast of the County line, showcasing handsome grain throughout the stummel, and it's drilled to accommodate 9mm filters.

Like the Cumberland finish, Dunhill's County line pairs rich, cumberland stems with delightfully textured sandblasts. Typically, County pieces wear a lighter stain, often falling between the Cumberland and Tanshell hues, and since its introduction in 1986, with only a brief hiatus, the County remains stalwart within Dunhill's portfolio, especially desired by lovers of brindled vulcanite and warm sandblasts.