1922 Dunhill C325 Patent Pipe 5861/12 Inner Tube Only Known Example Estate Find For Sale

The Only Known Example of This Shape from 1922 – With 5861/12 Patent & Inner Tube System
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Offered here is a museum-caliber Dunhill estate pipe, date-coded 1922 (small raised ²) and fully stamped with the legendary 5861/12 Inner Tube patent, a rare, untouched survivor from the earliest days of Dunhill’s innovation era.
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But what makes this pipe unforgettable isn’t just the date or condition. It’s the shape, C325, a form no one has seen, and no one else owns.
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C325, a bent, slightly swan-necked form with graceful balance and timeless presence.
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We’ve searched every major platform, sale archive, estate gallery, and collector listing. There is no record of another C325 Dunhill from any era, let alone from 1922. Not on WorthPoint, not on SmokingPipes, not in Dunhill’s surviving shape catalogs. This is the first one to surface. Possibly the only one that exists.
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🕰 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
• 5861/12 Patent: Dunhill’s revolutionary Inner Tube design, patented in 1912 and first fitted in pipes as early as 1910. This was the foundation of Alfred Dunhill’s hygienic innovation.
• Date Code “²”: Stamped just after the patent number, this marks the pipe definitively as a 1922 production, only the second year Dunhill implemented its now-famous dating system.
• Finish Code “A.”: The dot after the A confirms a Bruyere finish from the transitional 1918–1919 stamping era, rarely seen after 1921.
• Sterling Band: A vintage, professionally applied silver band wraps the shank, reinforcing the structure and preserving this pipe’s longevity. While it partially covers the MADE IN ENGLAND and INNER TUBE stamps, this was a common tobacconist or pipe shop reinforcement at the time. No hallmark visible, suggesting prewar jeweler or early shop work, not a modern aftermarket addition. Its presence suggests this pipe was worth preserving, even a century ago.
• Estate Condition: This pipe has not been restored. It remains in as-found condition, with natural oxidation, rim wear, and patina, all honest signs of age from a piece that has earned its century of presence.
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🔥 UPDATE: We held off for weeks, but in the end, we had to smoke it. One bowl. Smooth, dry, and full of character. A century later, it still delivers. We then lightly reamed it and took new photos to reflect its current state. If you’ve ever stared at a pipe this rare and thought, “Just one bowl…,” you’ll understand.
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💎 COLLECTOR VALUE:
Most Dunhill pipes from this era, even common shapes, sell in the $400–$600 range. Rare shapes in strong condition routinely exceed $1,200. But this?
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This is a one-of-a-kind historical Dunhill:
• Unrestored
• With the 5861/12 patent and 1922 date code
• In a shape that doesn’t appear in any known catalog or record
• With 100% original vulcanite stem, no replacement
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It belongs in the top tier of any Dunhill grouping, or as the crown jewel of a museum-level rotation.
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It deserves a home under glass, or in the rotation of a collector who understands what it is.
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🧳 FROM A RARE COLLECTION:
This pipe comes from a curated private collection of early pipes, with many pieces dating from the 1918–1930 period. These were not modern estate finds. They were legacy pieces, passed down, stored, and preserved. Each will be listed individually.
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This isn’t for everyone. It’s for the serious collector who recognizes what doesn’t come around again. Offers will be reviewed carefully, but we are in no hurry to let this one go.
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📸 Additional high-res photos available upon request.
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🔔 Follow our shop to explore more museum-grade pipes from this unmatched early 20th century estate.
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Up next: a true one-of-a-kind, a Dunhill No. 1 pipe reamer stamped “Made in Germany.” No other example has ever surfaced. This unmatched piece will be listed shortly.
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Check back often, more pieces from this historic collection will be released one by one.