I once had a mental misstep and I sold a few of my pipes. Not sure why, since I did not need the money at the time, but I did it anyway. There are a few pipes that I miss but there was a particular GBD bent that I really missed. After I sold them I did not check the website that bought them because I knew I would be upset I sold them. Fast forward about two years and I went back to that site and my GBD was still available. I am not sure why, it is a beautiful GBD Virgin in pristine condition. Maybe he was asking too much, but regardless, it was still there. After a few weeks of contemplation I decided to buy it back. I needed the pipe back for some reason. I sent him an email and it arrived a few days later. After I got it back I never smoked it and put it away in my box of pipes, looking at it from time to time.
This morning I decided to go scrounging through my pipe box in search of an extra pack of pipe cleaners (we ran out again at the office) and this GBD caught my eye so I decided to bring to it work with me. I packed a bowl of 5100 and sat back and enjoyed the first few puffs with my old friend. The pipe smoked better than ever and brought back memories of smoking it in my old apartment years ago. The 5100 tasted extra sweet in this pipe and I smoked it down to the bottom without one relight. This morning was the perfect time to smoke this pipe. I may have lost money on the pipe but I got back an old, reliable pipe. I love older GBD pipes and they are still relatively cheap on the estate market for standard shapes. The vulcanite bits are usually thin and very comfortable and the briar was first rate, sometimes not the prettiest grain but always great quality with dry smoking characteristics.
I have added this pipe to my work rotation, but I am going to be careful with this one. If I start to become careless with this pipe I will take it back home and set it back in my pipe box.
thanks for sharing Kevin , I wish I had a GBD like yours.
Bernie, Thanks for your comment. Most of the GBD pipes I have owned were good to great smokers. Kevin
Thank You Russ for the info on 5100 i never knew about this blend. Until the day you talked about in this blog.And now i too am hooked on it and had to buy some local until payday.
Harold, glad you like 5100. If you can, try to age a little bit and you will be greatly rewarded. It gets sweeter as it ages. Kevin
An older post, but if someone else is late to find this as I was it will be relevant none the less.
GBD’s is quite possibly one of the most under-rated marquee’s in the “estate” market. I cannot speak to new production since the newest GBD I own is 1980.
I stumbled across the brand. A gentleman that had long gave up smoking was divesting his (very) large Dunhill collection. I snapped up as many as I could afford. In the process he gave me a couple of tattered Dunhill’s, old dogs that don’t look pretty but they sure hunt good.
At the end he had a smattering of GBD’s – no one bought them. So, as he had been kind to me I returned and told him to set a price and I’d but the lot. I did – and now I know I surely got the better of the deal.
My collection is around 200ish pipes. A full third is Dunhill’s, all but one dating pre-1970. The other third – GBD’s. After cleaning up and smoking that old lot of GBD’s – I went on the hunt.
They’re wonderful smokers. The smoke every bit as good as any other premium English made pipe. But with so many added benefits. GBD wasn’t afraid to think outside the box. So many shapes, styles, finishes, stems – their French roots and the flair is ever present. Though, they can spot on a classic shape as well as anyone.
Fit, finish, drilling is superb. And out of the 60ish I have, I’ve yet to spot a single pit, fill, or anything of he like.
Sad that this marquee went the way of merger. But the good news is due to their affordability of their day “The working mans Dunhill”, there are hoards of them out there. Any local estate may turn one up. They’re readily available on eBay or other sights. And they do not command the same price that Dunhill, Sasieni, BBB et cetera., though in terms of quality they are equal to all the above mentioned, and then some.
Do yourself a favor – if you see an old GBD then grab it and add it to your collection. Even if it’s battered to hell and beyond – she’ll still hunt.
The one sure test to see if it’s pre-transition. If the stamping is linear – it’s a GBD. The metal stem emblem isn’t always a sure bet, since they can be added, or lost. It’s all in the stamping. If “London England” is stamped straight – it’s the real deal.
Last note – Some GBD’s were made in France. They are of equal quality. Some are stamped “Made in France”, some are stamped “London England”. Either way – same quality.
Most of the French made ones were actually intended for the French market, with French shaping and names – luckily many of those left France and are available to us as well.
Thank you very much for your comment. I agree 100% on your feeling for GBD pipes. There was time I had quite a collection of GBD’s. Now, sadly I only own a few, but the few I have a fantastic smokers. I am always looking for more to add to my collection. I even sold one and watched it sit on a site for over two years and contacted them and bought it back. Also, I agree with the French made pipes, same quality. Kevin
Tim,
Went back and read this post and realized that I talked about selling and buying the pipe back.