Hi,

I personally select the pipes on offer because a quality pipe is something to be treasured and enjoyed for many years.

Helping you decide on a briar's grain and finish is important to me. I strive to provide honest and informative photos for you while I continue to improve my photography. Most bent shapes will distribute weight better than a straight shape but a good straight shape can still be very comfy and a pleasure.

As unclecuster very kindly wrote in feedback for his Kinsale XL12 and 306 System:

OUTSTANDING PETERSON PIPE! OUTSTANDING SELLER! OUTSTANDING!! OUTSTANDING!!! >>>>

GR8 PIPE CONSULTANT! V. HONEST! Fast delivery! Best pipes avail on world ebay!

I do my best to avoid pipes with fills. The assorted Italian made pipes I offer are good value for money but not of the same quality as the likes of Peterson and Stanwell.

Please see my page for an example of shipping outside of Australia.

As always, questions welcome.

Ted

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My current selection on hand can be seen here
( I have not finished taking photos, if your prefered shape/pipe is not on eBay yet, you are welcome to email me )

Peterson Silver Mounted Pipes
The Hallmark of Pure Perfection
(reprint from Peterson)

As well as the Peterson name and words 'sterling silver', all Peterson silver mounted pipes carry three distinguising marks:

1. The symbol of 'Hibernia' (Ireland), the country of manufacture.
2. The Crowned Harp is the fineness mark denoting the high quality (purity) of the silver used
3. The Date Letter Code for the year in which the silver was hallmarked and the pipe made.

Hallmarks - A Legal Requirement in Ireland

Hallmarking is not a legal requirement in many countries but it is in Ireland.

By Irish Law, the standard of most gold, silver and platinum articles must be tested (known as assaying) as the Assay Office of the Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin in Dublin Castle. The legal standard of purity having been established, the articles are stamped with a series of marks, i.e. 'Hallmarks', by the Assay Office.

What Is A Hallmark ?

It is a series of marks collectively known as Hallmarks that are stamped on articles manufactured from gold, silver, or platinum, after the articles have been tested and found to be of the legal standard of purity.

History Of Irish Hallmarks

Although Ireland boasts an ancient tradition of craft metalwork in gold, silver, copper and bronze that dates back to circa 2,000 B.C., it was not until 1637 that the goldsmiths of Dublin formally petitioned Kind Charles 1 of England for a royal charter.

On 22nd December 1637, the King granted a charter thus establishing the Assay Office and the Company of Goldmiths of Dublin. Many of the provisions of that royal charter apply to present day and the reasons for its coming into being was to prevent abuses and deceits then widely practices due to the lack of a recognised mark of standard for gold and silver ware.

The Company of Goldsmiths, which was to be incorporate of itself and have perpetual succession, was given power to supervise the assaying of all gold and silver in the kingdom of Ireland and if any person was found selling goods with intent to deceive the public, these goods were to be 'broke' and the manufacturer, trader and workman punished.

The Hallmark

The mark chosen to guarantee the quality of gold or silver was the Harp Crowned, known as the King Majesty's stamp. Originally, hallmarks consisted of the goldsmith's or silversmith's own proper mark plus the fineness mark (the Harped Crowned). It applied to 22 carat gold and sterling silver which is silver of 0.925 purity i.e. 925 parts of fine silver in each 1,000.

In 1638 a date letter mark was added to denote the year in which a piece was made or hallmarked and is changed on 1st January every year. Another new mark in the form of Hibernia (Ireland) was introduced on 25th March 1730 to indicate that a duty has been paid.

If you look closely at the silver mount on the Peterson pipe, you'll see the same three hallmarks - Hibernia, the Harp Crowned and the date letter mark. They are your guarantee of pure sterling silver just as the Peterson name is your guarantee of true smoking pleasure.