Designed as a hand holding a flaming sword in Irish "an Claíomh Solais" or "sword of light" the mark bears the date 1916 to the right above and 1966 to the left below. An Claidheamh Soluis , this was hallmarked with the letter Y. This very unusual and special date mark has in recent years become very scarce, mainly because it was only used for that year. Pipes that were marked thus, are much sought after by Peterson pipe collectors. They are XL size pipes that mirror the Kinsale and SH series of pipes with slightly shorter plip mouthpieces. Again this was a time of great change for the brand, the company having changed ownership on several ocassions. There are many Peterson pipes with sterling silver bands that do not have hallmarks though, even some in the Premier and Deluxe grades. He considers that at the end of the day, a pipe is a consumer product, loosely defined and the consumer wants something new every so often. The second issue was called 'The Return of' and was based on the success of 'the Original', with seven additional new shapes and dedicated wooden rack being created. The ‘69’ is a slimmed down bent Billiard--well, only slimmed down by Peterson standards, but still. It’s presented here with glass-like gleaming black bowl and a thick nickel ring imprinted with ‘Dracula’ and surrounded by... Peterson’s venerable Rhodesian is particularly special when paired with the flair-for-dramatics of the Dracula Series. Featuring a red & black deep rustication that offers a distinguished look and incredibly tactile feel, and a fiery reddish-orange swirled translucent acrylic stem, these pipes are reminiscent of their namesake. These beautiful pipes are dressed with a brass/aluminum/brass triple ring, and accept all standard 9mm charcoal filters that I carry. Available in 6 of Peterson’s most iconic and classic shapes, there is a Phoenix pipe for nearly everyone’s taste. Featuring a small reservoir intended to collect moisture before it reaches the smoker, the 'System Pipe' is designed to create a drier and cooler smoke and discourage the formation of dottle. The System Pipe is still a consistent top seller for Peterson. However in defence, my knowledge is based on years of ownership and experience of the myriad selection of pipes that Peterson have produced and are still producing. I have had an extensive collection of other brands, including artisan pipes, in my collections over the years, with which to draw these comparisons. However for me Peterson pipes have a special place and attraction. Their historical elegance coupled to Celtic charisma and eccentricity adds to a massive world wide following and popularity. As well as being excellent everyday smoking pipes, they are also very collectible. Particularly the Patents, Pre-Republics and original Mark Twain's, all of which command reasonably consistent, estate prices at auction.