Sounds like you had great trip!
I have often thought of making the trek to Columbia - I live in Knoxville - and I just bought a BW pipe last month. Would be a great road trip!
I got this pipe new in some sort of promotion for next to nothing. I've had it about four years and it's the best smoker I have. No markings at all; I assume it's Italian, since the retailer deals a lot of Italian pipes.