Anyone have a Middleton Briar Pipe

[kokomokid55]

Throwing another mystery pipe out for possible info and dating. This is a Middleton that was in my Grandfathers cache of pipes that until just recently were not discovered since he passed in 1943. Briar has inscription "Middleton Rugged Root Imported Briar" Anyone ever seen or have a Middleton? This pipe looks brand new and looks to have been smoked sparingly as there is no cake buildup

 

[dmcmtk]

I've had a couple, fine smoking pipes. Their 1947 catalog is here where the Rugged Root is mentioned,
http://chriskeene.com/jmiddleton1
and some of the markings that can be found on Middleton pipes is here,
http://www.pipephil.eu/logos/en/logo-m5.html

 

[kokomokid55]

null

 

[mso489]

Usually "Imported Briar" is on pipes made in the U.S. to denote briar as the material after the briar shortage of WWII. I guess Comoy might have used that stamp for pipes made in France for sale in the U.S., but perhaps there were also U.S.-made pipes. That's a handsome one, and so lightly used. A treasure for sure.