Jarl Pipe... What's Oil Hardened?

[agnosticpipe]

I recently bought this Jarl pipe, and have not been able to find out much about the brand, other than it was made in Denmark, and most likely not by Stanwell. I received the pipe in the condition as pictured, the previous owner having cleaned it up nicely. What I was wondering about is the stamping, "Oil Hardened" on the shank. Is that the same as oil cured? I've read about oil curing, but does it really harden the briar?

Any other Jarl pipe smokers out there? Or anyone having any info about the oil hardened aspect?

 

[pruss]

One of my first estates, when I came back to pipes, was a Jarl.
It was a lovely little sandblast pot, with a saddle bit. I wish I hadn't sold it. As I understand it, from the little pipedia info, Jarls were the creation of one man and when he stopped carving the line ended. I read between the lines and assumed that "oil hardened" was another way of describing/translating "oil cured". Perhaps a mistake on my part, but that's where I went in my head.
Here are some pics of the little guy after I cleaned him up:

 

[agnosticpipe]

Thanks for the post pruss, and that is a very nice looking Jarl you had! After smoking this one today, I think that they're as nice as any Stanwell I ever smoked. Don't know if the oil hardening made it smoke any different, but I guess time will tell. Wish there was more info about them, kind of a mystery.