Two Vintage Hardcastles Pipes

[durham270]

Recent pipe acquisition includes these two Hardcastle pipes. These are from the Marquis series which I've looked up on pipephil, etc and find little information about them as to age. I'm guessing they we're made before the Dunhill buyout? I've looked them over closely and cannot find any fills. Quite the different looking bits too. Maybe someone can help in determining their age, etc. I love history! Anyway, here they are!
Pipe one, Hardcastles Marquis 731X

Pipe two, Hardcastles Marquis 196X

 

[numbersix]

Congrats on those Hardcastles. I cannot share any info on them, but they are beauties.
I had one (a older bulldog from the 30s). It smoked beautifully. I wound up selling it because I determined that I wasn't such a fan of the bulldog shape (still sometimes regret that decision - lol!)

 

[mso489]

Until about three months ago, Iwan Ries had a row of new Hardcastle pipes on their site. I say new, but they

had been on the shelf for some time. They were old style and had brown copper bands. Finally, it seemed

someone came along and bought the whole row, or they all disappeared at once. I think some piper tumbled

to the fact that these were both good and interesting pipes and available at incredible discount, about $40, as

I recall. I was always puzzled by the text that accompanied them, quoting the Hardcastle CEO after sell-out saying

that Hardcastle had become less than a Dunhill second, or something like that, really negative. Now Hardcastle is

back, somewhat, with mid-level pipes that look pretty good but pretty ordinary. This first one is a prize, classic shape,

impressive grain, more than well-maintained and/or restored. Second is almost as good.

 

[dmcmtk]

This is from a UK listing of a Hardcastle Marquis, note the paperwork on the box, Parker Hardcastle.

 

[petes03]

Nice looking pipes, Durham!