Back when I first started reading all the knowledge drops on this forum (these forums?) I 'gleaned' that some of the older briar was desirable and especially certain brands and years of production.
I knew nothing of the sport, other than tongue bite, corn cobs and captain black.
Once I started to pick up speed, I started acquiring inexpensive smokers on the auction site.
So...of course, these discussion threads had alerted me to the desirability and collectibility (a new word, I guess)of the Dunhill brand.
I won a bid for a 1954 Bent Shell for less than $70.00. The only catch was that the stem was a replacement.
I spent (somewhat foolishly) more for a 'certified Dunhill replacement stem' than I did for the pipe.
Still...for around $150.00 total...I've learned some, and I do have a very nice smoking pipe out of it all.