Can anyone tell me about this Dunhill stamp?

[Ocelot55]

Some time ago I acquired a Dunhill Tanshell group 2 billiard. The pipe was in good condition, but had some interesting marks. First there is a double date stamp on this pipe. The first is a 5 for 1965 the next is a 6 for 1966. The double date stamps aren't common but they are not exactly rare either.

The second mark that interests me is a star stamped under the shape number. I've only seen one other Dunhill with such a stamp and the owner of that pipe had no clue what it meant either. Here is a pic of the pipe. If anyone has any answers, I'd love to hear them.

 

[MisterE]

The only stars I've seen like this are on the DR (Dead Root) series straight grains. The stars replaced letters A-J as a grade designation (A=* B=** etc.). This is a Tanshell from what appears to be 1966, so I have no idea what it's doing there. Perhaps it was placed there by a particular dealer or collector. Wish I could be more helpful. Maybe Rusty will chime in at some point, he's pretty Dunnie savvy....

Edit: I think the double date stamp has to do with it being made in '65 but actually sold and shipped in '66. The one year gaurantee from date of purchace against defects etc.

 

[Jar]

Similary marked with star pipe is here. It has also two digits denoting the year of make (1966/67).
http://forum.pipes.org/messages/23/74415.html?1213398550

Maybe my eyes are not as good as before, but I did not manage to find anything in John Loring's writings, includig His book "The Dunhill briar pipe - the patent years and after".

Markings with stars are mentioned here
http://www.smokemag.com/0302/pipes.htm
but in context of the DR denominantion (and we know this already):
the rarest straight grains are stamped DR (which stands for Dead Root, referring to the underground burl of the heath tree from which the oldest and usually best-figured briar is cut). Currently, the DR series ranges from one to six stars; the more stars, the tighter and more uniform the grain.
http://www.wesleys.co.za/prestigepipes.htm
{i}Dunhill stamps Straight Grain pipes “D R” – standing for Dead Root; with, since 1979, a number of stars (up to 7) for size. [/i]
Here we read on DR stamping
http://www.pipephil.eu/logos/en/infos/dunhill2.html
The first stars appeared midth 1970's and were a brief attempt to grade the pipe both as to grain (the letter) and to size (the stars).
There are shown there examples and pictures of two types of stars.

Here we have nice "modern" Dunhills marked with stars
http://www.cupojoes.com/cgi-bin/spgm?dpt=H&srch=KW&item=dunroo02sa
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Dunhill-DR-One-Star-Straight-Grain-Pipe-Brand-New-/140600346523

In general I feel confused. Both pipes - the one belonging to the Author of this thread and the one mentioned in the first link to thread at the forum.pipes.org. are older then '70. I stay with hope, that the star marking question will be explained at Dunhill page in Pipedia.
http://pipedia.org/index.php?title=Dunhill