Sometimes mistakes happen. Most makers are quick to correct something that isn’t right. I can understand this and I applaud those makers who move quickly to make things right. There are also those instances where the workmanship just isn’t up to standard. It’s important to know what to look for and to walk away when things aren’t right. In the pictures below we have a variety of issues. Hemp under projecting mounts is not acceptable coming from the maker. Neither are bores that are off-center, worm holes, chatter marks, torn combing, foreign material used to fill gaps, etc.
Other times, things are done to deceive. Absolutely the buyer must beware. The pictures immediately below show a “before” picture of an old Henderson sent away for restoration. The bagpipe that was returned was not the original instrument. The “restorer” obviously tried to pull a fast one! There has been more than one “maker” who imported bagpipes made in the Middle East and sold them under considerable deception.
The images below are of three different “MacDougall” bagpipes. The first pictures sent were entirely confusing to me.
The drone ferrule has three hallmarks, the tree, the rampant lion, and a date letter. This indicates that the silver was assayed in Glasgow, that it is indeed 92.5 (sterling) and that it was assayed in 1885! Why 1885 and not 1837 as stated earlier? Glasgow used the three-stamp system from 1871 to 1897 and the four-stamp system (tree, lion, thistle, date letter) afterwards. The capital letter “O” indicates 1885. The hallmarks on the cap are a bit difficult to read. The tree is present however the lion is missing or obscured. The date letter “P” indicates 1886. The hallmarks on the stock ferrule are from the Edinburgh Assay office. The date letter indicates that the piece was assayed in 1837. It is opposite the stamp “G. C. McD.”. We also know that Gavin Campbell MacDougall was born July 20, 1874. So why are Gavin’s initials on this ferrule? Inscriptions on three different sets indicated “Breadalbane” “Perth” and “Alberfeldy”.
What I found out later was that a forger by the name of Arthur Wright (now deceased) operated in Australia/New Zealand and was “outed” at some point for making fake MacDougall bagpipes!
More than a few “makers” have re-branded bagpipes made in Pakistan as their own. One of the more disturbing examples of something “faked” was a bagpipe I received that was said to be a “MacDougall.” Upon close examination the bagpipe was found to have been “fiddled” with parts from various bagpipes. The mounts were obviously freshly turned from ivory billiard balls. One of the tenor bottom sections had been fashioned from a blowpipe. None of the work was impressive and the intent was blatant. I’ve got these pictures somewhere and will post them when they surface. 
