Joe,
Pieper did do a lot of price point guns for export. So, I would never say he did not make some low end guns.
On the whole, however, Pieper did not produce the junk guns that every one was concerned with back then. Those were guns where the chemise was not removed, the chambers were not correct, they were fake damascus, they faked proof marks, the list goes on. Very few of those guns have survived.
Sherman Bell just published on article on laminated / twist barrels. Once again, he used modern proof loads. Nothing came flying apart. Take that for what you will.
Pete
