Pipe Patch?

[Sooner]

So I am looking at buying this Butz Choquin pipe. It has what looks to me to be a metal patch of some sort on the bowl. Wither that or the maker had a different idea of decorating a bowl. Can any of you senior pipers educate me on what it is I am lookinh at?



I would appreciate it. Either way I may end up getting the pipe, as the price is low. But I don't want to go into anything blind.