Although Alfred and Fredrick Kapp would both be involved in the company, making it a multi-generational effort, it would be Charles Peterson, from 1890 on, whose name was known in the pipe world. For Shannon Airport (c.d1947-c1983) – Stamp on shank of pipes in several grades, indicated that the pipe was designated to be sold by Duty Free Shops at the Shannon Airport. The stamping of Peterson’s Of Dublin is very broad and cannot really help pin down the date on the pipe. However, XL315 shape came out in 1998 so the peterson pipes pipe is definitely post 1998. I read further in “The Peterson Pipe” by Mark Irwin and Gary Malmberg to get some background on the Peterson’s Of Dublin pipes. Although you can get a Peterson from several places online, we ordered the Peterson System Standard Ebony (302) P-Lip from Smoking Pipes for $104.
The next pipe that I selected to work on is a beautiful classic billiard shaped Peterson’s pipe with a P-lip tapered stem. The very appearance of this pipe shouted “ol’ timer” to me even before I saw the stampings. The size also indicated that this pipe was from an era when large bowl were not in vogue, specifically the English made.
It was hot out and he was with a friend so we did not go into details. The pipe appeared to be rusticated and looked to me like a Donegal Rocky in one of my favourite shapes – a Rhodesian 999. The bowl had a moderate cake and some lava on the rim top that needed attention. The rustication was dirty with dust of time ground in to the finish.
He continued to develop the pipes he made and applied for numerous patents, which were even awarded industry prizes. After Peterson died in 1919, the descendants of the Kapps remained company owners for the next several decades. It was not until the 1970s that there were upheavals in the company’s history, when new buyers acquired the traditional company, which had been owned by Tom Palmer, an Irishman, from the 1990s until 2016.
We also have a huge selection of Savinelli Pipes, Rattray’s Pipes and pipe tobacco. Peterson pipes, made in Ireland, provide the pipe smoker with a wide selection of briars. Most Peterson pipe models are available with either a standard, traditional stem (called a “fishtail”) or the famous Peterson “p-lip”, which directs the smoke toward the roof of your mouth to reduce the chance of burning your tongue. While crafting quality, innovative tobacco pipes has been central to our brand, we understand the importance of possessing smoking accessories of the same calibre. From pipe pouches to rustic tampers and sleek lighters, our accessories complement our tradition of craftsmanship, each tailored to pair elegantly with our pipes.
The second stamp is a crowned harp which is a fineness mark denoting the high quality of silver that was used. I have included a larger screen capture of the section on the third column of the chart in the photo below.I have drawn a red square around the date letter below. It identifies the date of this Peterson’s pipe to 2000.I knew that I was dealing with a pipe that the hallmarks date to 2000. Now it was time to learn a bit more about the Flame Grain Line. A bent brandy “setter,” like its sibling the B10 it seems to have originally appeared in the high-grade Rosslare Royal Irish line in 2003 and from there appeared in most every Peterson line.
Our retail store and factory have moved locations and our ownership has changed hands over the decades. My quest for enlightenment is hindered by gurgling noises, and Peterson Systems do not produce peterson pipes such distractions. When I feel emptiness, I gravitate toward pleasantness, and few things produce pleasure as easily and thoroughly as a Peterson filled with Virginia flake. The humongous house pipe at left is not one that I smoke often, but it is actually one of my best smokers.
It identifies the date of this Peterson’s pipe to 2001.I knew that I was dealing with a pipe that the hallmarks date to 2001. This is the short story of a small, pencil-shanked shape that’s peculiarly Irish yet rarely seen, even in the Peterson catalog. The shape’s name seems to depend on what type of stem is attached to the end of the bowl—zulu, churchwarden or dublin. Victory Pipes is home to many iconic brands; here we welcome you to the world of Peterson of Ireland craftsmanship, where elegance and dedication to quality go hand in hand.