Peterson: Irish Made Army (68) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

One of Peterson's more classically English shapes, the "68" bent Brandy serves as a curvaceous sibling to the "69" bent Billiard. The "68" features less of the Irish marque's signature style of stout shanks and hearty transitions, instead placing more emphasis on the bowl, with the rounded base and slight taper toward the rim softening the profile. The added briar at the base makes for a substantial in hand feel, and the tapering rim, stretching transition, and comparatively slender shank conform well to wrapped fingers. Fitted on the end of a lithe bend, it's a piece that's comfortable no matter how you choose to hold it, catering well to all smoking postures.

The Irish Made Army line from Peterson is devoted to the military mount. The construction requires a metal cap around the shank end and a stem devoid of tenon, the tapered base of the stem fitting directly into the mortise. The metal mount adds reinforcement to the briar, and the lack of a tenon ensures a snug fit unaffected by varying temperatures or years of wear. The design's lineage and moniker date back to WWI when soldiers would repair cracked shanks with spent shell casings, the extra durability also allowing them to break the pipe down at a moment's notice without fear of damaging the pipe while it was still hot. Practical and aesthetically handsome, the motif has lasted the better part of a century — showcased here in the smoky, smooth stain and flashy nickel mount of Peterson's Irish Made Army series.