Peterson: System Spigot Rusticated (304) P-Lip Tobacco Pipe

The "304" shares both style and history with the "306": Both designs were introduced to Peterson's shape chart in 1992 and were the first new System pipes since the "301," "302," and "303" were featured in the 1978 catalog. The "304" and "306" also boast flattened heels, allowing them to sit upright while still offering the comfortable posture of a bent pipe. While most Peterson shapes change numbers when featured outside the System line, these two flat-bottomed forms remain constant across series. Presented here is the "304," being a touch smaller than the "306," catering to pipe smokers' personal preferences.

Peterson's System pipe is one of the Irish marque's most celebrated and historic innovations, boasting patents dating back to 1890. The System comprises three aspects: an army mount, internal condensation reservoir, and the graduated bore P-Lip mouthpiece (though Peterson does offer fishtail versions to accommodate smokers' preferences). Being the only externally visible of the three components, the military mount allows the pipe to be broken down even while hot and reinforces the shank. Here, the added durability is thanks to regal sterling silver, with the added benefit of silver reinforcement about the tenon in a spigot mount arrangement. The other two parts, the internal reservoir and graduated bore, are found within the pipe itself — both working in tandem to remove moisture from the smoke. Such a construction requires a slightly different process when cleaning a System pipe, and results in a drier, more flavorful smoke. It's a testament to the company's influence on the pipe industry at large, and the System's continued popularity over the past 100-plus years bespeaks the company's reputation for quality, with this particular example dressed in a rugged, rusticated finish and deep, walnut stain.