Peterson: Irish Made Army (101) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

Peterson's shape chart boasts several straight Billiard designs, varying in their proportions and overall length to cater to pipesmokers' individual preferences. The "101," seen here, strikes an ideal balance between the marque's comparatively smaller, petite "102" and the lengthy, robust "106" — forgoing the hearty, stout shaping cues normally associated with the historic Irish firm. An ideal choice for those who favor balanced takes on shape chart standards that also don't skimp when it comes to chamber depth.

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.