Peterson: Irish Made Army (608) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

While Peterson's signature shaping style is often described as muscular and robust, the Irish marque's portfolio boasts a diverse range of sizes within the same general design: The iconic "05" Bell/Calabash is made all the more grand in the "XL315"; the "03" bent Apple receives more palm-filling substance in the "XL02"; and the "65" bent Billiard is a trimmer option compared to the "X220" or "XL90." Such is the case with Peterson's "606" and "608" Pots — both display a similar profile and cater to the shape's characteristically broad and squat bowl, but the "608" here is scaled down a touch, making for a more lightweight, trimmer version of the "606."

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.