Peterson: Irish Made Army (80s) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

Peterson's "80s" is a muscular take on the classic bent Bulldog, featuring the Irish marque's penchant for robust, stout proportions with its thick, sturdy shank bearing almost as much visual weight as the bowl. In a way, it's a diamond-shanked companion to the Irish marque's signature "999" Rhodesian, both designs featuring a squat bowl, the same low-slung disposition, and a set of beadlines around their tapered rims just above the tight transition. The "80s" also serves as a bent alternative to Peterson's "150" straight Bulldog for smokers who prefer a downturned stem for easy clenching, yet prefer the masculine look and feel of such a timeless design and the iconic Peterson aesthetic.

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.