Peterson: Silver Mounted Army (86) P-Lip Tobacco Pipe

While both of Peterson's "87" and "86" shapes are straight Apples, this "86" hews closer to the classic English pipe-chart standard. Where the "87" adds some of the Irish marque's signature muscularity about the shank and transition, this piece opts for a more svelte disposition, the shank running sleek and streamlined into the plump bowl. For those interested in a more trimly styled Peterson, the "86" Apple offers a touch less robustness and maintains a thoroughly traditional appeal.

Like the Irish Made Army series, the Silver Mounted 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. Unlike the Irish Made Army line, Silver Mounted Army pieces boast mounts of sterling silver instead of nickel, Peterson being renowned for their silverwork and their smiths' years-long mentoring process. Practical and aesthetically handsome, the military mount motif has lasted the better part of a century and is showcased here alongside a traditional, auburn-hued stain to highlight the silver.