Peterson: Irish Made Army Acrylic (124) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

With its tall, poised bowl, hint of forward cant, and well-balanced proportions, this "124" Dublin from Peterson is easily one of the most svelte shapes to come from the Irish marque. It's highly reminiscent of their "268" Zulu design, but here the bowl is noticeably elongated and a touch more upright with more depth added to its chamber. The lack of hard lines and elegant proportions result in an impressively refined take on the classic form, departing from the stout, muscular shaping style typically associated with the historic Irish firm.

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.