Peterson: Irish Made Army Acrylic (999) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

Defined by a Bulldog bowl and round shank, the Rhodesian is a classic shape that's enjoyed a place on traditional pipe charts for well over a century. On Peterson's chart, the age-old form is designated as the "999," showcasing everything pipe smokers love about the traditional shape — hard lines around the bowl; a tapering rim; and a stout, muscular disposition in hand — while also boasting the Irish marque's conventional shaping cues. The bowl tapers above and below the design's defining beadlines, while the rim barely rises above the transition thanks to the extra heft lent to the shank — a signature stylistic element of Peterson.

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.