Peterson: Irish Made Army Acrylic (406) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

While the "408" does display Prince-like elements, the "406" is Peterson's definitive take on the classic Prince shape. Seemingly plucked straight from a vintage English catalog, the profile displays the design's characteristically long, slightly downturned stem, informing its reputation for elegance. The bowl is squat and plump, with perhaps some extra heft to its base, per Peterson's signature shaping style, but the shank and transition are decidedly trimmer, catering more to traditional Anglo-French proportions than the robust, muscular aesthetic seen throughout the Irish marque's portfolio.

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.