Peterson: Christmas 2023 Sandblasted (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.

Peterson's Christmas Pipes have been an annual tradition since 2009, the Irish marque dressing a selection of their iconic shapes in appropriately festive fashion. In recent years, Peterson has accented this series with copper, though for 2023, they showcase the skill of their silversmiths by accenting the pipes with broad bands of intricately etched silver. These silver bands feature inset beadlines around the Peterson logo and provide a wealth of contrast against the stummel's finish. In addition to the fine display of silverwork, these pipes exhibit Peterson's talent in the blasting cabinet by dressing the stummel in a craggy sandblast that's been stained a deep, rich red: evocative of some of the earliest sandblasts to appear in the pipe world. What results is a finish that is utterly timeless, reminiscent of pipes crafted in the early 20th century and embodying an elegant character that's endlessly charming.