Peterson: Donegal Rocky (129) Fishtail Tobacco Pipe

We often discuss Peterson's signature aesthetic as being muscular and robust, with more visual weight placed on the shank and transition than, even, English-styled pipes. It's this design cue that most readily defines what's come to be known as the Irish style of pipe making. Peterson's "D" shapes, however, took a different approach. Originally produced for the Irish marque's Danish distributor, Larsen and Peterson, around 1996, the "D" line focused on traditional Danish shaping, creating shapes that are more slender and elegantly curved than the hearty Irish style of Peterson's other pieces. Said Danish style is epitomized here in the "129" — once designated as the "D6" — a form free of hard lines and whose curling profile tows the line between Horn and bent Dublin.

Named after County Donegal in northwest Ireland, Peterson's Donegal Rocky series offers one of the Irish firm's most distinctive and immediately recognizable finishes. Much like the mountainous region it's inspired by, the rustication style of the Donegal Rocky line is incredibly craggy and provides plenty of stimulating texture, transforming any pipe that wears it into a rugged workhorse smoker. Peterson's first rusticated finish, the Donegal Rocky dates back to 1945, and is presented here with a bright nickel band offering a touch of refinement against the dark, red-tinged stain of the stummel.