Irish Made Army Smooth (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.

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. Practical and aesthetically handsome, the motif has lasted the better part of a century — showcased here in a smooth finish and flashy nickel mount.