Peterson 1987 Mark Twain Smooth Bent Billiard w/ Silver Estate Briar Pipe, Irish Estates

Description

Peterson pipes generally need no introduction, but just in case you’re unfamiliar: in 1876, a Latvian named Charles Peterson immigrated to Ireland and was hired making pipes in a workshop owned by Frederick and George Kapp. After rising through the ranks to become head craftsman, Peterson bought into the Kapp’s business, which was renamed, Kapp & Peterson (K&P). During this time, Peterson himself applied for several patents for pipe designs, including the world-famous Peterson’s System. Since then, Peterson has become one of the most recognizable names in pipe smoking and continues to produce high quality pipes from their headquarters in Dublin.

Arguably the most famous Peterson pipe smoker to date was the American author Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his nom de plume, Mark Twain. It is no secret that the father of American literature loved his Petes, and there are many photographs of the man clutching what must have been a rather extensive collection of them. In 1981, long after Twain’s death, Peterson released a special, limited edition pipe paying tribute to his life, works, and love of Peterson pipes. These pipes were especially well received, leading Peterson to reissue and expand the Mark Twain collection throughout the 1980s, though presumably their production volume was still quite limited.

This particular Mark Twain comes from 1987, and is much the same design as the original 1981 release. Based on a patent-era shape 14B full-bent billiard that has, since 1912, been preserved at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Missouri, it was considered by modern Peterson collectors to be a welcome return of a design that had been out of production for a good while. Showing off copious amounts of bird’s-eye grain, this one wears the lighter, more natural finish typical of Mark Twains in that era.

The condition is very good. Chamber slightly over-reamed and a few nicks, or perhaps worn out fills, on the bowl.

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.86 / 21.84mm

Bowl Depth: 1.28″ / 32.512mm

Weight: 2.4oz / 70g