Peterson 2001 St Patrick’s Day XL20 Smooth Bent Billiard 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.

It is only natural that a great Irish pipe company should honor Ireland’s patron saint, which Peterson has done each year since 1998. As with Peterson’s Pipe of the Year and Christmas Pipe series, St. Patrick’s Day pipes have always been limited edition, one-time offers, and tend to be a little more special than the average Pete (though it should be noted that the “average Pete” is already a very high quality pipe). For 2001, the St Patrick’s Day pipe was marked by a classic, light brown finish and specially-engraved nickel collar. A range of shapes were included in that release, though it seems that some were (and remain) of greater interest than others. Peterson historian Mark Irwin, for example, notes that a number of St Patrick’s Day releases have included at least one “special shape” not typically found on Peterson’s standard shape chart, such as the A3 (from the Antique Collection), or the B2. While Peterson’s St Patrick’s Day pipes have become favorites among collectors, Irwin speculates that the “collector’s piece” among the 2001 release was this pipe, a rendition of the XL20, a swan neck, tall bent billiard rarely seen outside of the Sherlock Holmes line (where it bears the name of the “Rathbone”). This one is a great specimen, too, with its tall bowl serving as the canvas for a bounty of bird’s-eye.

The condition is very good. Some inner rim darkening and finish fading on the rim, and slight handling marks.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.89″ / 48.00mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g