Peterson (c. 1975-84) System Standard XL305 Sandblasted Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

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.

Speaking of Peterson’s System, this pipe is an example of exactly that. What looks like a simple, bent Dublin hides within its shank a reservoir for collecting moisture produced during the smoke. This, paired with Peterson’s famous, patented P-Lip mouthpiece, makes up the System Pipe, and for an especially cool, dry experience when in use.

However, this System bent Dublin is a little different to the shape XL305 we’re used to seeing today, despite being marked with that same shape code. If one looks up the XL305 currently offered by Peterson, it’s far closer to a calabash (of the modern briar variety), complete with a flared, bell-like figure. This, on the other hand, is more like a traditional Dublin. Does that mean it was mis-stamped? No, but the “XL305” code was, it seems, reassigned in the 1980s. As Peterson historian Mark Irwin has noted, the current, calabash XL305 was not designed until around 1985, despite its very classical appearance. Prior to 1985, in the years between around 1975 and 1984, the “305” and “XL305” were, instead, assigned to bent Dublin renditions, the latter being considerably larger, hence the “XL” prefix. In 1985, however, this all changed, and even the Deluxe System counterpart to the XL305, the XL5S, was switched from a Dublin to a calabash. As far as I’ve been able to tell, Peterson doesn’t make a System shape quite like this at all anymore and—somewhat ironically—the closest System-style to it that one can currently buy is the Savinelli Dry System shape 621. Funny how things work out, sometimes.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating, and comes with its original (slightly time-worn) box and sleeve.

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.96 / 24.38mm

Bowl Depth: 1.83″ / 46.48mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g