Peterson (c.1980s) Galway 24S Smooth Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, Irish Estates

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.

As is not uncommon with factory makes, Peterson’s Galway line has changed several times since its debut in the 1950s. Currently, it is discontinued, but during its lifetime there were around 5 distinct iterations. Per Irwin & Malmberg, it was originally a smooth finished pipe with excellent grain, and an overall grade just below the Dublin & London (the latter of which Irwin has hypothesized as being an export version of the Supreme). The Galway was reissued several years later, this time sporting a sterling silver accent; in the late 1980s, the silver accent was switched out for a briar inlay in the base of the mouthpiece. The Galway was discontinued at the end of the 1980s, but returned in the mid-2000s as a partially rusticated pipe, before being reissued one last time, with the addition of another sterling silver accent.

Judging by its mouthpiece, this should be a 1980s Galway and, as with the scant few other Galways from that era we’ve had come through, it’s a lovely pipe. Finely grained, with a light brown finish that lets the briar do its thing, it also happens to be rendered in a now-discontinued shape, the “24S.” I’m not sure precisely when it was dropped from Peterson’s catalog, but it’s certainly an elegant take on the classic saddle billiard, and a genuine featherweight at that.

The condition is good. Some darkening and general wear on the rim, and some finish fading.

Details:

Length: 5.4″ / 137.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.77 / 19.55mm

Bowl Depth: 1.37″ / 34.79mm

Weight: 0.7oz / 22g