Peterson Donegal Rocky B5 Rusticated Bent Bulldog Estate Briar Pipe

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.

The Donegal Rocky was Peterson’s very first line of rusticated pipes, but it has gone through several iterations over the years. When it first debuted in 1945, it was a pebble-dash rustication, somewhat like Castello’s Sea Rock, which was conceived around the same time. Having visited County Donegal in my youth, and having witnessed its sublime geological formations I must say that I think the modern iteration, as seen here, is more appropriate. But something about this pipe threw me off. It wasn’t the relatively uncommon ‘B5’ shape this one is rendered in, though that was a distinction I did note. It was the stamping: this pipe isn’t stamped ‘Made in the Republic of Ireland,’ which it normally would be, but simply ‘Made in Ireland.’ I can only assume that this must have been a special release DR of some kind – perhaps during a reissue? This would explain the effaced Peterson ‘P’ logo, as ‘Made in Ireland’ pipes after the Republic era often use an older, thinner variant of the Peterson logo. Peterson collectors will know better than I do on this. If anyone is able to enlighten me, please do.

The condition is excellent. Aside from the effaced stem logo, I don’t see any imperfections of note with this pipe.

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm

Bowl Depth: 1.52″ / 38.60mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g