Peterson Flame Grain B5 Smooth Bulldog w/ Silver 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.

Following its debut in 1997, Peterson’s Flame Grain series has been through a number of distinct variations over the years, though two defining features have remained consistent. The first is, of course, its titular graining; the second is its scarcity relative to most other Peterson pipes. This combination of features is far from uncommon on high-end pipes, though it is worth noting that there’s a very specific reason for why this is the case for Peterson’s series. The genesis of a Flame Grain pipe—as with a few other Peterson high-grades—begins with the briar cutting and sorting process. While the majority of Peterson pipes are made from ebauchon briar, i.e., briar from the inner layers of a root bulb, pipes like the Flame Grain are made from plateaux briar, i.e., the outermost edge of a tuber. The latter is where grain patterns are most visible, as these are essentially cross-sections of root fibers. This selection, made near the very beginnings of the pipe manufacturing process, decides what kind of Peterson a block of briar will be, and, as Peterson mostly employs ebauchon blocks, the chances of a pipe becoming a Flame Grain are very slim. But, on the rare occasion that it does happen, one ends with a beautiful pipe just like this one, where the briar’s flaring fibers provide the perfect complement to Peterson’s bell-like “B5” bulldog.

The condition is very good. Minor inner rim darkening and some handling marks.

Details:

Length: 5.7″ / 144.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.59″ / 40.38mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 56g