Peterson Kapet D12 Rusticated “Danish” Brandy 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.

Debuting around 1925, Peterson’s Kapet has a good deal of history behind it, though has had a habit of disappearing and reappearing, and doing so in rather different guises. It has been described, such as by Peterson historian Mark Irwin, as “entry level” pipe as far as grade goes, though the various historical iterations of the Kapet, along with the various finishes and accoutrements that accompanied them, are worth pointing out. Very early Kapets, for example, wore a smooth plum finish and were touted as being made from especially old briar; most recently, the Kapet was reissued as a nickel-mounted rusticated line. The Kapet is not currently in production in any form, though one can still find them in the estates market, which leads us to this one. It is not one of the original Kapets, nor is it the nickel-mounted iteration released in the 2010s. Instead, it is from somewhere between the two, though closer to the latter than the former. Dressed in a bark-like rustication and sporting a trio of metal bands this looks like the Kapet that was sold in the 2000s, which was a little more distinctive than the iteration that followed.

Perhaps most interesting about this one, however, is not the line itself, but the shape. As a “D12,” it belongs to a series of lesser-seen, non-standard shapes Peterson first debuted in the 1990s, which were targeted at the Danish market. As such, the shapes were typically a little more “Danish” than other shapes in Peterson’s house style, as in the case of this supple and seldom seen quarter-bent brandy rendition.

The condition is good. Some rim darkening and finish fading.

Details:

Length: 6.1″ / 154.9mm

Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm

Bowl Depth: 1.72″ / 43.68mm

Weight: 1.7oz / 50g