Peterson Pre-Republic (c.1945-49) Deluxe 15 Smooth Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, Irish Estates

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.

Though the Peterson Deluxe is today commonly associated with the Deluxe System—i.e., Peterson’s high-end version of the company’s famous, patented System pipe—it began life as a non-System pipe in the 1910s. Known variously as the De-Luxe, the De Luxe, and the Deluxe, these were high-grade Petes, advertised as “A perfect pipe no better or finer quality can be obtained.” The briar used to make them underwent a “special maturing process” and their mouthpieces were “Hand cut Para-vulcanite.” In recent years, the Deluxe was reintroduced as the Deluxe Classic, though this particular example is much, much older. Rendered in Peterson’s timeless shape “15,” a very traditional, svelte take on the billiard, the nomenclature on this one indicates a late, pre-Republic manufacture, as it is stamped “MADE IN IRELAND” in a straight, block letter script. This places the pipe as having been made some time between the end of the Second World War and 1949, when the Republic of Ireland was founded, with Peterson nomenclature being adjusted to reflect that.

The condition is fair. Some scratches and handling marks on the bowl, chamber slightly over-reamed, and stem slightly over-buffed. The pipe’s bone condenser—something included in early De Luxe pipes—is also no longer present, though this is a fairly common occurrence, much like Dunhill estates lacking their original Inner Tubes.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.87 / 22.09mm

Bowl Depth: 1.35″ / 34.29mm

Weight: 1.0oz / 30g