Are you Happy with your Peterson Pipe(s)

[fallsguy]

I currently have 4 Petersons...2 Systems, a Kildare, and an Aran. I tend to like them all, perhaps because they're older stock pipes. However, I have come across so many articles regarding the poor drilling on these pipes, I wondered how the rest of you feel about this. Some say they're fine, others state poor drilling makes them undesirable to own. It seems like most of the complaints are about the newer ones. What is your experience with these?

 

[AJ]

I have three Peterson pipes in my collection. A Pre-Republic billiard, a 2012 Kinsale Bulldog, and a 2015 XL-26 Silver Spigot and they all are very good smokers. Like you I've read horror stories about the newer pipes. One of mine is fairly old, another is a fairly inexpensive pipe, and the other is a high-end model. For me Peterson Pipes perform well. Maybe I'm lucky.

AJ

 

[Brewdude]

Pete's represent a sizeable number in my smallish collection. And so far at least, there are none that have not smoked good. Some are better than others of course, but none have the drilling off.

Most of mine date from around '01'/02 or so, and some estates from earlier. But I do have a few new XL26's that are superior in all ways.

Would I buy a new Pete? Maybe. Possibly. But it would have to be one that caught my eye.


Cheers,

RR

 

[DrT999]

I have two, bought new just a few years ago (3), a large Pete Pot and a small p-lip barrel. Both are very well put together and above-average smokers

 

[Timbo]

I own over a dozen Pete system pipes aging from a year or so old to several decades old. All smoke well, the only issue I had was a bit of stain bleeding on the outside of the bowl from a new 312 I purchased a while back. This stopped before the pipe was broken in so no big worries. 

No problems reccomending them at all. As always, inspect the pipe prior to purchase if you can.

Cheers

Tim

 

[monbla256]

I have two Rocky's back when they were sandblasted, a 999 bent Rhodesian, and a straight saddle bit Bulldog both with fishtail bits and a bent Bulldog Emerald and a straight saddle bit Bulldog Emerald as well as a 999 Roslare. ALL of them smoke great and have from the first bowl. My fave Pete though is the full bent System that my father bought after the war in London back in '46 . t's one of my favorite after dinner reading a book pipe . I don't have any experience with any of the new Pete's but you don't stay in business as long as they have without doing something right !!
:twisted: :twisted:

 

[hobie1dog]

Very happy with the two I have.

 

[Fazby]

Quite happy with the four I have. (Three fishtail; one P-lip modified to fishtail.)

The sole issue I have is getting a pipe cleaner through. Takes a bit of finagling.

 

[Richard Burley]

I have half a dozen or so, half higher-grade and half "regular" grade. Like 'em all, and have never had a bad Pete. My Sherlock Holmes sandblasted Squire is one of my very favorite pipes. Do not like their current rustication, and am somewhat put off by the alleged fact that no one in the factory smokes pipes. Think I read that in Pipes & Tobaccos magazine somewhere.

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

I have 6 Peterson pipes, 5 of which are outstanding. The only one that's fussy is a 1950's smooth Deluxe straight bullog with a tiny little draft hole in the P-lip mouth-piece. It smokes well but I have to be careful about the moisture content of the tobacco that goes into it, as I can barely squeeze the thinnest of pipe cleaners though it.

I tend to altogether avoid the pipes with P-lip stems. I think the P-lip is smore comfortable when made from Ebonite/vulcanite and the design is more ideal when used on a bent system pipe with a military mount.

I have yet to be dissapointed with any Peterson fitted with a fishtail stem.

 

[Lonecoyote]

I enjoy my Peterson Killarney Red 999 with a PLip, and my rarely smoked Peterson System Standard Rusticated 305 Fishtail pipe.

In the past couple of years the draft holes on many Pete's were not done precisely causing gurgling and a poor unenjoyable smoke.

Also those lacquered pipes that bubble after a few smokes, what was Peterson thinking!! I had to sand 2 different Pete's and refinish the briar. The pipers I repaired them for tell me they are now excellent smokers.



KEEP ON PUFFING!!!

 

[ftrplt]

There's a large thread on this subject elsewhere here but I can't find it! Bottom line for me...I have several Pete's, some very old, some newer. Some P-lip, some FT. All smoke well, some very well. That said, I will never buy another Pete unless I can inspect it before buying it!! No more online purchases!!! Why you ask?? Because Peterson's quality control is non-existent! I really, truly, and honestly resent buying a $100+ pipe that shows up with significant, well-hidden, stained-over fills! The hell with'em!! I wouldn't recommend one for use as a bubble pipe!! :cheers: FTRPLT

 

[Ocelot55]

I own about 30 ranging from the low tier all the way to their Supreme gold banded stuff. I don't think I have a single one that performs "consistently excellent." There are more than a few that do smoke very well, most of these are fishtail stems, many smoke average, and a few are just downright poor performers no matter what I do.

Here's what I've learned:
-old Petes are made much better but don't necessarily smoke better
-tend to be a bear to break in, but smoke much better afterward
-sub $100 pipes will have fills, but this is true across pretty much all brands
-QC is lacking, but not non-existant
-I can modify most to improve their performance

This said, I love Petersons, but I'd only buy another after I've seen it in person, or from a retailer with a good return policy. For the money, especially on lower tier pipes, it's hard to do better.

 

[Lonecoyote]

Ocelot55

Very well stated on your part. Appreciate someone with your pipe making experience giving their detailed point of view.
One day I will own a pipe you crafted :cheers:



KEEP ON PUFFING!!!

 

[SpeedyPete]

I will never, I repeat NEVER buy another Peterson.....talking about the new ones which are DIPPED in paint or whatever it's called.

I bought a new 80s Donegal Rocky with a tenon which was stuck when I received the pipe. Had to leave it in the freezer to get the stem out.  The tenon is like a cam, can't be twisted in the mortise. It's still like that. And to get rid of the "paint" was a lot of trouble.  Took 6 months to get the damn thing to smoke properly.  Must admit, after 5 years of smoking it, it's one of my favourites.

I also own a 150 Limerick, bought new.  Same shyte with the paint job. Had to grind it out eventually. After many bowls, it's now sort of okay. I don't reach for it too often, though.

Little while ago I bought a NOS Dunmore. It's a smallish pipe and  one excellent smoker. That is after I've opened up the P-lip hole which was way to small.   But.....it was made before Peterson was overstocked with paint which they had to work away.  I just love this little one.

But, once more......NO more Petes for me.

 

[ontariopiper]

My one and only Pete is a 2016 Christmas B10. I love it, though I did tweak the airway a bit through the shank to clean out a few burrs left by the factory. Great smoker, and very light in the teeth. So far no issues with stain bleeding out or anything else.

 

[smoker13]

My Petersons total, uh 6; a smooth pipe of the year(2017) that I haven't smoked yet, but of course will, 2 POTHY (2016), a smooth and a blasted, both great smokers, an aran lovat from 2013, my favorite travel knock-around pipe, a 90's Donegal lovat from Ireland, and a 90's smooth bulldog.

All smoke great.

I've always considered them great, dependable cheap (non-artisan) production pipes.  'nuff said

 

[KevinM]

I have ten Petes, I guess, some I bought fifty years ago. One is an Irish Second billiard with half a dozen small fills, but it smokes anything I put in it beautifully and is light as a feather. I don't like the new Rocky rustication as well as that on my older Petes, and I have a newer B60 that arrived with a cracked bit. Sent it back to Sallynoggin (not sure that's right), and Pete repaired it and returned it very quickly, including a nice bonus supply of Peterson pipe cleaners. But it shouldn't have gotten through QC in that condition. At this point, I've gotten used to the P-lip, though I prefer the fishtail. The P-lip bents have a virginal attitude toward pipe cleaners. Yes, I'd buy another Peterson, but would check it out carefully upon arrival. Prices are attractive, especially on refurbs.

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

I don't like the new Rocky rustication as well as that on my older Petes,

Me neither. Peterson's current Rocky rusticated finish is an abomination. I have a 80's Sherlock Holmes bent bulldog with a rusticated finish that's quite superb. Almost like Peterson sent the pipe to the Castello factory for a Sea Rock finish.

 

[Idlefellow]

I've got 16 Petersons and one more on the way from the bay which I picked up yesterday, a 1980's era Donegal Rocky.  I love them all, and all smoke just fine (or else I'm just not sophisticated enough to know the difference).  All have p-lips which is my preference, and one of the things that makes a Pete a Pete to me.  But all mine date back to at least the late 80's, and I agree with some of the comments that their recent issues often leave a lot to be desired.

I recently missed one on ebay that broke my heart, so I ordered a new issue of the same pipe.  The rustication was horrible, it had been cheapened to a nickel band instead of sterling, and the detailing on the pipe was just not what I'm used to compared to the pipes I own.  I returned it.