Peterson 1950s Killarney Natural 63 Smooth Canadian Estate Briar Pipe, Irish Estates [SOLD]

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.

You may have seen Peterson’s Killarney pipes before, as the Killarney Red and Killarney are pipes sold by the make today. This Killarney is not one of those pipes, but not just because it wears a natural stain rather than a red or black one. You may note that this Killarney has a London country of manufacture stamp, i.e., it was not made in Ireland, as, historically, the majority of Peterson pipes have been. As Peterson historians such as Mark Irwin ad Gary Malmberg have documented, Peterson did in fact have a factory in London between the 1930s and 1950s. And, as Irwin has also documented, the earliest known records of the Killarney (in “Plum” and “Natural” finishes) are from 1949. So, this is a Peterson from around the 1950s. Historical digression aside, it’s a beautiful pipe, with the kind of grain quality (straight grain and bird’s-eye) that is closely comparable to the highest-grade Peterson pipes sold today, albeit with one or two very minor fills.

Lastly, the condition of this pipe is near-mint. I struggle to find any imperfection to list, aside from perhaps the ‘K’ Killarney stem logo being more or less effaced.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.76 / 19.30mm

Bowl Depth: 1.61″ / 40.89mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g