315. Charles Peterson Collection, Featuring the Deluxe Natural Rusticated System
UPDATE 06/03/2023. This article includes photos of all six CP Collection released to date. Back in March of this year, Chuck Stanion reported the introduction of The Charles Peterson Collection for SPC's Daily Blog and how it came about with Giacomo Penzo's experiments in contrast staining on the Rua Spigot. The Collection was officially launched with the Rua Spigot's immediate sequel, the Barley Spigot. And now, just a little over two weeks ago, Smokingpipes has dropped their latest small-batch in the Charles Peterson Collection, as indicated by the “CP” shank stamp. Today's release is the fourth in the collection, as Prof. John Schantz so wisely and kindly reminded me in the original comments for this post. Chronologically the CP Collection therefore includes (1) the Barley Spigot (December 2021), (2) the Iora (March 2022), (3) the SH Rua Spigot P-Lip (July 2022) and now (4), the new Deluxe Natural Rusticated System. For System geeks, this is an important release marking the first time a Deluxe System has been released as a vergin in Natural and rusticated finish. 01 Of the 13 shapes currently in the System range, all are represented in this release aside from two of the smallest, the 8 / 313 and the 12 ½ / 317. I was late to this party but nevertheless found a spectacular XL5 with the "boomerang bend," probably my favorite System bend (seen above). The drilling is spot-on, right at 12 o'clock. The reservoir is quite deep. No tear-away in the shank's airway. The wear-gap isn't as narrow as a few recent issues, but still appreciably narrower than my Deluxe Systems from a few years back. Stem bend is great, dropping the bowl at that historically-informed tilt that tells everyone within viewing that a Peterson bent is in the house. The shape of the calabash 305 and XL5S sometimes looses its flare even in smooth releases, but on this rustication it's been preserved quite nicely around the rim. Bowl and shank are also well done. The stamps on my XL5S are gathered nicely, quite deep as you can see: Half of the shapes in this collection (the XL02, XL5, 9, 11, 11FB and B42) utilize vulcanite P-Lips, and a word I think should be said about these. The articulation of the P-Lip is razor-sharp (look at the 02 Fat Bottom in the photo below). I am guessing (but don't know) that a new generation of stems has arrived at the factory. Look at the gloss on these vulcanite stems: their shine is as high as the acrylic stems, which isn't something one normally associates with Peterson's vulcanite. Looking at the wear-gap, I can't tell whether this is something that the craftsmen are doing by way of finishing in the factory or not, but it's a wonderful incremental step. Is the chamfering of the Deluxe wear-gap between the stem's end and the threads of the tenon extension also new? If not, I don't remember it. If you've acquired a new Deluxe within the last…