There is always something wonderful about a new release from Peterson, isn’t there? I know and you know they’ll roll around every so often, but for us it’s still pretty much the same as being 10 years old and finding out Christmas is next week. So I’m happy to report that on Tuesday, July 13th, K&P is (re)launching the Tyrone Classics Range line here in the US at Smokingpipes.com and other retailers.
As with nearly all K&P lines, the name has a reference to Irish geography. Tyrone is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, derived from the Irish Tír Eoghain or “land of Eoghan,” a Gaelic kingdom which corresponded to approximately the area of Co Tyrone well into the 17th century.
The Tyrone is adorned in the Heritage finish, a dark brown satin evoking stains from early in the last century and one which Pete Geeks have already received with with great enthusiasm on other lines.
The rims have a distinctive thin chamfering and the samples I’ve seen all have the new oval MADE IN IRELAND stamp on the reverse with the shape number stamp to its right and PETERSON’S over TYRONE on the obverse.
None of the samples I examined have any tearaway in the air way and all of them were drilled right in the middle. To accompany this, the acrylic stems have chamfered tenons. What this means is an airflow with less turbulence, creating a cooler smoke. What looks like fuzz on the chamfer is caused by the heat from drilling the acrylic. It doesn’t feel rough, but I’d probably give it a light going over with a MicroMesh pad just to get rid of that little extra bit of friction. And of course they have the world’s best bowl coating for some fantastic first smokes.
I really like the wide fishtail on the somewhat elongated stems. The button is thin and makes for a very easy clenching experience, moving between 4.6 to 4.8 mm depending on the pipe. The long taper also gives the Tyrone a very distinctive, classy look. I believe this is the same stem family utilized for 2017’s elegant Waterford line, but I’d have to see more shapes in the new line to be certain. If it is, then all to the good in my book because those were the best acrylic stems K&P has made for its Classic Range. The elongated aesthetic is especially apparent on the 999 and XL90, but if my hunch is right will be seen on other shapes as well:
The original iteration of the Tyrone line debuted c. 1991 and was first seen in the early Dublin era’s1992 “Hand Made” brochure.
As you can see, the walnut finish has a satin finish revealing quite a bit of grain beneath. The Black Catalog of 1997 gives a better glimpse of the stain, finish and original alternate mounting styles. The last appearance of this version of the Tyrone in the ephemera was in the 2010 Burgundy Catalog, although it was doubtless in production for a few years afterwards.
Fans of last post’s Long Pastime will be eying the 14s and 25 above, really nice pencil-shank billiards. I can’t think of anyone just now making such a shape, so maybe K&P should think about bringing one back. You will have noticed the 2021 Tyrone retains the brass and acrylic sandwich band of the original, although overall I think the elongated acrylic fishtail and matte Heritage stain have more visual appeal than the original.
The new Tyrone will drop Tuesday, July 13th at SPC, and I’m told will run about the same as the Aran smooth nickel-mounts. This puts it up about $20 the entry-level pipes. Not quite at mid-grade, perhaps, but certainly an accessible sweet spot for anyone wanting to fill out his rotation or just add a good-looking new Pete or shape to the rotation.
The electronic Strutcard
For the Identification Guide:
Tyrone (c. 1991–c. 2012; 2021–) smooth finish, walnut stain line with shank decoration of black acrylic between 2 brass rings, gold hot foil P stamped on mouthpiece, P-Lip or F/T. Relaunched July 2021 in Heritage finish (smooth dark brown) with original shank decoration and gold hot foil P on elongated F/T acrylic mouthpiece.
Many thanks to
Josh Burgess and Andy Wike
at K&P and Laudisi Enterprises
NEXT: The mystery of the 700 shape group. . .
I’ll be ordering one of these beauties quickly. Very elegant execution. Hope they have plenty of fishtails.
The large bent looks wonderful, particularly with that chunky shank and stem. For me, a balanced shape and form. The dark stain is good enough for me.
A handsome product.
Class and style! Reminiscent of the “old days.” I will surely order one.
As always, Mark, I enjoy your blog posts and look forward to the next article.
Thanks, John! Yes, I think K&P has scored with this new Tyrone.
Yes sir, this is a beauty of a release from K&P. Count me in early. I love the look of the 999 and 25. Gonna be a hard choice. Love this blog.
Good hunting, Fred–and glad you enjoy the blog. That means something to me, coming from a journalist.
BRAVO! Longer stems!! This makes them more my style! I shouldn’t spend any more $’s now (you know why), but I have to support such change, and hope K&P will craft other quality levels with these stems! Very classy look overall too!
It’s in a good cause, which is all you need to say. 🙂
I agree they are classy and elegant, Love the dark finish as well as the longer thinner bit stems. Especially the 999 makes it sing, the 25 is nice also with the P-Lip, I think they would be a good ” nab” for the money. My child like instincts are going to kick in I know it! Please leave me one.
James, take as many as you like! 🙂
Hello mark, Thanks for this site. It is what got me into Petersons again after many years, now I cant help my self, Being they are of the chocolate sort I’m afraid I can only have one,,,,, or two, Docs orders. Also I would love to have your book I missed it .
I had my sights set on a 999 until I saw the 150. Mine arrived today and it is as nice as the pictures led me to believe. Well done and very classy looking. Agree with John Gifford that these are reminiscent of the old days.
Hi Mark, Thanks for another great article. I’m excited about the new Tyrone line. I like the dark stain and Peterson did a great job on it. I’m especially happy that they went with acrylic stems; no turning that ugly greeenish-brownish over the years! Maybe someday, someone will invent a new material for pipe stems that combines the softness (the “give”) and lightness of vulcanite with the permanence of acrylic. Until that happens, though, I’ll continue to prefer acrylic. Anyway, inspired by your posts, I now companion a Tyrone 999 (put that in the cart immediately), and decided to try… Read more »
Hey David, it’s a great line, isn’t it? I don’t think I mentioned this in the post, but it features one of the first new acrylic re-designed stems as well. A bit wider and thinner at the mouthpiece, which is very comfortable and easy to clench if need be.