This just in from Pete Central:
The Rua Spigot debuts tomorrow, Friday, October 29th, at both SPC and SPE (Smokingpipes.com & Smokingpipes.eu) in very limited numbers.
Andy Wike at Laudisi writes that “it’s the first Peterson to wear a contrast sandblast finish—something you typically see only on artisan pipes—and is elevated by a domed spigot mount and fishtail stem.”
“The name was inspired,” he continues, “by the Irish word for ‘red-haired,’ which coincidentally is also the word most Irish story books use for red foxes—for example, Madra Rua—Reynard. There are four shapes in the series for now: the 106, 999, XL02 and 69. They launch at SPC and SPE Friday, October 29.”
Adds Josh Burgess, “the contrast sandblast was produced under our pipe specialist Giacomo Penzo’s guidance.”
Photos courtesy Laudisi
and many thanks to Josh & Andy!
Keep Calm
and remember the “Pay Offline” button
when in doubt!
They’ve outdone themselves with this one. It’s a great looking style in every respect. The sandblasting is especially well done and the stain, the perfect colors to emphasize it. Quite impressive.
Stunning! But I had a couple of Pete sandblasted pipes that were contrasted with more of a dark tone and highlights in that maroon/dark red colour. In fact, I still have a System 305 that’s sandblasted that looks to have a contrasting finish.
Ok, there we go. That is exactly the type of finish on a sandblast I’ve been dreaming Peterson would make! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!
It will be a knock down-drag out on these beauties. Especially when a dyed in the wool smooth briar fan like me wants one…or two….or four.
John, I’m with you on several points. I’ve turned my notices on to hear the email come in, which I never do. But dang, I’m saving for the POY and my coffers are nearly drained. My wife loves the shape 69–at least, the one in the photo. But I’m betting these have a hefty price tag. So… I dunno.
That XL02 is especially breathtaking, with the 69 a close second.
My PPAD is firing on all cylinders.
That XL02 is mine, mine, MINE! ? That’s one stunning pipe – hope you get it, John!
Hope you get it, Bill!
Probably not me, Mark … The POY is the one I’m hoping for …. The Rua, though, is a beauty!
Just when I swore not another pipe until the POY 2021 … These are beautiful.
I’m right there with you. Sadly, I think my Pete/Pipe budget is gone. So many special pipes…XMas, Halloween, soon to be POY and now this beautiful series soooo close together. I just don’t have that kind of cash, along with others I’m sure. These Petes are starting to be a rich man’s game, not really the everyman pipes anymore.
Agreed … If the POY is a good “replica”, I’m going to be in serious trouble…
Bill, it is an exact replica, if the advance photo I’ve seen tells the tale. They spent a huge amount of time with the stem work, and Gioco Penzo nailed the original 4 shape. I don’t think we have any worries there. Now we just have to worry if we can beat the herds to the checkout lane!
This is wonderful news, Mark. Cannot wait for this release!
This is exciting news. I have only seen the 4 shape as a system pipe, is that the plan for this year? It would be nice to see a POY System Deluxe shape
Amen, Brother William.
I’d like to see the obverse of these pipes. I wonder if they as spectacular on the opposite profile?
Oh yeah baby, I’m all in, Love them foxes! do P-Lips not work on spigots? or is it what most people want now days, I’m still on it though, Love the bend on that 999 from heaven,,,,,?
Second thought the P-Lip on would not look as elegant on these, and that XL 02 is beautiful, 106 isn’t bad either,
James, no there’s a System Spigot line. These would have been an Absolute Must for me if they’d donned the P-Lip. As it is, I’m between the Rock and the Hard Place.
Hi Mark, sorry I forgot about those system spigots, I’m almost ashamed to say, cause I have one. Its just the Petes have been coming so fast I got a little dazed, I’m just going to have to relax and smoke, and think about the panic button,,,,, I mean offline button, I love that cause I’ve used it more than once LOL, they are fiery beautiful though aren’t they.
And maybe the deeper bend like the XL02 with the fishtail would be a better choice.
We can always ask Peterson to make us a PLIP 🙂 . Just saw them on the EU site , can you imagine these pipes with an amber spigot?
Hmmm, 69 or the xl 02. This is rough since I have allocated to PSOI and POTY.
What is PSOI, for this Pete Geek with limited knowledge?
Pipe Smokers of Ireland 🙂
John & Bob: I’m looking forward to seeing another PSOI as well. I never saw a 2020 version, and I did look quite often. Anyone know if they made one? Are there plans for a 2021?
Hi David, yes, the 2021 is almost available. Check the PSOI Facebook page for details, as I don’t have them. It is a spigot blast using the POY “Jap” bowl from a few years back.
Thanks, Mark. I never found them on sale, but I do see that there was a 2020 PSOI. I’m eager to see the 2021 version. I’ll keep an eye out for it (better than I did last year!)
The Rua is not my cup-o-tea but I certainly do enjoy looking at them and keeping up with the latest Pete news. Thanks for all the work.
There’s really no place to post this, so I’ll put it here. Thanks for mentioning the 160 army mount somewhere in one of your blog posts. I can’t remember where, nor can I find it again. I never would have looked for it on my own, but inspired by something you once posted, I now companion a very nice 160 fishtail. I’m smoking it for the very first time as I compose this comment. So far, I’m very pleased with it. It’s just the right size for me. I’m smoking Peterson Royal Yacht, for the second time. I’m not ready… Read more »
Posts #236 and 232 mention the 160, David. Great little billiard, isn’t it? Hope it smokes well for you. I adore mine, using for the “Early Morning Pipe” and coffee most often–usually a latakia flake or something to wake up the taste buds.
Yes, I am most pleased with it. 1.10 ounces! Yippee! The 65 has been one of my favorite shapes for years, and the 160 seems to be nearly identical. I like the stain on the current Irish Made Army line. It looks almost grey. https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/peterson/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=456677
Again, thanks for the inspiration. I can’t wait until it’s rested again for the next smoke.
Hi David, as other have mentioned the 2021 does have a waiting list, so I recommend getting in on it. I believe only 65 were made. The 2020 which you have seen was a beautiful blasted Xl13 with only 65 made. I have from 2016 on and the unicorns are from 2014 to 2015 with a Xmas pipe.
Thanks Bob. I’ve seen them posted for sale on smokingpipes.eu but had no idea that “PSOI” was an actual organization. The only such pipe I companion is a 2018 (the D18 Oom Paul). I bought that the same way as any other pipe on their website. I didn’t have to join a list or do anything in particular. As I recall, the 2019 was a large tankard, and that’s just not my thing. I have one, a Sionnach http://petersonpipenotes.org/tag/peterson-sionnach-pipe/page/2/ It’s one of my very favorite pipes–to look at. I don’t smoke it often, as I find it too big and… Read more »
David, this Sunday’s post concerns the PSOI small-batch pipes, with photos of each, including this year’s, which is the “Jap” POY from a few years back with a spigot / fishtail.
Hi David, with increasing popularity, the Facebook or now Meta page(horrible name for marketing) requested a reservation email. Some people backed out last minute and then there is a backup list… first come, first served 🙂
Doesn’t look like they dropped at midnight.
Hey Charle, don’t know when SPE drops. I’m in CDT time zone, so they’re always there when I get up.
BOOM XL02 ordered on Smokingpipes.eu! Can’t wait. The variation of sandblast structure, colour and overall look within a shape is very noticeable (which is of course a good thing, mostly). Some are nicer, some less. I think I got the most beautiful XL02 that was available. Jippiiiee!
Fantastic news, Gilbert! I enjoyed looking at them–the bright ones really spoke to me!
Ok, I just saw what was left on SP.EU and I’m not so gung-ho anymore. The shapes are just too carved up to where some are almost unrecognizable. I can take some divots, after all, they are sandblasted for a reason, but some have downright sinkholes in them. The contrast stain sandblast finish is still awesome. The four pipes pictured must have been the best of the run….of course we didn’t see the opposite sides. I like the 106 billiard shape, but the reason I didn’t list this one with the XL02 and 69 as a nice pipe is because… Read more »
John, have to agree with you on the over-blasting. If the blast pushes the shape out too much, it just looks wrong to me. Some of the XL02s–I mean, wow. I love everything else about the issue, but someone needs to learn how to be more discreet in the blast.
I have seen some of their recent sandblasted pipes where you can’t even determine it’s a Peterson. The whole “two base” stummel shapes for some of the pipes, such as the XL02’s, B42’s, 221’s, kinda irritate me too. When they have two markedly different shapes without changing the number, it’s just wrong. I really like the original Darwin shape, some of the new ones I wouldn’t even touch on principle they are so far removed from the original shape. P.S. I did snag a nice even shaped and grained XL02 in the crazy feeding frenzy that just popped off at… Read more »
I thought the same thing, John.
I would have gotten a 106, but if there were any they were gone by the time I had the opportunity to log on. I am at a point though, that if it is meant to be, if not I am good with it. It looks like they had al least one on this side of the pond, The EU site had plenty when I checked.
https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/peterson/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=456894
I think the same way, if I get a chance at something….or not…it was or was not meant to be, and so it goes. Sometimes, it keeps my P.A.D. In check?
I haven’t seen many of these, very little selection, blast quality not the same as what you’ve shown us in this blog. Did these just sale out quickly, or are they being released very slowly?
Hi Scott, the day they dropped they went really quickly. There were only 111 pieces, about 95 here in the US and 20 at the SPEu site. The blast quality was all SB+ or higher (by accident) on K&P’s bowl grading sheet, which runs SB / SB+ / PSB / Supreme. My 69 Rua was definitely PSB quality. I’ll talk a lot more about K&P’s blasting scale and what went into the Rua project a week from tomorrow, as I recently got to spend some time on the phone with Peterson. Most of what I saw looked really good, some… Read more »
The Rua is nice, but the lighter contrast stain on the new Iora is much more to my liking. I had to get one.
I agree with you and got one too.