SHERLOCK HOLMES RUA SPIGOT
This just in:
“The latest installment in Peterson’s Charles Peterson Collection — denoted by the “CP” stamp — Sherlock Spigot Rua combines a meticulous contrast sandblasted finish — which first appeared in the original 2021 Rua pipes — with sterling silver spigot mounts, all adorning Peterson’s best-selling Sherlock Holmes shapes.
The deep red and black, two-toned stain highlights the briar’s natural flame grain patterns while the crisp sandblast reveals waves of ring grain and whorls of birdseye alike. These pipes were sandblasted, stained, and finished under the direction and supervision of Giacomo Penzo, Peterson’s pipe specialist and a celebrated artisan pipe maker in his own right.”
Available Shapes: Baskerville • Watson • Original • Rathbone • Milverton • Hansom • Mycroft • Professor
Finish: Rua (red-and-black contrast sandblast)
Mouthpiece: P-Lip
EMAIL LAUNCH TEXT
Introduced last year, the Rua finish is Peterson’s first contrast-stained sandblast, presenting iconic Peterson shapes in a crimson-and-black color palette elevated by sterling silver spigot mounts. Today, the Rua welcomes its second installment, this time dressing the Irish marque’s renowned Sherlock Holmes shapes and expanding the Rua’s unparalleled aesthetic across Peterson’s portfolio.
Finished under the direction of Giacomo Penzo, Peterson’s Pipe Specialist and a celebrated artisan pipe maker in his own right, these Rua pipes testify to the factory’s deep commitment to quality craftsmanship, requiring the same labor-intensive, time-consuming processes employed almost exclusively by artisan carvers. The end result is a rich, two-toned motif that highlights the briar’s vertical grain in dramatic contrast, while the sandblast reveals dense growth rings.
Today’s Sherlock Holmes Rua pipes also continue the prestigious Charles Peterson Collection inaugurated earlier this year. Identified by a “CP” stamp, Charles Peterson Collection pipes are special, small-run releases that highlight innovation in design and technique to honor Charles Peterson’s pioneering spirit and influence on pipe making world wide.
Over 100 Peterson Rua pipes are available now exclusively at Smokingpipes, divided across eight Sherlock Holmes shapes: the Original, Watson, Rathbone, Baskerville, Mycroft, Professor, Hansom, and Milverton. They celebrate artisan craftsmanship, combining traditional Peterson shaping and silverwork with modern finishing techniques, and are highly limited in production. See the entire selection of this special Peterson series on-site now.
The Email Poster
CURATED GALLERY
Milverton
Original
Watson
Mycroft
Hansom
Rathbone
Professor
Baskerville
Many thanks to Josh Burgess & Andy Wike
Photos courtesy Laudisi Enterprises
Estimated price?
I don’t know, Marc. Maybe $250? $225?
@Smoking Pipes Europe the price converts to $221.38
Amazing… new offerings just keep getting better. I wish I coud afford this.
This and an upcoming CPG pipe? Yikes! Those are lovely looking pipes! I’ve never had a spigot before ( I returned the Barley Spigot due to the poor workmanship). Do they smoke differently? Anyone?
Mark’s examples of blasted Petes in his blogs are almost always gorgeous (that Professor is amazing!), but when I go to the SP site to buy one … notsomuch. I’m hoping they were pickier about their briar blocks for these SH ruas. I’ll certainly check it out tomorrow and grab one or two if I can find examples with great blasts.
Forgot 🙂 – I have not noticed any difference in smoking, but I’ve only owned a few. I would think that if they put extra work into making a spigot, they’d be very careful about drilling, etc., and you’re less likely to have workmanship issues.
Yes, you would think that a Spigot would be more carefully drilled, etc., but that is not so. My Barley Spigot had a very canted rim, the shank was cut off-angle, and the airway was no where near center, complete crap….still kicking myself for keeping it?. My Rua Spigot is perfectly drilled however.
uggh. One of my 2021 POY’s is a mess, but it was that one or nothing. If I buy a rua and it’s not drilled right or has other issues, I’m sure I’ll keep it and enjoy smoking it. Quite frankly, I’ve never had a pipe I couldn’t enjoy smoking.
I wish I had been smart enough to return my pi$$-poor barley spigot, talk about poor workmanship, mine should have been tossed in a fire, or at the very least a #3 Irish second.
My Rua Spigot XL02 is one of my best smokers. I did a deep taper countersink on the tenon and taper drilled the airway and added a small well in the shank. It barely collects any moisture in the well and has never gurgled. Most of my Pete spigots smoke well for me though.
Marlowe, I can only speak from my experience with a P-Lip System Spigot: it smokes exactly like a System. These should smoke very close to that.
These are gorgeous. I have 2 System Spigots. Now I only am buying system pipes. ? I WISH these were system pipes as well. Lovely!
I see today there’s a good selection. I think too costly for me right now having just moved and seeing things that need doing that I didn’t pick up initially. They’re a larger pipe than I’m used to as well. I don’t think I’d ever fill one completely. Lovely looking though.
Dang, I don’t know if I can stop myself. So far, the Rua contrast is my favorite Peterson sandblast, and I still need a Milverton, Hansom, or Rathbone SH shape. I love the Professor and Mycroft shapes too…dang, dang, dang.
I don’t have one SH pipe, which is funny to me because many years ago its what I always thought of when wanting to smoke a pipe
The Rathbone is one of my favorite Petes and the only SH I have.
Im sitting here this evening with my black 301 system sandblast convincing myself that if I sell off a couple of my non Peterson pipes the Peterson gods will be pleased and allow me the spigot!
Well, I scrolled through two pages of the SH Rua Spigots that just dropped on SPC. They were so “murderlated” by the sandblasting I had to advert my eyes. So much for my P.P.A.D, that cured it. I found five that were passable, but seeing all the other hacked up ones made me rethink my choices and opted out. Maybe if they were closer to $150, but even then?
I had a Professor picked out but took too long and it got snagged. The rest are like you said, not very shapely. Oh well!
I’m gonna have to disagree with you boys. If we take K&P at its word that their artisan blasts are supposed to evoke the feeling of the old Barling Fossils and early Dunhill Shells, then were will be some pushing out of shape. Sometimes this can be charming, although I agree that sometimes–if the shape is actually compromised–it’s not to everyone’s taste. But today’s selection–I began scrolling when there were 78 pipes at the US site, about 3 minutes after the drop–I only found 4 or 5 that I thought were pushed out a bit and none of them lost… Read more »
Ive never been attracted to the SH shapes so I was limited down to the Professor. For me there were a few factors other than shape to be honest. The one i found was gorgeous but I took too long. The rest were either too dark, pushed out or the rings were not to my liking. Im a bit of a perfectionist with an impatience problem that I’m trying to fix! Lol. I decided to forgoe my impatience and listen to my perfectionist side on these as its out of my normal pipe budget and I didnt want to be… Read more »
I was contemplating doing a layaway for a Baskerville or a Professor… Unfortunately, if I want to have any money for the NASPC show next month I’m going to have to hold off… Money is a little tight right now.
I hear ya! I just bought a 314 System standard and a Newgrange 701 this week. I dont think my wife will approve of a 3rd.
Look again?. I dare ya.
Lol I can do it no more!
Well Mark, we must be CPG’s. I too could not hold myself from going back and looking through the shapes when they didn’t fly off of the virtual shelf. I used another point of perspective as well, not worrying about how close each conforms to it’s original shape and looked at them with their own merits. Obviously, if they were all spot on shape, the briar would not have had any pits to push them out of shape after blasting in the first place. They would have been very high quality, (smooth finish worthy) stummels and would command a much… Read more »
Agreed – best blasts ever from K&P. I only bought one, but I’m going back for another look.
I agreed a little with John. I was a little disappointed with the shapes. I looked at the pipes on the EU site, but wanted to wait for the US release so I wouldn’t be waiting so long. I wanted a Baskerville, but didn’t like any of the 3 that I saw in the US release. I went back and bought a Watson from the EU site that had a nice shape and grain.
Wow… Those are absolutely beautiful… sadly, inflation is cutting deep into my pipe budget.
Any estimated time for SPEu drop? I have the full SH sets for original and return. But love spigots. Watson and Professor are great smokes. Maybe, just maybe, I need another pipe. ?
Why must you do these things to us? Horrible timing for me… Why does it have to be right after I just bought a new one? “Your killing me smalls!”
Great “Sandlot” quote, Kendall. You could always put one in layaway. They do that.
I think that’s what I’m going to do… Thank goodness for layaway!
I may just do that now since I conned my wife into letting me get a new Newgrange 701with superb sandblasting! She’s a good woman!
I generally prefer smooth pipes but that color is fantastic. I am fairly new to the hobby and have been looking to add a spigot and a Sherlock Holmes. This would satisfy both… at least for a while.
Holy cow! These are going to sell out real fast! They picked some of the best shapes too! Are they dropping at midnight?
Bob, I’m sure you glanced again at the post. The drop time isn’t guaranteed. They just said they’re “THINKING about noon to 1pm EDT.”
That Hansom is gorgeous. The “gaslight” shape is unique and truly seems right in the world of Sherlock. I will keep an eye out. Thanks for the head’s up!
Satu, I agree. I agree so much that I woke up at 5am this morning and had to talk myself out of acquiring a Hansom. But when they dropped a little after 1pm here, I found I simply could not resist. I really did try. 🙁 Or is that 🙂 ?
Mark, I had also talked myself out of an acquisition in the morning even after viewing the SPE site, only to lose my resolve once they dropped on SPC. I also have a Hansom on the way!
Joel, I think you’ll be flat-out delighted. I smoked mine tonight. WOWZER what a beautiful pipe! The P-Lip is great, the blast is unbelievable, the stain work is incredible, it smokes fantastic. I think I like it. 🙂 In fact, I think it is now my “definitive” version of the Hansom–I like it better than my original!
They have some beautifully blasted examples over at SP EU – it looks like nothing but ring-grain pipes! I grabbed a Professor, but there is another left, and it also has great ring grain. It looks like Peterson went out of their way to make sure the briar was good on these pipes – big thanks to Mr. Penzo for overseeing the effort!!!
My Professor just arrived from SP and Holy Smokes!! Beautifully blasted ring grain and drilled correctly. Very, very well done all around.
As much as I would like to purchase one, I’m going to pass. I purchased ten Peterson’s already this year. I need to hold off until the CPG pipe is available.
There are indeed beautiful! On SPC (but not SPE), the introduction to the Sherlock Rua Series gives an impression the pipes are system pipes. I believe that is not the case? I have two sherlocks, and neither is a system. Do you Mark, or anyone, have more concrete info on this?
Hi Gilbert! K&P will not intentionally release a pipe that is a System without saying that it is so. However, the Original, Baskerville and Watson can all be made into Systems quite easily. The Original and Baskerville have, in fact, both been released as Systems by K&P back in 1990. The DIY is simple and yes, they really will smoke exactly like a System. The P-Lip Spigot treatment may be what makes you think they could be Systems, Gilbert, as K&P does have a System Spigot line.
Thank you Mark very much for this info, much appreciated!
I fully intended to NOT buy one of these, but decided to have a peek. Then I realized that I didn’t have a Professor. Or any willpower, apparently. It’ll be here next week.
Chris, as did I. I have a nice Professor which is a regular smoke. Then, in a move that should be avoided by those of us with scant will power I looked on SPEu. It just came today. It’s a stunning pipe! I think the spigot mount makes for a more balanced looking pipe. Maybe longer stem will smoke better, don’t know. Anyone interested I can send a picture comparing the two.
Hi Mark,
Regarding the CPG pipe, someone just sent me the confirmation list with everyone’s names, and I’m not on it.
I’m not sure where else to ask to be put on it, as I fear the emails I’ve sent you requesting to be put on it are going to your spam.
Thanks,
Scott Forrest
Scott, where did you get such a list?
Taken care of, Scott. You’re on the list, buddy!
Thanks Mark!!!
I’ve been defending the Rua on the pipe forums – I’m stunned that I would even need to. I’ve been a big critic of the quality of new Petersons, especially the sandblasted ones, but this effort indicated to me that Peterson’s is listening and up’ing their game.
I’m just sorry I missed the Rua spigot Rathbone. By the time I checked SP US, there were only three, and I wasn’t crazy about those. I’m hoping to see a great example that someone here managed to snag before I came to my senses!
Well, keep a weather eye out. Things pop up in the weekly emails from both SPC and SPEu. And I’m betting (guessing) we’ll see an Iora Spigot SH next year.
I think that the pictures don’t do these pipes justice. Finally got mine yesterday after it took a weeklong vacation at Heathrow. Not that they look bad on the website, but in person mine was gorgeous. Also smokes like a dream.
Matt, so glad to hear it. I agree, these pipes DO look much better in person than in a studio photograph. The stain work and the blasting even has the factory crew talking about them. Austin Q., one of the lads there, told me there were raves all around about what Giacomo Penzo and his crew accomplished with that release.
I’m surprised that there are still 20+ available. Of what remains, there are a couple where the shape is truly boarder line, but the others are good with interesting blast–especially the Mycrofts. I felt the EU selection trended lighter with striking red & black, while many of the US pipes were darker overall. Perhaps that’s why they haven’t gone as fast?
Satu, I’m surprised as well–it’s 7/24 and there’s still a number of Mycroft, Original and Watsons.