The Copper Tops are Back!
Per Andy Wike at SPC: “We’re releasing Peterson’s Christmas 2024 pipes beginning at 6:00pm Eastern Daylight time on Tuesday, September 17. This year’s edition brings back the copper accents, this time in the form of spigot mounts. We’re pairing that with a number of classic finishes (including Ebony this year!), as well as Cumberland-patterned acrylic stems.”
The 2019 Copper Top XL02 Fat Bottom
For some reason at this time of year I always begin to wonder if there will be a pipe under the Christmas tree for me. No, that’s wrong. I begin to wonder what pipe (or maybe pipes) will be under the tree. I’ve even been known to send Father Christmas a short list—just to get ahead of the rush, of course. I say this because there have been some Epic Fails on my part, like the Fat Bottom XL02 from 2019 seen above. I cannot begin to tell you how seeing this pipe again has caused the iron to enter my soul: did I not get it for Christmas? did I get it and—surely not—sell it off?! did I, worse yet, never even order it? *
A trio of 2019 Copper Top 304s
(I do like this sharp-edged, gritty rustication)
The Copper Tops are back for Christmas this year, and yes, I can hear all the Pete Geeks singing that famous chorus from Handel’s well-known oratorio, in either its original version or the performance version Mozart created. Since its debut in 2018, the copper ferrule has become increasingly iconic for the Peterson Christmas commemorative and I caught myself doing one of those long, grateful sighs when I first caught sight of it, having been deprived of it last year.
Mounting marks: Shamrock, Wolf Hound, Round Tower
If you’re fairly new to all this hoopla, let me direct your attention to the great Mount Marks—not hallmarks, of course, but the fabled Shamrock, Wolf Hound, and Round Tower which graced nickel mount Petes from c. 1922—c. 1963.
I have no samples with which to offer you the kind of over-the-top microscopic, spectroscopic, fluoroscopic, stereoscopic analysis regularly disseminated by this blog. I do, however, have a few minor observations to make before letting you proceed to the gallery walk below. First, remember the drop in Europe occurs Tuesday at 10am Dublin time. Second, be on the lookout for shapes not reported in the official press releases, and if possible, take a snap shot of them for us here on the blog. Finally, the huge number of shapes being made available makes me think there will be relatively few of any one particular style, so if you’ve got a shape and finish you’re hoping for, plan to arrive early at the drop party. See you there!
GALLERY
Ebony
102
230
406
X220
Heritage
01
69
406
701
D17
X220
XL02
Rustic
01
03
05
68
69
102
221
230
701
999
X105
X220
XL02
Sandblast
01
05
69
80s–this is just a placeholder. You can see the 80s Sandblast in the banner photo–
102
220
221
230
338
701
X105
XL102
Smooth
01
05
69
102
221
230
338
X220
XL02
Photos of 2024 Christmas Pipes
courtesy Laudisi Enterprises
*If you have this pipe (preferably unsmoked), or know where one is available, please reach out with the particulars to a fellow Pete Geek in dire need of it, viz., me. Act before midnight tonight.
Life can be so difficult. . .
So you remember when the SH Baskerville Junior Rusticated came out–two years ago? Somehow I missed that one and of course have regretted it ever since, carrying it around like the Ancient Mariner’s Dead Bird. So last year I thought, “Hmm–another one!” It was the Baker Street. Snapped it up. Smokes great (a miracle for me, since I’ve never had any luck with the Baker Street Full Size). And now, the Original Junior appears?!
The 3rd in what will probably be
all seven of the SH Junior rusticated shapes
What makes all this so unfair, of course, is that K&P could have just said three years ago, “Folks, we’re going to release all seven of the SH Juniors, rusticated, at the rate of one per year.” I mean, I can live with that kind of collection building. And even afford it. So, my hat’s off to all of you who were wise enough to invest in the Baskerville. Pardon me, I think I hear the wamulance outside my door–
IRELAND’S TOBACCO GROWING INDUSTRY
Did you know Ireland grew and harvested tobacco? I think I mentioned this great short film a few years back, but stumbling on it again, I highly recommend it to all Pete Geeks, not only its great information on Ireland’s own tobacco-growing in the early 20th century, but because we get a glimpse inside one of the great pilgrimage sites all Pete Geeks must aspire to: the oldest pipe & tobacco shop in Ireland, M. Cahill’s. As said in the film’s opening minutes, however, this is best done with a pipe and either a cup of tea or a stout.
I’m heading to Ireland in November. Looks like I might have to pop on over to Limerick to visit M Cahills.
I loved that video. Thanks for sharing it.
How does the copper hold up over time?
Hi Chuck I can tell you my copper flat bottom has a matt tarnish because I use it all the time in the workshop and I don´t polish it. On the other hand I have a Baskerville on my desk and I do polish it from time to time and it look still awesome.
Not much different than a silver spigot then. Thanks for the insight Martin.
Very good looking Pipes this year. I think going toward smooth for this Christmas.
A 01 or 05 will do the job.
Thanks for sharing.
Lovely, Mark. Does anyone else have the overwhelming urge to sand through the black on the sandblasts and reveal some glimpses of brown, kind of like the trio of 304s? You know, just to highlight the Cumberland stem a bit more. Decisions decisions.
An X220 for sure this year! But smooth or sandblasted? Both look great to me! I did a little test a few days ago. I uploaded two photos of them on fb and asked my friends which one they prefer. So strange the results! Friends from abroad suggest smooth without doubt, while everyone from Greece prefered the sandblasted. Makes me thinking that probably statistically here we prefer sandblasting…
I’d say let the grain decide which one you pick.
The copper mount, and especially with the spigot, looks wonderful on all of the finishes. Then, add in the Cumberland stem and it’s a winner any way you look at it. A nice touch to see the return of the faux mount marks, for this special / limited edition type of offering. I just hope the factory does not go overboard and start using the mount marks on a routine basis on everything “new”. The only negative, albeit a small one (?), is the missed opportunity for the inclusion of a P-Lip stem on the XL02 and having a Christmas… Read more »
Gary, I agree! I love everything about this, BUT I will NOT be purchasing one as I will not smoke it. Why? I noticed I have stopped smoking all the fishtail pipes & therefore have culled them from the herd,…or school of fish! I get it that Cumberland p-lips are not produced, so no great shock. 🥲 Sigh…THAT copper spigot is wonderful. My hope for a Christmas copper spigot System pipe will be at least another year away. But, these indeed are truly gorgeous!
I’m with you, my rotation is becoming more and more narrow; I reach for my Deluxe Systems almost exclusively of late.
Excellent work K&P. This is the first Christmas release that has really caught my attention. I especially love the lighter stain used on the smooth finishes this year.
Now if I could put a bug in someone’s ear, I think we need some copper mount system pipes. I think a copper spigot would look especially nice on a barley sandblast, similar to last year’s 125th Anniversary Premiers. Even better with a genuine cumberland P-Lip.
As always, many thanks for the read ahead Mark.
Preach it brother! Preach it !!!
Now you’re taking! More copper, please!
Yes! When the copper mounted Systems come out I’m buying at least three of them!
Really excited for these but the shape of that smooth 230 is criminally bad 🙈
The 230 sandblast too
Tim, you mean “bad” as in deviating from its correct shape? Or as in “awesome cool I like it”? If you mean the former, I agree. It’s not a 230 at all.
Definitely the former. I’ve been saving images of what I think are particularly poor examples of shaping a Peterson pipe. These two get VIP entry info that file folder.
Looking at the rusticated Christmas 2024 shape 230s on the SPC site just now, it appears that the factory got bowls from two different suppliers. Side-by-side product photos show different profiles.
I’ve seen lots of 317’s and a few 12.5’s on SPC that are shaped like this. Very strange.
Agreed. Some are exquisite, some are horrendous, and the majority are slightly off.
These are beautiful, especially the smooths. The only thing they could have done to make them better is add a gold foil “P” Logo to the stems. That would have really finished these off nicely!
Great video – Thanks very much!
Of course! Now if someone would also do a video on the great tobacco makers of Ireland–so many, now lost in time…
I love that they’re bringing back the copper spigot. I didn’t get one last time and regretted it. I like the finishes a lot more this time, especially that smooth.
The release time says “6:00pm CDT”. They usually do 6pm Eastern Time. Was that a mistake?
I love my 2019 Christmas 107 and am kicking myself over not getting the 2022 Christmas 107. This year, I’m aiming for a rustic XL02.
I am genuinely excited about these. 2024 for me has been a year of branching out to Peterson pipes other than systems. I did not see the 87 listed but am hopeful. I acquired a smooth 87 short army mount earlier this year and it smokes like a dream. I’d love one of those. If not, I’d be happy with a rustic 102 or 701…something small and light.
I do have only two pipes, both Peterson and both are cherished. I am always considering what pipe to purchase next, which one will grab my heart and will be placed on the pipe stand next to my other two. This year Christmas pipe seems to be the one but almost all filtered versions (my prefference), are gone from smoking pipes eu page. Beautiful work, absolute love for copper spigots. Let`s see if one of my preffered shapes will pop up somewhere in Europe under another seller. These babies are selling like hot cakes.
Hi Pavel, yes, the Christmas pipes should be appearing at pipe shops as well as online shops in Europe this week. I would especially suggest trying the online shops in Germany, the home of 9mm pipe smoking. Good luck!
These are some beautiful pipes.
What do references to a SPC site mean? Does it refer to SmokingPipes?
Yeah normally people say SP for smoking pipes but some also do SPC. But it’s confusing as SPC could also be Seattle Pipe Club. SPE is what I normally see for smokingpipes.eu.
Anyone find shapes that were missing from this list?
One that I’ve seen at SP but isn’t on this list is the Smooth 701:
https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/peterson/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=633444
I ended up with a rustic X105, came in the mail today. Fit and finish is great, I really like the copper spigot, and the stem looks even nicer in person than in the photos. Great job on this year’s Christmas pipes, Peterson.