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Nate Lynn CPG has a real treat for us today: not only his story of a double commission from Peterson’s Austin Quinlan, but the Mini-Series on YouTube to go with it!
I haven’t had a chance to get this rated yet, but I’m guessing it’ll be. . .
RATED “S” for SMOAKIN’! 

A TALE OF TWO PIPES
by Nate Lynn CPG

Our tale begins in the year of 2023, on a family pilgrimage to the Emerald Isle — a land rich with stories, mist, and music. It was on that journey, alongside my entire clan, that I first set foot in the hallowed halls of the Peterson shop, my oldest son and youngest daughter in tow. Little did I know, that visit would spark a love for the brand.

Spin the wheel of time forward by a single year, and there I was again — this time with just my son as companion, the two of us seeking fresh adventures upon Irish soil. Our path led us to the Peterson factory itself, a place steeped in craft and history. It was there we had the good fortune to be guided by none other than Austin Quinlan himself.

Now, I’d known of Austin through the fine fellowship of PPN, and had long admired his craftsmanship displayed on SPC.  To have him lead our tour was an unexpected delight. And what a grand tour it was — we spoke at length of all things Peterson, from pipe shapes to silverwork, from history to humor. But what made the day truly special was discovering that Austin was a man after my own heart, with a quick wit and a generous spirit. The hour and half passed in laughter and good company, and by the end I felt I’d found a true kindred spirit across the Atlantic.

A few months had passed, and once again I found myself with a trip to Ireland on the horizon — this time not with my son, but with my wife and eldest daughter in tow. The country calls to the heart like few others, and it seems each visit plants the seed for the next.

In preparation, I had gathered up a handful of my old Peterson pipes — well-loved pieces, but sorely in need of new stems. Naturally, I reached out to Austin to see if I might drop them off at the factory to be restored. While I was at it, I asked if he might be free to share a pint or two and perhaps chat over an idea that had been taking shape in my mind: a custom Father & Son set of pipes, something timeless that could one day be handed down again.

As the trip drew nearer, another notion took hold — I wanted these pipes to bear a mark, a symbol that spoke both to our Irish journey and to our own family story. A Celtic-inspired band seemed the perfect choice — but not one of the typical tourist fare. No, it needed to suit both my tastes and my son’s: a design with a nod to our Nordic roots as well, something that would whisper of Viking heritage while standing firmly Irish in its artistry.

And so one grey, rain-slicked Dublin morning, my wife and I set off on the hunt. We visited the usual haunts — Carroll’s and a few others — but nothing struck the right chord. Too polished, too modern, or simply lacking the old-world charm I had in mind.

Then, as fate would have it, we wandered past R & C McCormack Irish Jewelers. The window held promise, so we went in. I explained to the kind lady behind the counter what I sought: a Celtic-Viking sterling silver ring, one that could adorn our future pipes and tell a story of both heritage and craft.

Without hesitation, she produced a piece that took my breath for a moment — The Warrior’s Shield. There it was — bold, intricate, and with just the right blend of Irish and Norse spirit. The ring seemed to hum with the weight of old battles and ancient kinships.

I knew in that instant — this would be the band for our pipes.

As it turns out, The Warrior’s Shield ring held a story of its own. The design was inspired by none other than the famed Ardagh Chalice — that masterwork of early medieval Irish metalwork, discovered quite by accident in 1868 by a pair of young lads digging for potatoes in a Limerick field. One can only imagine their surprise, unearthing a treasure of the 8th century beneath the humble soil.

I’ve often wondered — after the wonder and commotion of their discovery, were they still hungry for those potatoes they’d been after? Or did the gleam of ancient silver and gold make them forget their growling bellies entirely? We’ll never know, of course, but what a tale it left behind.

And now, a piece of that history — echoed in the pattern of this ring — would become part of our own family story, wrapped around briar and carved in silver, smoke and memory.

Exactly nine days after we’d last crossed paths at the factory, I found myself meeting Austin once more — this time for a quick, almost secretive rendezvous in the bar of my hotel. Time was short, as we had another engagement planned that evening, and we were due to fly home the next morning, but a promise had been made and neither of us wanted to leave it undone.

Austin arrived with a quiet grin and the restored Petes in tow — each pipe looking ready for another lifetime of service. In thanks, I ordered him a well-earned Jameson 18 Year, while I raised one of my final creamy pints of Guinness. There is no better drink, in my humble opinion, to toast good company and good craft.

It was then I handed over the rings — The Warrior’s Shield pair — along with my vision for the Father & Son pipe set. Bent apples, of course — a shape neither of us own — finished in a rich natural stain, with handsome Cumberland stems to match. I wanted mine with a smooth bowl and a sandblasted shank for texture and contrast; my son’s, fittingly, would be the opposite — sandblasted bowl with a smooth shank, each a reflection of the other.

Without missing a beat, Austin took out his notebook and began sketching, the marks flowing fast and sure — a craftsman at work. In no time we had a rough draft of the pipes laid before us, the vision now shared between us in ink and intent.

https://youtu.be/clgmEjmGIfY

And now all there was left to do was… the waiting. Not the hardest part, as any pipe man knows, we are all a patient lot after all.

Before we parted, I asked one final favor — that Austin capture what he could of the process on film. I want my son to see the labor and love that goes into each piece, to understand that the pipe he holds was shaped not only by hand, but by a story — his own. Fitting, really, for without my son’s gentle prodding those years ago, I might never have taken up the pipe at all.

Now, as if the journey weren’t rich enough already, Austin had one final surprise in store for me. It turns out his soon-to-be father-in-law once owned the factory that produced some of the finest humidors in the business. With a craftsman’s eye for detail, Austin had the brilliant idea to house these two heirloom pipes in one of those famed humidor boxes — a fitting vessel for such a set.

On May 31st, 2025, Austin and I connected for a video chat — the long-awaited grand reveal. And it was during that conversation that I first learned of this special surprise. The moment is one I won’t soon forget — and I’m delighted to share it with you below.

Alas, there were no humidors left on hand — but fortune smiled yet again. His father-in-law did have one remaining treasure: a stunning solid mahogany jewelry box, inlaid with rich Italian burled walnut. As you know, mahogany is my favorite wood — deep, warm, and timeless — and this box seemed destined for the project. And so, these two pipes will rest not only in a case worthy of their craft, but in one with its own story, its own history. A final, perfect touch to a journey that began with an idea and will, I hope, carry on through generations.

And now, to my fellow Pete Geeks, I’ve posted the links below to the YouTube videos that capture this journey — from two simple rings and two humble blocks of briar, to what I hope will become an heirloom set of pipes. With any luck, these pipes will continue their path through the generations, passed from father to son in our family for many years to come. It’s been a true joy to share the making of them with you all — and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

So with this tale now told, I leave you with this: may your bowls burn cool, your pints stay full, and your stories grow ever richer. Sláinte

Smokin’ Petes, sipping’ Guinness, chasin’ good stories. — Nate 🍀

THE MINI-SERIES
Starring Austin Quinlan as the Mad Scientist

https://youtu.be/clgmEjmGIfY  Chapter 1

https://youtu.be/zR5pCyLbf-A Chapter 2

https://youtu.be/WROkak4R2N8 Chapter 3

https://youtu.be/yS35R2U_uVg Chapter 4