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THE PETE GEEK COFFEE MUG EVENT

See end of post for details & ordering

What’s in YOUR Wheelhouse?
(see last post)

SYSTEM DAY 2026 is this Thursday, September 3rd. Please join the worldwide Pete Geek community to celebrate this day in history–September 3rd, 1890–when Charles Peterson’s 3rd and final patent for the System pipe was approved.

What you can do: send a photo of your “wheelhouse” Petes or a selfie with you and same to petegeek1896.org. Receive your Certified Pete Geek certificate or a merit badge for entering.

As we approach System Day, I am really pleased to share the long Peterson pilgrimage of Phil Yearout, or Philip D. Yearout, as he’s known professionally.  His articles have appeared in Shooting Sportsman, Sporting Tales, The Doublegun Journal in addition to Sporting Classics.  He’s a member of  both The Parker Gun Collectors and the A. H. Fox Collectors and you’ll find his articles in their publications as well. I’ve met so many hunters and fly fishermen through PPN that I imagine his name will be familiar to them (I’m thinking of Lance, Cheyen, and Ken to name but three), and have appended a list of some of his articles and where to find them at the end of this post, so without further adieu–

Eighty Years Lived,  Sixty Years a Pipeman, and my Fifty-plus Year Peterson Journey
by Phil Yearout

As soon as I was old enough to recognize the finer things I vowed that I would do two things: smoke a pipe and drink Scotch whisky. I don’t recall exactly when that occurred – probably some time in high school. But I was a jock: I played football and ran track (well enough to earn some small college scholarship offers, none of which I acted on), and in those days tobacco and alcohol were no-nos to those of us who took training seriously, so I had to postpone those aspirations. But I always thought those were two of the coolest things you could do.

So I didn’t waste any time after I got to college. Those were the days when alcohol was banned in the dorms, so I kept mine in rinsed-out toiletry bottles. I can’t tell you the brand of my first pipe or tobacco. Professors still smoked in their classrooms back then, and pipe smoking was just seen as a part of the “college man” persona. I don’t recall there being a real pipe shop in town, but drug and grocery stores all carried pipes and tobacco, so it wasn’t difficult to acquire decent pipes at reasonable prices, nor to find tobacco, and I think I tried every blend I could find, including one I’d like to forget called Greenbriar, a mentholated pipe tobacco. Yuck!

At some point I saw a magazine ad for Flying Dutchman tobacco, and pictured with it was the coolest pipe I’d ever seen. I learned it was a Danish freehand – it had turnings on the stem and a natural-finished rim. That set me on a course of uniquely-shaped Danish and freehand pipes, and the Dutchman and I had a long and enjoyable relationship. My budget didn’t allow me to chase any really high-end stuff; my rotation in those days consisted of pipes by makers like Hilson and Jobey, and “second” lines by respected makers such as Navigator by Kriswill and Royal Danish by Stanwell. I found myself buying up every oddball shape I came across, sometimes (unfortunately) favoring appearance over quality.

A beloved XL307

After finishing my undergraduate studies I migrated to a larger city with my new wife where I attended graduate school, and there were a number of actual pipe shops and mall kiosks in town.  The shop in the old Lasson Hotel was a bit too hoity-toity for an impoverished grad student (the owner drove a Bentley) but a few doors down the street was The Pipe Rack, operated by John Ojile and his wife. The atmosphere there was much more welcoming, and John allowed those of us with big wants and little money to put pipes on layaway. It was there that I saw my first real Peterson pipe – an XL307 – and I bought it on layaway.  I don’t remember the price – not much, probably, by today’s standards, but a lot to a poor grad student and his new young wife. That Peterson looked to me like a real Pipe Smoker’s pipe; I’d seen images of similar pipe styles and admired them, and in fact I owned a Wellington which I thought filled the bill, but once I held that Peterson in my hands I was hooked.  There simply was no comparison in quality, fit and feel, and “cool factor” between that Wellington and the Peterson. I later bought a sandblast Standard System 301 from John, and those pipes pretty much ended my fascination with feeehands.

A 301 Blast with the Comfort P-Lip

From that point on it was standard and traditional shapes for me, and I began to acquire those types of pipes. I actually added a few other Petersons via the estate market (among them a Donegal Rocky XL02 and a 106 billiard, a Millennium Dublin, a Shamrock 999 and even a couple of pre-Republic pipes). I still have all of them, including those first two Petersons.

As for tobaccos, I’ve never been very adventurous; I’d usually stick with one I love when I find it and I have had enjoyable and long-lasting relationships with but four: the aforementioned Flying Dutchman, Faber, Coe & Gregg’s Brindley’s Mixture, the original Rattray’s Black Mallory, and McClelland’s British Woods Mixture. These were interspersed with various others from time to time but I always returned to each in their stead. None are currently available – at least not in their original form – and I’ve been devastated by each demise, particularly the McClelland’s, with which I intended to spend the remainder of my days.

The next few years were used up with a bit of job-hopping trying to earn a living, having a couple of kids, and my side gig playing music (as a folkie and a singer/songwriter and I played guitar and banjo in clubs and bars most weekends) and frankly my interest in pipes languished a bit. I spent that time selling off a lot of what I’d accumulated, and then later I started playing golf and cigars were just easier to manage on the golf course. I hung on to my Petes though, even though they were mostly just gathering dust.

The SH Mycroft

I was on my laptop working from home one day when I came across a pipe that interested me: a Peterson Sherlock Holmes Mycroft. Slightly bent pipes have always been among my favorites and this one was just so graceful, and with its well-grained smooth bowl, sterling silver band and P-Lip stem it was just stunning. I hadn’t bought a pipe in years but I set out to find a Mycroft. I couldn’t find anything available stateside, but I finally located an overseas retailer who had them in stock. I placed an order, and on a whim added a Donegal Rocky bulldog.  The pipes arrived but the Mycoft had serious finish issues. The seller agreed and replaced it, but the only other one available had a fishtail stem.  This just wouldn’t do, so I contacted Peterson, sent it to them, had a proper P-Lip stem made for it, and all was right with the world.

Even though I do have a lot of “stuff” of one kind or another I’ve never considered myself a collector; more of a Professional Accumulator. But I guess those two pipes reignited my interest; I bought a few more Petes (both new and estate), bought a Mark Twain just because, and eventually set about acquiring all of the shapes in the various Sherlock Holmes series, a goal I’ve accomplished except for the Sylvius and the Moriarty in the Adventures series. The spacing on the commercially-available pipe racks I had were just too narrow for the large pipes I prefer so I built a 36-pipe rack that displays them in a way I like. With just 33 Petersons in the rack it seemed only right to acquire three more to fill it, so 160^th Anniversary pipes – a straight one in the Heritage finish and a rusticated bent, along with a new silver-mounted Kildare XL90 – were added. My preference is pipes with metal bands (mostly hallmarked silver but a few bright nickel) and P-Lip mouthpieces; in my humble opinion a Peterson without a P-Lip just isn’t a Peterson. For me, the innovative design, distinguishing metal work, unique P-Lip and variety of distinctive shapes just give Peterson pipes the “it” factor.

My pipe-buying days are largely over now. Besides my Petes I have a few other briars that I keep, either for sentimental reasons or because they aren’t worth enough to bother selling. A couple of pipes from my early days will always be with me: a big old craggy Hilson bent that saw me though some tough times in grad school, and an interesting Soren half blasted/half smooth freehand which my wife gifted me when I earned my MFA. I also have three meerschaum pipes: a carved bird-in-mouth retriever that a friend brought me from Turkey, and carved Mark Twain and Sherlock Holmes likenesses which I’ve yet to smoke, and may not. I have three real gourd calabashes, a couple of clays and a couple of double-walled porcelain pipes, and a lovely long clay Churchwarden which I try to break out each Christmas for a smoke – very Elizabethan don’tcha know. These latter pipes don’t lend themselves very well to the outdoor activities where I typically enjoy a smoke, and I don’t smoke in the house; they reside in a lovely pipe cabinet my wife bought for me and they don’t get out much.

Three single barrel trap guns from Phil’s gun case: Parker SC grade (1925), Fox J grade (19931), and Ithaca 5E 1929).

Hunting and fishing have become very important in my life; I have a nice selection of vintage side-by-side double shotguns, and I have three vintage single barrel trap guns that I enjoy shooting, and an array of bamboo, glass and graphite fly rods which I enjoy using. A pipe usually accompanies me on all of these kinds of outings.

Parker SC-1 (with a deadly Adv SH Moran)

Some guys baby their pipes – they might have a huntin’ pipe or a fishin’ pipe or a truck pipe…I don’t. When heading out for a hunt or some time on the water I grab whichever pipe in the rack speaks to me at the time. Pretty much the same with tobacco: I don’t dedicate pipes to various tobaccos or types. I might fill a pouch before I go with something that appeals to me, or I might just remember whatever’s still in the truck from last time and go with that. I don’t light a pipe while I’m actually hunting; getting the gun to my shoulder, remembering to get the safety off, swinging on a bird and trying to plot lead is more than enough for me to handle when the action starts. But lighting one for the long walk back to the truck is a real pleasure, as the aroma blends with all the other smells of autumn we’ve come to love.

Phil’s Winston WT graphite 8′ 4wt w/Orvis reel 

As for fishing, that’s another matter. While I may take a break and find a nice spot on the bank to enjoy a pipeful, I’m just as likely to fill the pipe mid-stream while thigh-deep in moving water. I enjoy puffing while I’m casting; the rhythms of both seem to compliment each other. I don’t worry about losing a pipe to the water; I guess I think that even at this advanced age I’d still be quick enough to rescue one if it happens. But I hope I never have to find out.

Phil’s Brackett–era bamboo Winston 7’6″ 4wt with a Hardy reel

I have many unopened tins of “boutique” tobacco and I still enjoy my English tobaccos, but find myself reverting back to the “codger” blends I tried many years ago: currently I have cans of Carter Hall, Half & Half, Sir Walter, and Edward G. Robinson’s Blend, along with several tobaccos from The Country Squire – Parson’s Blend, Hunting Creek and Figgy Pudding.

Of course all the old pipe shops are gone now, and have been for some time. There are a couple of shops that mostly cater to cigars, and one of them does carry some pipes and tinned tobacco. I miss the days of walking into a shop full of the fragrance of good tobacco with the proprietor behind his showcase puffing away and being invited to fill your pipe from the row of big jars. I’ll turn 80 in a few months; my very tolerant wife and I have been married for 56 years and we have lived in the same house for over 40 of those years. I still love my Peterson pipes, and I still think smoking a pipe (especially a Peterson!) and drinking Scotch whisky are two of the coolest things ever!

Watson–especially Watson as portrayed by Nigel Bruce in the SH franchise starring Basil Rathbone of the 1930s and 40s–would appreciate this great photo!

All photos by Phil Yearout

A FEW ARTICLES BY PHIL
available online:

“G. S. and the Mystery Stevens Side-by-Side,” Shotgun Life Magazine (January 16, 2013)

“The Intruder,” Sporting Classics Daily (May 13, 2024)

“The Mink,” Sporting Classics Daily (August 28, 2024)

“The Photograph,” Sporting Classics Daily (April 28, 2026)

“The Promised Land,” Sporting Classics Daily (December 29, 2025)

You can reach out to Phil directly at pyearout@prodigy.net if you want more information about his work or just want to talk shotgun, flyrods & Petes!

THE PETE GEEK MUG (AND COASTER) EVENT

It’s been a minute since the original Pete Geek Deneen Coffee mugs. I get at least two requests a month for one, often from pipemen who don’t even know about the blog, so here it is—the 2026 PETE GEEK MUG EVENT!

Like the original event, there are TWO mugs. Each mug can be ordered in either RED or BLACK WITH HUNTER GREEN glaze.

The Judge (12-14 oz.)
This is the mug in red with  a Photoshop overlay to give you a rough idea until the digital proofs arrive.

This is the THE JUDGE, inspired subconsciously I’m sure by one of my favorite Virginia tobaccos, Orlik, “Smoked by All Shrewd Judges” and the Thinking Man association. It’s a great all-around size for a good cuppa, whatever time of day.

The Amp (14-16 oz.)
This is NOT the color but just the mug, which is larger than the Judge,
again shown with a Photoshop medallion overlay until the proofs arrive. 

Just like last time, there’s a larger mug, and THE AMP is surely larger. I dislike refilling my mug, but then I’m apt to drink it even when it cools off. So this “HOUSE MUG” size. This one is available in red or in the  BLACK WITH HUNTER GREEN, colors shown here:

This is the BLACK w/ HUNTER GREEN available for both mugs.

Old-time Pete Geeks will see that once again I’ve used the colors we think of as associated with Kapp & Peterson—green, black, and red. Oh, and just one more photo of the AMP, again not with the correct glaze, that gives you a better idea of its shape:

There will be TWO leather coasters available this time around, one in SADDLE (left) and one in MAHOGANY (right). They will feature the PPN 2026 “CERTIFIED SYSTEM USER” medallion seen above:

Colors for the leather coasters: Saddle (left) and Mahogany (right)

In the two years since the last CPG Mug Event, like everything else prices have gone up considerably. After talking this over with Gigi, however, we’ve decided to add just a dollar for each year, hoping that will help make this event a reality for everyone who’s been waiting patiently for a new mug and finds their budgets as stretched as ours this year. Here’s the details:

ORDER FORM RIGHT HERE

It takes Deneen Pottery about 14-15 weeks from the time of ordering until arrival, but they’ve said we should have these in time to put under the Christmas tree.

I’ll post the digital proofs from Deneen as soon as they’re ready.

As this is a PG Event, if you send me a photo of your mug w/a Pete or selfie, you’ll receive your Certified Pete Geek certificate or a merit badge for your certificate.

And as always, proceeds go to supporting the software and hosting fees of the blog.

A very appropriate conclusion for today’s post–

Stan Potapkin CPG sent me photos of a truly rare and outstanding find, the GOLF SET (c. 1997).

He writes, “Months ago I was in my Peterson dealer’s shop, and he invited me to the store, saying: ‘I want to show you something special’. I came in, and he opened the custom paper box. There was a ‘Driver’ pipe of Peterson Golf Collection. Unsmoked. Suddenly to myself, I asked:’How much?’, he named the price, which was low enough for me to accept it. So, I purchased a great piece of briar which ‘I have no idea what to do with’.  And now, two days ago, the same dealer sent me a photo from another man who wanted to consign his pipes – an unsmoked ‘Putter’ pipe from the same Peterson Golf Collection set. Maybe even the same set. Definitely, by saying “A,” I was forced to say “B.” So, I went to the shop to get some tobacco and  purchased the missing part of the set I have now.  This must be how collectors are born.

“The set,” Stan writes, “was introduced in 2005 for The Ryder Cup 2006 event. There was also some merchandise branded by Peterson, like ashtrays with golf ball, golf ball keychains, corkscrews, and shoehorns. It was available in sterling as well as gold mounts”:

Sterling Mount

Gold Mount

Intellectual property of Kapp & Peterson
reproduced by their kind permission.

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