Deluxe Classics

Friday, May 28th, 2021 will see the retail launch of the new Deluxe Classics range, an exciting development in Kapp & Peterson’s commitment to its history and the production of fine non-System pipes that stretches back to the company’s beginnings in 1893. I got to speak with Josh Burgess, managing director at K&P, who was positively effervescent: “I’m really excited about these pipes. As much as I love Deluxe System pipes, my first Pete was a Deluxe Classics 03 from 2001. So since coming on board at Peterson, I’ve been conscious of their absence. “But this is a revival with a new twist—offering Terracotta and PSB finishes in addition to Natural. I hope Peterson smokers and collectors will also appreciate the chance to get Classics mounted configurations of their favorite shapes. Finally, one of the things we wanted to do here was echo the aesthetic of recent Pipes of the Year. We’ve enjoyed making pipes with wide silver bands, in reserved, but well-done finishes, with P-Lip vulcanite stems. I think those sorts of pipes are most reflective of what I like best about Peterson’s design.” The Terracotta, incidentally, is that reddish stain seen on the X105 above. It is used on the higher (and original) tier of the Sherlock Holmes pipes and also seen on the higher House Pipe and Pub Pipe lines. Depending on the grain, this finish can sometimes be quite breath-taking—so be sure to enlarge photos of shapes you’re particularly interested in when you’re out browsing. As you can see, the Natural finish may feature an unfinished chamber, which I know will be fantastic news to most Pete Geeks.* I say “may” because Josh tells me “not all of them have raw chambers. But we are moving toward that, not just on Deluxe Classics, but on all Natural pipes.” Welcome news. Nothing tastes quite as good, in my opinion, when breaking in a new pipe. In addition to the high-grade finishes, many of the new Deluxe Classics will feature a very wide sterling band—17mm, it looks like—stamped Peterson in script over DUBLIN. The samples I’ve seen have all been hallmarked “J” for 2020 for this initial release, indicating the series has been in planning since last year. If you look at the gallery at the end of this post, you can get an idea of just how beautiful this is going to be. “On the silver,” says Josh, “the goal was to have the widest band that the shape would accommodate. That means that there isn't a standard size across the entire series as you might find on say, the Sherlock Holmes or Cara. The band width that works on a 107 would look rather silly on a 701.” The bowl stamps will continue to be placed on the bottom of the shank.   Another welcome feature is the is P-Lip vulcanite stem with impressed aluminum P. Josh writes, “everything will be vulcanite P-Lip except for 264 and 268, which will be vulcanite Fishtail, as the P-Lip…