Peterson B12

In this section of the B Shapes visual encyclopedia, Peterson turned from the creation of original Bs to what most collectors think of when they discuss the shape group: bowls left from from the Limited Edition / Pipe of the Year and various high-grade collections which were slotted into medium and sometimes entry-priced lines.

(For a look at the original Limited Edition / Pipe of the Year appearances of the B12 through B15, B20 and B21/B49, you can click here: https://petersonpipenotes.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/a-visual-history-of-petersons-limited-edition-pipe-of-the-year-1997-2014/ .)

B12

The B12, an unusual diamond-shanked straight brandy, began as part of the only dual-pipe Limited Edition set Peterson has issued, for 2000. In its original issue, it features a sterling cap as well as band and is one of the most striking straight pipes Peterson has ever issued. It was reissued as a Shamrock smooth around 2008 and Shamrock rustic a little later. While still striking, it loses much of its visual power without the sterling adornments.

Length: 5.87 in./149.10 mm.
Weight: 2.10 oz./59.53 g.
Bowl Height: 1.95 in./49.53 mm.
Chamber Depth: 1.58 in./40.13 mm.
Chamber Diameter: 0.81 in./20.57 mm.
Outside Diameter: 1.69 in./42.93 mm.

B13

The B13 was originally as the diamond-shanked bent sterling spigot partner of the B12, issued in the Limited Edition set for 2000. It surfaced as a beautiful tapered-stem 2002 and 2003 St. Patrick’s Day pipe and again as one of the last July 4th pipes in 2006—all extraordinary values for a fantastic shape.

Length: 5.20 in./132.08 mm.
Weight: 35.20 oz./997.90 g.
Bowl Height: 2.04 in./51.82 mm.
Chamber Depth: 1.77 in./44.96 mm.
Chamber Diameter: 0.82 in./20.83 mm.
Outside Diameter: 1.64 in./41.66 mm.

B14

The B14, a brandy “setter” in the old Peterson parlance, seems to be extremely scarce. It was first issued as the flamboyant 2001 Limited Edition sterling cap spigot. The measurements that follow are for the 2001 LE, obviously heavier:

Length: 5.73 in./145.54 mm.
Weight: 2.72 oz./77.11 g.
Bowl Height: 1.82 in./46.23 mm.
Chamber Depth: 1.65 in./41.91 mm.
Chamber Diameter: 0.75 in./19.05 mm.
Outside Diameter: 1.95 in./49.53 mm.

B15

The B15 Rhodesian / poker hybrid was first issued as the 2002 Limited Edition, per Tony Whelan, factory manager at Peterson. I had originally thought it was the B2 (as I mistakenly wrote in the last blog—now corrected), albeit an XL with the added beaded rings. But Tony corrected me: the B2 was part of that first series of B shapes, and obviously they drew later inspiration from it for the B15. I have not been able to source a single occurrence of its appearance in subsequent lines, so what follows are the measurements of the original 2002 LE. If you have a photo or own a pipe stamped B15 (not the LE), let me know and we can incorporate it in this reference. Here are the average measurements for the LE 2002:

Length: 6.35 in./161.29 mm.
Weight: 2.40 oz./68.04 g.
Bowl Height: 1.96 in./49.78 mm.
Chamber Depth: 1.62 in./41.15 mm.
Chamber Diameter: 0.83 in./21.08 mm.
Outside Diameter: 1.90 in./48.26 mm.

Great Explorers Collection (2002)
(Courtesy Mario Lubinski)

B16

The B16 through B19 are all from the Great Explorers collection issued in 2002, per Tony Whelan. The B16 comes from The Crean, a robust interpretation of the classic Dublin shape. In the B16 army mount Rock of Cashel from Italy, it’s difficult to distinguish its slightly-larger size and shape from the 120, but in the Killarney, it looks quite similar to the B16 original.
Length: 6.02 in./152.94 mm.
Weight: 1.69 oz./47.81 g.
Bowl Height: 2.11 in./53.58 mm.
Chamber Depth: 1.70 in./43.16 mm.
Chamber Diameter: 0.83 in./21.18 mm.
Outside Diameter: 1.59 in./40.49 mm.

B17

The B17 came from the 2002 Great Explorers Scott, and in its Kapet dress with tapered stem bears some resemblance to the Sherlock Holmes Professor, albeit with a higher crown.

Length: 5.10 in./129.54 mm.
Weight: 2.30 oz./65.20 g.
Bowl Height: 2.13 in./54.10 mm.
Chamber Depth: 1.76 in./44.70 mm.
Chamber Diameter: 0.76 in./19.30 mm.
Outside Diameter: 1.70 in./43.18 mm.

B18

I love the Peterson straight-sided billiards, and this is a rare one, coming from the Amundsen in the 2002 Great Explorers collection. As an army mount Italian-market Rock of Cashel it almost looks like a new shape, although the beveled rim is still discernable. The rim on the Kapet B18 looks to be flattened.
Length: 5.95 in./151.13 mm.
Weight: 2.10 oz./59.53 g.
Bowl Height: 2.16 in./54.86 mm.
Chamber Depth: 1.80 in./45.72 mm.
Chamber Diameter: 0.80 in./20.32 mm.
Outside Diameter: 1.62 in./41.15 mm.

B19

The last of the Great Explorers Collection, the Shackleton, was issued as the B19, a big, tall-bowled straight brandy.  It appeared subsequently in the high-grade sterling-mount sandblast Dublin Castle line—an amazing piece—and as a sterling army mount in Lubinski’s Italian Blackrock line.
Length: 5.85 in./148.59 mm.
Weight: 1.90 oz./53.86 g.
Bowl Height: 1.89 in./48.01 mm.
Chamber Depth: 1.69 in./42.93 mm.
Chamber Diameter: 0.82 in./20.83 mm.
Outside Diameter: 1.76 in./44.70 mm.

B20

The B20 was first released as the 2003 Limited Edition and is another shape that displays the Peterson House Style to magnificent effect. The only release I have been able to confirm is for the low-grade Shamrock, which appeared in 2008, although there must have been others.

Length: 6.28 in. / 159 mm.
Weight: 1.98 oz. / 56.24 gr.
Bowl Height: 2.12 in. / 56 mm.
Chamber Depth: 1.73 in. / 43.90 mm.
Chamber Diameter:  0.75 in. / 19.50 mm.
Outside Diameter: 1.48 in.  / 38 mm.

B21 / B49

(B21 Rock of Cashel)

I fell in love with this strangely equine, nearly-stack proportioned brandy billiard when it first came out in 2004 for both its looks and its performance. With a 20 x 46mm chamber, it’s a full and heavenly evening of Virginia or Va/Per, with solid hand comfort and high visual appeal. I’ve never seen any shape even remotely like it, and apparently neither has anyone else, because it’s had a distinguished track record at Peterson.

(B21 Shamrock)

It first appeared as the LE silver cap for 2004, then it received its B21 shape number when Mario Lubinski scooped it up for the sterling-mount, marmalade acrylic-stemmed Rock of Cashel. It made its exit with the final production bowls in the entry-grade Shamrock line from c. 2008 (which received only a coat of wax), although I wouldn’t be surprised if it had appeared in other mid and lower-grade lines as well.

In 2008 the shape reappeared in its finest dress as the as the LE for that year, adorned with sterling cap but also Celtic knots engraved at cap and on the sterling band.

(B49 Kapreis)

In 2011 it became the Gregson shape in the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes quartet, and by 2013 it had been given the B49 number, where it appeared in two sterling army mount lines for Lubinski, the Ashford and the Kapreis. Just recently it appeared in the Derry Rustic line. Here’s the Ashford B49 measurements:

Length: 135 mm. / 5.26 in.
Height: 63 mm. / 2.48 in.
Outside Diameter: 43 mm. / 1.68 in.
Chamber Diameter: 20 mm. / 0.78 in.
Chamber Depth: 51 mm. / 1.98 in.
Weight: 69 gr. / 2.41 oz.

Pictured at top: B49 Ashford (courtesy Bollitopipe.it)

Photos courtesy Smokingpipes.com, Bolittopipes.it and AlPascia.com

With thanks to Tony Whelan at Peterson

Dia bheith in éineacht leat