A Better Pipe Smoking Community

I have a smooth B12, (like a Pete 150 with a brandy bowl). Smokes like a Peterson with slightly less attention to detail on the finish which I love the natural color of. Fairly nice grain and fit seems on par with his brothers. Priced like the Kapet's, I consider it a bargain in the stable and inexpensive enough to be a beater. If they offered them in a B10, I'd have another.

Interesting. I've heard that they are basically high grades with errors, and thus they become Shamrocks--hence the designation. I'm very excited. Avoided Peterson's for a while, but am happy to finally have broken the cherry.

Whoops--double post!

I consider them to be a default pipe. They're expected to be decent smokers, always, and I've never been disappointed. The Shannon series is also a 'bargain' pipe in my book. Both my Shannon and Shamrock have some minor pits that my other Pete's do not, bummer, they smoke well. You'll be happy with it

... about my K&P Peterson 312 System pipe. I love the pipe, the shape, but not the "System". While it does deliver a fine smoke, the "System" is very wet, trapping much moisture in the shank chamber. When you turn the bowl over to empty the dottle and ash, tobacco juice runs back out through the bowl!

I have learned to smoke it once in a day and allow to it dry for several more before smoking it again. I also leave the tobacco ash in the bowl for a while after smoking to allow the juices to be absorbed in the briar before cleaning. I would not buy another one, but I enjoy the one I have and do make use of it despite the "System".

As for the P-lip stem, I have gotten used to it over the years I've smoked it. But, this pipe is more comfortable as a hand-holder because the P-lip and my jaw clench don't work well together.

Cap'n--I believe this pipe is not a system pipe, and AFAIK, has a standard fishtail. Systems seem to be love it or hate it, and for me, I'm not financially flexible enough to gamble on something I may hate. I have yet to smoke one, but my friend/pipe mentor has one and when he brings it back after break I will try it and see what's it. I admit, it's very interesting (at least in conceptual form; the fact that no one has really endeavored past it is very telling too, IMO), so I will at least try it.

Pipes with light stain and smooth finishes are made from the best looking briar a manufacturer has. Darker stains and rougher finishes cover less beautiful grain patterns, pits and voids. This is not a bad thing. It allows pipe makers to profit from more of the briar that they have to own to be in business. They have to buy the briar without knowing what is inside. Thankfully, these pipes still make fine smokers.I for one am not in the position to spend a thousand plus for each pipe I want to own and am grateful that these fine smokers are available at reduced prices. (There are a LOT of black sandblasted pipes in my "collection")
If a pipe strikes your fancy, buy it,smoke it. If it smokes badly, do what everyone else does, sell it on e-bay as a primo smoker that you have to get rid of because of failing health.
Happy smoking.

Mine is still unsmoked. I know I posted somewhere or another that I was going to smoke it, but not yet as I await warmer weather to leisurely break it in. I too love the shape- the bit of heft in the hand so similar to the Custombilts, but so much better looking, refined. My B&M apparently carries no Shamrocks.

Thank you so much, very helpful! I wanted this pipe more as a regular smoker than a showpiece. I have a BC Rolando Negoita, and the freaking thing chipped where the shank meets the stem bit (hadn't smoked it in 8 months; I presume me going to clean it did it, but I'm not certain). So now I'm in the market for good looking pipes that won't break.

As far as the heft, that's exactly why I wanted it. Big, big bowl, and just fantasticness waiting to happen inside of it.

Just bought a Donegal Rocky B10, should be here Friday. It is a nice shape.

My Rocky 68 is only about a year old, but regulary used. I'm not a big fan of blasted/rusticated finishes, but they work. Cooler in the hands to me, but I still love the polished woodgrain look. Waxed and polished, my Killarney B10 outglows my slightly more expensive B10 Irish Sea. If you like Pete's, check out this years SPD's. The B30 is Dublin shaped, (got it and a B32), the pics online don't do them justice. You'll be happy with your new Pete.
I tend to use lighter colored pipes for my english tobaccos, just for ease of recognition should I be imbibing or what.
My Stanwell HCA V's are the most comfortable, reliable pipes, My Wiley's, the loveliest/great smokers. Pete's are a bargain. Can't wait to see what a Windjammer is like.
Enjoy,

It's a small smooth billiard from the 70s (?) that I use to smoke only black rope. What a great pipe! They pop up on ebay frequently. Although I'm not an expert, I wouldn't pay more than $20 for a used one.

Here is a listing of some pipe manufacturers and their seconds lines, in case you are looking for more quality pipes with some 'cosmetic issues' :
http://www.pipes.org/Articles/Seconds.html

Great find, bookmarked for later perusal. My OCD is so wild with pipes; if I buy a really good one, I can barely look at it or touch it b/c i'm terrified of hurting it. But with these, I feel i'm getting outstanding quality with little risk, so therefore I'll use it more.

As I was running out the door to go to work this morning I noticed a neat little fedex box, and lo and behold, my Pete!

I was unable to smoke it (that'll have to wait till after 1230 or so), but here are some thoughts.

First--the wood is a lot darker than I had imagined. I'll take a photo so I can show you what I mean. The other Shamrocks I've seen have been a light/tan color; this is a bit darker, almost like a light brown/leathery color.

Second--I can certainly see the blemish; the pit is on the bottom of the bowl. Hopefully it doesn't go in too far!

Three--a lot lighter than I had imagined, but still, hand feel seems great.

I'll keep you guys posted, and I'll get some pics up later.

Thanks again!

Ditto that "Thank you". I never suspected my Hyde Park billiard was a Comoy second. I never doubted its less than sterling quality, but did not know its genus.

I had no idea about the Ben Wades being seconds. That's very interesting!

Many thanks, again Tech. I had no idea my Royal Danish was a second. Used only for Pete '09 Reserve, smokes very well as do all my Stanwell's.

Ben Wade has changed hands a few times. I have a Town & Country bent Rhodesian that I bought early '09, it's a piece. Stem will not flush and the mouthpiece feels and tastes like plastic. Pretty grain and comfortable in the hand, I doubt I've put more than thirty bowls through it. I have a freehand I bought over twenty years ago somewhere hidden in the garage, it's a great pipe!

mclayton, you'll love your new Pete, give it a chance to season in with about ten bowls or so. None of my Pete's are bad pipes.

I've had my 2nd half-bowl, and it was very pleasant. I'm already beginning to like its draw, and the handfeel is excellent. It's going to become my dedicated English pipe (my BC Negoita was, but that's now retired due to chipping).

Very, very pleased thus far.