Inexpensive Petersons?
I recently ordered two new pipes. I ordered a Peterson Shamrock (the briar pictured below) and a Paronelli Desert Storm Pipe (similar to the colorful one pictured below). I just received them and am currently in the process of breaking in both pipes.
The Peterson Shamrock
Paronelli Desert Storm (similar to what I bought)
I have been smoking pipes for about 25 years. I know the adage that there is a huge difference between a $10 and a $100 pipe - not as much between a $100 and a $1,000 dollar pipe. That said, over the past few years I rarely even look at pipes under $100. I have two other Petersons, both were over $100.
Both of these pipes were about $50-$60 at Cup-O-Joes. So far I am pretty thrilled with the Peterson. I confess that I really didn't even know that Peterson produced a lower-end briar. It has a few voids, but nothing terrible. Of course the Peterson website is not much help, but as far as I can tell the quality and craftsmanship of the Shamrock is just as good as my 4th of July, just the briar seems of slightly lesser quality. The Paronelli, I just had to buy. If you know me you know why. It's quite good so far, but the initial few bowls smoke a little wet.
I speculate that the Shamrock is the "B-Grade" briars that come into the Peterson factory. The briar wood that doesn't make the grade for the higher-end Petersons, but I can't really say for sure. Any other ideas out there about this line of Peterson?
The Peterson Shamrock
Paronelli Desert Storm (similar to what I bought)
I have been smoking pipes for about 25 years. I know the adage that there is a huge difference between a $10 and a $100 pipe - not as much between a $100 and a $1,000 dollar pipe. That said, over the past few years I rarely even look at pipes under $100. I have two other Petersons, both were over $100.
Both of these pipes were about $50-$60 at Cup-O-Joes. So far I am pretty thrilled with the Peterson. I confess that I really didn't even know that Peterson produced a lower-end briar. It has a few voids, but nothing terrible. Of course the Peterson website is not much help, but as far as I can tell the quality and craftsmanship of the Shamrock is just as good as my 4th of July, just the briar seems of slightly lesser quality. The Paronelli, I just had to buy. If you know me you know why. It's quite good so far, but the initial few bowls smoke a little wet.
I speculate that the Shamrock is the "B-Grade" briars that come into the Peterson factory. The briar wood that doesn't make the grade for the higher-end Petersons, but I can't really say for sure. Any other ideas out there about this line of Peterson?