Peterson Dracula Smooth (124) Fishtail

This Peterson Dracula Smooth (124) Fishtail draws its inspiration from Bram Stoker’s Dracula.  Peterson’s eponymous series dresses pipes a macabre aesthetic that combines a cauldron-black stain with a blood-red acrylic stem swirling with inky tendrils — each separated by a broad nickel band. Spooky and distinctive, the Dracula series is among the Irish marque’s most colorful and recognizable, as presented here on this smooth “124” bent Dublin model.

The Dracula line started as a special commemorative line of pipes, first released in 2012, celebrating the death centennial of fellow Irishman and esteemed author Abraham “Bram” Stoker. Characterized by jet-black sandblasted finishes, bright nickel bands, and black-and-red-swirled acrylic fishtail stems, the Dracula Sandblasted appeals not only to fans of gothic horror, but of quality classic pipes in bold presentations.

• Length: 6.18 in.
• Weight: 1.06 oz.
• Bowl Height: 1.89 in.
• Chamber Depth: 1.55 in.
• Chamber Diameter: 0.76 in.
• Outside Diameter: 1.12 in.
• Stem Material: Acrylic
• Filter: None
• Shape: Bent Dublin
• Finish: Smooth
• Material: Briar
• Country: Ireland

History

Friedrich and Heinrich Kapp, German immigrants to Ireland from Nuremberg, founded the famed Kapp Brothers store on Grafton Street, Dublin in 1865. Shortly thereafter, a Latvian immigrant, Charles Peterson, strolled into the Kapp workshop and declared that he could make better pipes than they could. Armed with an imaginative flair for pipes and a craftsman’s background, Peterson not only proved himself correct, but became the third partner in the fledgling firm.

Originally based at 53 Grafton Street the business moved to 56 Lower Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street) on the corner with Bachelors Walk shortly after the Easter Rising.^[1] The name Kapp & Peterson Ltd can still be seen on the parapet of this building and the letters KP are formed in timber paneling on the shopfront.^[2]

Today, Peterson, run by Thomas Palmer, makes about 100,000 pipes annually, distributed all over the world. After Europe, the United States is the largest market with 12-15% of Peterson’s production.

Pipes

Perhaps the most notable design from the Kapp and Peterson factory was Peterson’s famed ‘Dry System’ pipes, patented in 1894. Featuring a small reservoir intended to collect moisture before it reaches the smoker, the ‘System Pipe’ is designed to create a drier and cooler smoke and discourage the formation of dottle. The System Pipe is still a consistent top seller for Peterson.

Another notable design from Peterson is the so-called “P-lip”: a mouthpiece that directs smoke upwards towards the roof of the mouth instead of the tongue. This is intended to produce a drier and less biting smoke than when smoke is directed at the tongue, as with other pipes.

Peterson offers many different models of pipes, including Aran, Donegal Rocky, Harp, Irish Army, Killarney, Rosslare Classic, Silver, and Shannon. The Peterson Dry System is available in select models such as Standard, Premier, Ebony, and Deluxe.^[3] Some models are available in both fishtail or P-Lip mouthpiece.