Another week, another unusual Peterson pipe. The De Luxe line used to be the absolute top grade in Peterson’s catalog — at least until the Supreme line was introduced. Even then, modern €1000 Supremes are often graded mainly on grain appearance. So we’re already dealing with a top-tier pipe here… and it gets even better, because this one has several highly unusual features.

First: the condition. This pipe has been barely smoked — if I had to guess, no more than ten times.

Second: the F/T stamp, which indicates a fishtail stem, even though the pipe clearly has a P-Lip mouthpiece.

Third — and by far the most important — the stem itself. This is a hand-cut stem. In the 1960s and 1970s, hand-cut stems were reserved only for truly exceptional pipes. What most likely happened here is that the pipe was originally stamped as part of an F/T batch, but on closer inspection someone noticed the outstanding grain and decided this pipe deserved special treatment.

Many people think the difference between a hand-cut stem and a standard one is just the stamp. If you look closely, you’ll see this stem is completely different — even the curve is more refined and distinct compared to regular production stems. If you’ve never smoked a System pipe with a hand-cut stem, I can assure you the difference is very noticeable.

A very rare and remarkable piece, even by the standards of high-end Peterson collections.