Alright, let me tell you about my time with this Peterson Celtic pipe I picked up a while back. It wasn’t exactly planned, you know? I was just browsing, looking at different pipes online, sort of window shopping. I already had a couple of briars, nothing too fancy, but I kept seeing these Peterson pipes with that distinctive silver band and the ‘P’ logo. Then I stumbled onto the Celtic series.
What really grabbed me was the design on the band – that intricate Celtic knot work. Looked real classy, sturdy too. I mulled it over for a few days. Kept going back to look at the pictures. I was after something with a bit of character, you know, not just another plain pipe. Decided to go for a bent shape, think it was the XL02 model. Seemed like a good handful.
Getting My Hands On It
So, I pulled the trigger and ordered it. Waiting for packages is always a bit like being a kid at Christmas, isn’t it? When it finally arrived, I took my time opening it up. First impressions? Solid. It felt good in the hand, well-balanced despite being a fairly chunky pipe. The finish was nice, a deep sort of walnut colour, and that silver band with the Celtic knot really stood out. It came in the usual Peterson box with the little green pouch. Simple, but nice.
I spent a bit just looking it over, checking the drilling, the stem fit. Everything seemed pretty spot on. Didn’t look like it needed any special prep work before the first smoke, which was good because I was keen to try it out.
The First Few Smokes
For the maiden voyage, I picked out a tobacco I knew well. Didn’t want too many new things happening at once. I think it was just a simple ribbon cut Virginia blend I had open. Packing it felt natural, the bowl size was generous but not massive.
- Lighting up was easy enough.
- The draw felt smooth right from the start.
- No gurgle, which was a relief.
The first smoke was… well, it was alright. Like any new pipe, it needed breaking in. You get that initial sort of woody taste from the briar. But it smoked cool, which was a big plus. Didn’t get too hot in the hand either. Over the next few weeks, I made sure to smoke it regularly, trying different tobaccos.
Breaking it in properly seemed key. I took it slow, didn’t push it too hard, built up that cake nice and steady. Cleaned it after every smoke, just a pipe cleaner through the stem and shank, wiped out the bowl. Standard stuff.
Living With The Celtic
Now, after using it for a good while, it’s definitely settled in. It’s become one of my go-to pipes, especially for relaxing smokes in the evening. The briar taste is long gone, replaced by the flavour of the tobaccos I smoke in it. It still smokes cool and dry, handles most blends pretty well, though I tend to favour Virginias or light English blends in it.
The Celtic knot band still looks great, hasn’t tarnished much. The overall finish has held up nicely too, just showing the gentle signs of regular use. It feels comfortable, familiar. It’s not a super lightweight pipe, mind you, so it’s not ideal for clenching in your teeth for ages if you’re busy doing something else, but for holding and just enjoying the process, it’s spot on.
So yeah, that’s my story with the Peterson Celtic. Started as a bit of an impulse buy based on looks, but it turned out to be a really solid, dependable smoker. It just feels like a proper, traditional pipe, and I enjoy using it. No real complaints, it just does its job well.
