Peterson Harp 999 Tobacco Pipe Fishtail

Very well made I came from a filtered pipe and prefer the draw and taste that I get from the Irish Harp 999. Nice fit and finish.

I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I don’t know what I don’t know. This was a serious upgrade over the corn cob pipe handed out at 21C. (Thanks again btw)

The Peterson Harp 999, is absolutely stunning and typically what I expect and received from all of my Peterson pipes. Fit and finish are superb. Tenon bore, perfect. Of the few things that I have always done during my 50 years of pipe smoking, are all easy things. Disassemble the stem from shank, and with a pencil, and a reflected source of light, I coat graphite onto the male tenon. Re-assemble the stem to shank. Dip my little finger into (black, no sugar) espresso, and coat the inside of the bowl. Add tobacco by-the-pinch to one-third of the bowl, and slowly smoke, very gently, long draughts. After three smokes of the same process I build the tobacco load to two-thirds and finally a full bowl. Slow, cool, draughts. Peterson pipes are wonderful smoking pipes, and the Harp 999 is right up there, worthy of the Peterson name and in this case, its Harp. I wanted the brown/black swirl stem and am so glad, that is what was received as the sales photograph showed a reddish dominant color not quite as red as Dracula series, but the brown/black, to me, is perfect. Balance is excellent when held in mouth, and the weight is feather light. The stem and mouthpiece of the fishtail are extremely comfortable and "smooth as an inner thigh", as we said many decades ago. The Sterling band, believe it or not, I wanted to allow the band to patina, and the 999 arrived already in almost Half Patina, and to me, is as welcome as a warm fireplace during a rain storm. After a most easy and quick break-in period, I opened the draft hole to 5/16ths inch, which is what I do to all my pipes where possible, and the draw, is super soft. Excited smokers avoid that step or you risk burning a hole through the briar. That is why most pipe makers under-bore draft holes, to avoid burn-outs. Every Peterson pipe that I own, is a testiment to quality. The Harp 999, is an absolute wonderful pipe, and I highly recommend it. As far as price is concerned, remember this, "Quality doesn't cost, it pays". Considering the pleasure of the Harp 999 and the way it smokes, the price is a true bargain.

I received my pipe and was pleased with the quality for the price. One note on preparation of this pipe (commonly understood among Peterson owners) is the dye in the bowl. Before loading your first bowl, take a cloth or paper towel and soak it in rum or whiskey and give the bowl a good cleaning. The dye will come off after a few wipings. The reason I used whiskey (bourbon to be exact) is because I didn't want to use any solvent (food safe or otherwise) on something I intend on smoking from. Once you let your pipe dry then go ahead and start your break in process. Honestly, I did not expect breaking this pipe in to be so easy. It only took a few puffs after the false start for all the ugly flavors to be gone. What I ended up with was a pipe that seemed to be fairly broken in and very smooth after the second bowl.