Peterson Donegal Rocky 106 and 80S p-lip

I think it's downright funny how I started this pipe blog years ago (in 2007 I think) and only ever put one entry in (which I've since deleted). Perhaps it's because, at that time, I was very new to pipe smoking and wasn't really sure what to say. Though, today, I'm still unsure of what I should say about any of my pipes. That said, I now have quite a few of varying qualities and I'm making it a point to talk about each one of them.

Today, I'm putting in my comments on my first two pipes, both from the Peterson Donegal Rocky series and both purchased at the same time around 2006/2007. They were the first "real" pipes I've had. I say it that way because my actual first pipe was a cheap $25 brand that actually wasn't very good. It's the type of thing that could have turned someone away from pipe smoking. Though I won't spend any time on that here, that is certainly a good topic for a future blog post.

Back to the pipes: when I first started smoking pipes I was interested in the rustic models because, to me, it seemed like a real man smoked a rough pipe. So, naturally, my first pipes were of a rough-hewn texture and the Peterson Donegal Rocky series was the perfect introduction not only to pipes in general, but to the rough texture that I deemed exemplified the smoking instrument of man.

The first pipe I'll talk about is the 80S, a bent bulldog shape with a small bowl. I got this pipe because it was small and seemed perfect for travel. After all these years, it has become a pipe that I use almost exclusively for short smokes and do often travel with it as I'm not terribly concerned if it gets dropped. With the small bowl and short shank, it tends to burn hot and quick, not exactly a great combination as that leads to tongue bite and moisture build-up. I made this same observation years ago and thought maybe I'd get accustomed to it, but for the most part I still don't pack it well and draw too fast. The P-lip does help reduce tongue bite (which is actually primarily a chemical reaction between the chemicals in the smoke and those of your mouth, but there is also some effect of the smoke being too hot which can literally burn your tongue) by directing the smoke to the roof of the mouth as opposed to the tongue.

I do like how light it is as it doesn't feel like it weighs anything at all while gripping it between your teeth. I use it often because it is easy to carry, but it isn't my favorite pipe.

The second pipe is the model 106, a straight billiard, also with the P-lip bit. 

This is probably my most often used pipe, probably because it is the only straight billiard I have besides a Meerschaum (which I dropped on asphalt one day so I'm more choosy about which pipes I carry with me now). I'd say it is a medium sized bowl and the P-lip is interesting, but I have grown to prefer my standard fishtail bits as I can taste the smoke better with those. Otherwise, this is a solid pipe, used all the time, and it just does what it does. I've been complimented on it, though I'm sure it was by a person who was actually commenting on the fact that I was smoking a pipe at all. I live in the southwest, it isn't common to see a person walking around at tailgates with a pipe.

Both these pipes have a nice cake built up inside. And I mean a properly reamed cake, not a 1/4" thick or anything that could actually damage the pipe. Most of my pipes are dedicated to a type of tobacco; Aromatic vs English. However, these two are the only ones in the rotation that I use interchangeably for both styles. Once again, this is due to their finish being one that I'm not really worried about damaging, so I travel with these most often and they have to be versatile. 

Now, one thing to mention. I looked up the Donegal Rocky series this year (2015) and they have changed the styling. Thy "rocky" is a bit more harsh and actually looks like it could have been carved by a chainsaw. This is not my favorite styling and I feel much happier with my Donegals from 8 years ago. 

So, that's it. That's all I have to say on these. Likely, this is not a blog post that anyone will really read, but if there is anyone that has any comments or questions, I do welcome them.

Happy puffing!

TAB