A question on buying Peterson Pipes, Help needed

Hi all, this is a bit long winded, but I am hoping that those of you with knowledge and experience with Peterson (and pipe collecting in general) will be able to offer me some sage advice after reading the following.
I have 2 months of Holiday coming up around mid March. I am seriously considering treating myself during this time off. (I think it may be my last holiday before really settling down. - To me that means buying a house and maybe even getting married...) I have been working and saving very hard over the last few years and I have a little bit of the savings earmarked just for me, an amount that I can spend without guilt. I hope to spend it on something that will give me some real joy. Something that will last. After some deliberation I have almost convinced myself to combine this hobby we enjoy with my plans for my Holiday. I recognize that I may come across as a charlatan and a dilettante. I hope you can see that I am not. I know I am not very experienced in all this, and that what I am proposing could come across as “over the top” or even foolhardy. I am certainly not a spoiled fellow who doesn’t appreciate the value of money. I simply want to indulge myself after working very hard for a long time. I hope to get some sound advice on what I am considering.
What I am considering is taking a trip to Dublin to visit Peterson and, while there, buy some pipes. I would like to get the full set of their meerschaum offerings and a few other of the shapes they offer in the finishes I like most. To that end, does anyone know if Peterson takes custom orders? Specifically I would like the meerschaums with fishtail mouthpieces and I would like about 9 or 10 other shapes in a variety of finishes with various bandings etc... Is it possible to get Peterson to commission the manufacture of selected shapes in high quality material? I am prepared to put a significant deposit down, or pay in advance if required. I don’t want anything crazy, just shapes they already make, finishes they already use, bandings they already use, and shank/mouthpiece connections they already use. (Maybe not exactly as they offer in their catalogue however.) If I put some effort into a detailed list, is there someone from Peterson I could give the list to for a quote? Is this sort of idea possible? If I can't do as i propose, is there a way to get a detailed list of their inventory so that I might see if they have enough of the sorts of pipes I am looking for to justify a pilgrimage?

I would be very grateful of answers anyone could provide to the specific questions above, and also any advice in general on my plans. Even if it is from seasoned collectors telling me to give my head a shake

Hi guys,
Thanks for the replies. I tried my best not to come off as a total buffoon but that seems to have failed!! I am a forum novice and I still am uncomfortable communicating in this medium, too much gets lost in text!!!

Cortez, Sorry mate!! I wouldn’t want someone thinking of me as disingenuous, I am just ignorant! I don’t have real world access to serious pipe collectors, or even serious pipe smokers for that matter. The limited amount I do know comes from experimentation and the internet. I used the term “highest quality” because of my interpretation of the brochure available for download from the Peterson website. In their brochure they describe certain of their pipes as being of the “Highest grade” of briar, others are described as being of less choice material. All I wanted was to find out if anyone knew if they would make the shapes listed as made in the less than super high grade stuff in a higher grade briar instead. I get it now that all of their stuff is good quality. Imagine if you didn’t know what you know and you were reading the brochure, I just made a newbie mistake in understanding! Sorry if I came across like a jerk! Not my intention!!!

I guess I should have just asked if anyone knew if they take custom orders, if there was any one here with a contact at Peterson I could call… So I could check for fishtail mouthpiece meerschaums, or an accessible inventory of their in stock pipes .

At any rate, I think I am just going to screw it and do it! I’ll call ahead about the meerschaums, and just take the trip over there, and even if I don’t come away with one pipe it will be some fun and a good story,

Thanks again for the feedback, and I’ll try to post more clearly in the future!

Hey Cheers again for the replies fellows, greatly appreciated. The information offered is exactly what I was looking for, a little wisdom from a variety of people who approach the same pursuit from a variety of perspectives. I got myself worked into a frenzy drooling over all the pictures of the beautiful pipes from Peterson, (not sure why, but I find the designs they make to be the most appealing of those that I have been exposed to.) Some level headed input is a nice “check” on my rashness.

I have however made up my mind to go. Thanks for the information Sandpiper. I sent an email to Peterson inquiring about the meerschaums. Thanks also to chuck and strong irish who mentioned the factory tour, I will make sure I make arrangements in advance. I am not much of a photographer, but I will try to get pics to post.

I think manytrees (and Cortez’s) advice is very sound. Now that I have had some time to think a little more after my excited original post, it makes sense to proceed slowly with acquiring pipes that really reach out to me rather than going nuts with a fantasy shopping list over the internet.

One thing is for certain, it would be nice to have the luxury of real world proximity to other pipe enthusiasts. The wisdom and experience that you guys use to enjoy the hobby would sink in naturally, communication would be clearer and simpler… this online stuff really is fun and great, I am enjoying it quite a bit, but it would be great to be settled in one place with a hangout where people enjoyed pipes!!! (ironic as that may be considering that one of the biggest “pipe pleasures” in my limited experience is sitting with my thoughts while diligently working through a bowl!!)

My girlfriend has strong ties in Chicago, (she works with me and has the same vacation schedule) and we are going there to visit with her friends. I am going to check out the big tobacco shop there, and just going to soak up some of the experience. Maybe I’ll see one of you guys there!!
Cheers Stacen