Cracked shank?

[FLDRD]

This *might* be a new crack in what appears to be a Peterson 2nd. It has "Made in the Republic of Ireland" stamp with a "P" on the stem.

This *might* be new, or not. *Might* because I don't see up close very well with contact lenses and recently I've utilized glasses more, and now I've found this crack. Even with the visual difficulty, I probably would have felt it with my fingers but I can't be certain. I can feel it now with my fingernail.

If this is a "new" crack, what would you do?
Smoke it until it "blows"?
Refrain from smoking it because it could "blow"?

I've plenty of other pipes, but this one does perform nicely.

I've used a flashlight to look in the chamber and notice nothing out of the ordinary.

 

[Waning Embers]

If this is a "new" crack, what would you do?

No repairing a vertical crack on a shank. You may even start to see moisture seeping from it.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I'd just keep it in my rotation.

 

[FLDRD]

Thanks gentlemen. I'll keep enjoying her until she gives up completely.

 

[Waning Embers]

Thanks gentlemen. I'll keep enjoying her until she gives up completely.

I have seen surface blemishes like that that caused no ill effect.

 

[FLDRD]

I've pulled it back out of the "hospital" cabinet and begun utilizing it again.

I was previously under the impression it was some Peterson 2nd, not sure how I got to that, but it's actually a Peterson 82s.

Odd thing is, it doesn't have a P-lip on it, and the only ones I've seen online all have P-lips. I must have a replacement stem that someone placed on at some point. But I sure enjoy the little pipe. Small but mighty...

Seems they're difficult to come across?

 

[mso489]

A cracked shank like that is somewhat unusual. I've had a pipe crack right where the shank joins the bowl, and I've seen other cracks in the shank near where it joins the stem, usually repaired with a band. I don't visualize a lot of heat building up at that point, so I can only think it is a flaw in the briar. If you have a large rotation, it might go on for years without much of a further process.

 

[georged]

That's not a crack, it's a surface flaw that's more-or-less in the shape of a crack.

100% safe to ignore.

 

[FLDRD]

A cracked shank like that is somewhat unusual. I've had a pipe crack right where the shank joins the bowl, and I've seen other cracks in the shank near where it joins the stem, usually repaired with a band. I don't visualize a lot of heat building up at that point, so I can only think it is a flaw in the briar. If you have a large rotation, it might go on for years without much of a further process.

Yeah it seems unusual to me as well but what do I know? (Not much yet on some aspects of this)

Anyway, it does NOT seem to be a location where heat builds up and seemed odd to me to find it. I honestly and unfortunately cannot say if it happened during my year or so with it, or if I overlooked it previously. Which could happen, as I hadn't even deduced it was a Peterson until lately too. By way of explanation, I bounce back and forth between glasses and contacts / readers for close observation and lots of details go unnoticed for a bit... Old eyes and all.

I am building a rotation of fair size so it's not over-worked, but it is well-loved.

 

[FLDRD]

That's not a crack, it's a surface flaw that's more-or-less in the shape of a crack.

100% safe to ignore.

Thank you. Any comment/knowledge about it not having a P-lip?

 

[georged]

Any comment/knowledge about it not having a P-lip?

Peterson commonly uses fishtail stems. It's consistent within a "line" of pipes. The odds are whatever stem your pipe has is original to it.

A quick pic will tell all, if it's important to you for some reason.

 

[Honkytonk Man]

I believe that I have something very similar on a Dunhill 6117 squat bulldog, I'll see if I can post pictures later (I'm in work now).
I hadn't noticed what could be perceived as a crack before, until I dropped the pipe. Of course, after dropping a pipe, one goes into extreme scrutiny of it. I even got a loupe out to take a look. Anyway, it would seem that it isn't a crack, but would be what GeorgeD suggests is a surface crack.


Oh yes. By the way. I have since dropped the darn thing another 2 times since the first, in the same week!

 

[FLDRD]

Peterson commonly uses fishtail stems. It's consistent within a "line" of pipes. The odds are whatever stem your pipe has is original to it.

A quick pic will tell all, if it's important to you for some reason.

Thanks, as you can see it has the appropriate stamp and fits well. I just prefer the P-lip as of late and wondered why all the ones I found online had it but mine didn't... Thanks for the input.

 

[georged]

Yup. Definitely original.

Whatever line that pipe is "from" (it's probably stamped somewhere) all had fishtails. Pete has had many lines over the years..

 

[Hillcrest]

This *might* be a new crack in what appears to be a Peterson 2nd. It has "Made in the Republic of Ireland" stamp with a "P" on the stem.

This *might* be new, or not. *Might* because I don't see up close very well with contact lenses and recently I've utilized glasses more, and now I've found this crack. Even with the visual difficulty, I probably would have felt it with my fingers but I can't be certain. I can feel it now with my fingernail.

If this is a "new" crack, what would you do?
Smoke it until it "blows"?
Refrain from smoking it because it could "blow"?

I've plenty of other pipes, but this one does perform nicely.

I've used a flashlight to look in the chamber and notice nothing out of the ordinary.

View attachment 172016

I have an Erica Second XL302 that is about 42 yrs old. As you can see it came with fills on the shank. Just today I saw that a surface crack has developed between the two fills and the fills are starting to dry up and shrink. After smoking it I grabbed some Elmers Wood filler and using the poker smeared some over the fills and crack line. Its drying now. I don't believe it is deep just on the surface for now but better safe than sorry. I'd like to get another 42 yrs out of it (Which means I would like another 42 years!). P.S. Yes I realize this thread is three yrs old. We'll see how t works out.

 

[edger]

BTW, Peterson Irish Seconds come in 3 grades. Number 1 is the best, Number 3 has more flaws. How critical those grades are is anyone’s guess.

 

[Hillcrest]

BTW, Peterson Irish Seconds come in 3 grades. Number 1 is the best, Number 3 has more flaws. How critical those grades are is anyone’s guess.

That's modern grading and also relates to price. Back in the 70s and 80s it was just a second and you had you choose wisely. This pipe was the smallest in the basket with the least fills; also bought the largest which turned out to be an XL Hand Made (A #3 house pipe) size wise per PPN.

 

[FLDRD]

Wow, thread from the dead!
Had completely forgotten about this pipe as she's gone to a new home now.

 

[Wesley pipes]

I believe that I have something very similar on a Dunhill 6117 squat bulldog, I'll see if I can post pictures later (I'm in work now).
I hadn't noticed what could be perceived as a crack before, until I dropped the pipe. Of course, after dropping a pipe, one goes into extreme scrutiny of it. I even got a loupe out to take a look. Anyway, it would seem that it isn't a crack, but would be what GeorgeD suggests is a surface crack.


Oh yes. By the way. I have since dropped the darn thing another 2 times since the first, in the same week!

Funny thing. briar can be unpredictable In this way. I have dropped pipes on laminate floors from a kitchen table and ended up cracking the shank and the bowl, and damage to stems, but I have pipes I dropped at least 4 times on concrete from standing and other than surface damage pipe has no cracks. I have dropped this Peterson bicentennial 2004 pipe probably like 4 or 5 times and still can’t find a single crack or chip.

 

[Wesley pipes]

I did have to sand off some dents from dropping it, also this is stem #3 one from biting to hard and the other from sitting down with it in my back pocket, used to smoke this pipe every day multiple times for like 10 years! I have learned so much over the last 20 years.