As a rule my pipe purchases are confined to the estate market but sometimes my PAD attacks can get pretty compulsive and November was certainly that. After finding a Pete Ashford XL21 to match the Limited Edition (1997 First Year Edition -545/1000) I had found earlier this year and purchasing it, I felt compelled to find one more to complete a three pipe travel set. But not just any pipe. It had to be an unusual piece to compliment the other two. Both are based on the XL21 (Straight Bulldog) shape. This shape is offered in a number of different lines but only a very few are offered with the Army/Spigot type bit. The Limited Edition has a little different slant on the shape (slightly shorter shank & stem with Gold plated sterling silver banding). The Ashford is the standard length and has sterling silver banding with an Army style bit. The Ashford is dark and the Limited edition is a light medium brown color. I wanted to assemble a set of the same basic pipes but each with its own unique elements and a set made up of limited or low production pipes, all sharing the same style number but each having its own distinctive look. All had to have the fishtail bits as I don’t like the P-lip type. It isn’t an easy task even with the pipes in recent production, if I waited there would be near no chance at all. But sometimes the Pipe Gods smile on a poor retch and in my internet travels I found just the piece I had been looking for. It was a now or never decision. Peterson has introduced the Craftsman Series. They are pipes made for a particular month only and then will not be duplicated in that series. And there it was the Craftsman XL21 (February 2015), a perfect match to the two I had and the one I needed to complete the set. The Craftsman is natural color with a spigot bit. Postponing the purchase meant I faced the real possibility it would be gone later and it was the only one I had seen, so I didn’t hesitate and immediately added it to the cart and promptly checked out. I’ve long believed that Peterson makes some of the best factory Bulldog shapes in current production and the ones with the military/spigot style bits I find particularly attractive. They just seem to say “Classic”. So here’s the set, my not so “Secret Santa” gift to myself. It’s my 2015 celebratory set, I beat a second round with the Big “C” this year and ended the year with a clean bill of health from my doctor, so I decided to treat myself to this new set of Petersons to celebrate. Life can sometimes remind you “tomorrow might be too late”!
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