I've always been a bit confused by this; a K&P is a Peterson, but not necessarily the other way around. Were Peterson pipes sold as K&P before a certain date? Or is K&P a sub brand?
K&P & Peterson: Whats the Difference?
- Thread starter mikethompson
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Site was down for about a billion hours. I have no idea, I always just assumed it was the same brand, just an alternate stamp.
The original name of the company was Knapp and Peterson. Eventually, it became just Peterson, but the K&P trademark was already establish and I believe has been in continuous use. Just from personal observation, it seems that all silver is stamped K&P
Interesting point that the silver is stamped K&P. I have a hallmarked 1950 K&P, but a 2015 Christmas pipe that just says 2015, I guess that's just polished metal and not silver?
Please don't take my comment about silver too seriously. It is just my own observation. I could be completely wrong. And if I am right, there are always exceptions to the general rule. It is not uncommon for inconsistent stamping from Peterson. For example, I have a Peterson Killarney pipe stamped "MADE IN IRELAND", which would "date" it to the early 1900's. However, I purchased it new in the 1990's.
My point really was that the "K&P" is a trademark of Peterson Pipes that has been used for many years and is still in use today.
Well I've emailed Peterson directly to clear this all up. I will post their response when/if I get it.
The original name of the company was Kapp Brothers. When Peterson joined. It became Kapp & Peterson, K&P for short. Peterson eventually bought the Kapp brothers out. It stlll used the K&P name. Present day, under the Luadisi (sp) Group, it's officially Peterson. They will still use the K&P branding for more 'traditional/old school lines'. Thats' my understanding, anyway.
Email response from Peterson:
Hello Mike,
There is no difference in the branding of these two stamps used on Peterson pipes.
The K&P stamp came into use first and has been used on our pipes from the beginning when the company was founded. This stamp is used on pipes that are well established and that have been around a long time. It is not a sub-brand.
The Peterson stamp came into use afterwards.
Regards
Eamon
So it sounds like it is just an ornamental stamping used on traditional shapes or styles.
Hello Mike,
There is no difference in the branding of these two stamps used on Peterson pipes.
The K&P stamp came into use first and has been used on our pipes from the beginning when the company was founded. This stamp is used on pipes that are well established and that have been around a long time. It is not a sub-brand.
The Peterson stamp came into use afterwards.
Regards
Eamon
So it sounds like it is just an ornamental stamping used on traditional shapes or styles.
I've always seen K&P's as a lower grade finish. I'd email Mark Irwin, he'll have the definitive answer.
Btw, that's a great question!
Btw, that's a great question!
Eamon's answer from Peterson is spot on, of course. The company name is (and has been for a very long time) Kapp & Peterson, Ltd. and the pipes have been variously branded Peterson, Peterson's, Kapp & Peterson and K&P. It doesn't really signify. The stamps on pipes these days are all some variation on "Peterson", "Peterson's" and "Peterson of Dublin", but nickel bands usually sport the K&P device.
Mark Irwin did reply, adding a bit more to Eamon's reply (who doesn't love that name!)
“For the price of 3 tins of good tobacco, all your questions can be definitively answered in The Peterson Pipe: The Story of Kapp & Peterson. In a nutshell, the “K&P” stamp is the original assayer’s maker’s mark for the Goldsmiths of Dublin assayers office, and has appeared on all nickel domed ferrules since Day 1. It has also appeared on bowl stamps, notably Irish army mount lines. It was even the name of its own line at one point. The company went through several name changes, but Kapp & Peterson was the name from 1893-1971. It then underwent more name changes, becoming Peterson of Dublin in 1991. Its employees refer to it as “Kapps,” not Peterson’s.
“For the price of 3 tins of good tobacco, all your questions can be definitively answered in The Peterson Pipe: The Story of Kapp & Peterson. In a nutshell, the “K&P” stamp is the original assayer’s maker’s mark for the Goldsmiths of Dublin assayers office, and has appeared on all nickel domed ferrules since Day 1. It has also appeared on bowl stamps, notably Irish army mount lines. It was even the name of its own line at one point. The company went through several name changes, but Kapp & Peterson was the name from 1893-1971. It then underwent more name changes, becoming Peterson of Dublin in 1991. Its employees refer to it as “Kapps,” not Peterson’s.
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