My First Peterson ....

[rcstan]

....arrived in the mail today. eBay find. NOS with all the box and accoutrements, and a baggie of Scotty's Butternut Burley ( which will hopefully taste close to what it smells like )
It's an Aran 03 Bent Apple P-Lip. $55 delivered.

Incidentally, it's also the first pipe I have bought in NEW condition.
I ordered a big batch of baccy from 4noggins ( the only place with free shipping to Alaska for orders over $99 ) which is due to arrive Monday. Assorted Peterson tins ( UF, IF and Irish Oak ) plus some Erinmore flake, a 100g tin of Frog Morton and a pound of PS Cube Cut.
What should I break it in with?

 

[lordofthepiperings]

Nice pipe. I love the Aran line. I have three of them myself (268, B5, 05). Great smokers, especially for the price. I got huge into Peterson when I first started, but lately the last two pipes I've gotten have been Savinelli. Definitely plan on the next pipe I get being a Pete. Enjoy that one and welcome to the wonderful world of Peterson.

 

[baronsamedi]

Should be righteous! I love that shape!

 

[markw4mms]

Nice score...congrats!

 

[irish2fish]

Very nice!! Enjoy.

 

[bentmike]

Nice Pete rcstan, My first Peterson was an Aran XL02 very similar to yours. It's my latakia pipe and it smokes well. I bet you'll be happy with it -enjoy!

 

[juozapas]

How do you clean one of these ??

 

[tokerpipes]

I own an Aran sitter. They clean like any other pipe. Yours is a good looking one.

 

[auspipe]

Beautiful pipe, I only have corn cobs. If I could find a Peterson for that price shipped I would snap it up!

 

[tokerpipes]

Keep your eyes open on here Petes go up for sale all the time.

 

[withnail]

That's a very nice looking pipe and a nice bonus it came with the box and sock! I only have one Peterson, but hope to be adding another when my birthday rolls around.
You asked what you should break it in with. I'd suggest going with the University Flake as it one of my all time favourite tobaccos. Personally, I think that too much is made of "ghosting". I keep a couple of pipes just for the occasional aromatics and another for blends that are heavy on Latakia. But apart from that, I mix and match pipes and blends as the mood takes me. I have never had a problem with ghosting, although some pipes do suit some blends better than others. You have to experiment to find out which is best and most of all - Enjoy!

 

[rogers]

Nice.

I've been contemplating a B5 in the Aran finish myself. Enjoy..

 

[mike68]

Aran's are a fantastic smoking pipe and I'd use the Cube Cut for break-in...should give you a nice dry-ish but even caking...just IMHO....

 

[mluyckx]

Very nice ! Excellent smoker and good score for that price. Enjoy it ! I know you will. :clap:

 

[frtimmyd]

That's a beautiful Pete. I like the Aran line too. Not to pricy and the band gives it an extra flare. Just ordered a 408 Plip for St. Patrick's day for myself. Hope you enjoy smoking that sweet pipe.

 

[monstermash51]

oooooh soooooo damn sexy......... :worship:

 

[rcstan]

Thanks all. The baccy should be here Tuesday. I was leaning toward breaking it in with the flakes that are on the way, either UF or IF; I have a pinch or two of Cube Cut laying around but it's going kind of stale so I think it's going to go to "the-jar-of-bottom-sweeps-which-I-give-to-my-neighbor-to-roll-into-cigs".
withnail: I have a "beater briar" which I use for sampling only and it gets religiously cleaned after each smoke. The other briars in the rotation ( 7, not counting the new one ) are smoked 4 bowls each max before a scrub down. And yes, latakia-heavy blends are smoked in a dedicated pipe.

 

[shawn]

I love that shape.

 

[lab1dobie]

My first "real" pipe was a Peterson 36 years ago and I still have it! It's still my favorite and best smoker. It's a Peterson system 303. You will get a lot of years out of it. Enjoy!

 

[gwynclan]

Butternutt burly will go nicely with that pipe. Have the same set up with that baccy.