Petersons are really favorite of many many people. And in some way it surprises me.
At least here in Italy, sometimes Peterson are seen like less interesting, because produced "indutrially", they are not the work of an artisan (which is somehow false, they are not hand carved one by one, but the rest of the work is made by hand). And also because they produce more affordable pipes, and not only high end. The same goes for Savinelli, so it's not anything "patriotic".
Personally, I've yet to find a Peterson (be it an high grade or an entry level) that doesn't smoke well. They are drilled very well, they are painted (when they are) very well, and the silverwork is wonderful (silverwork is totally made by hand). The only difference I noticed between high grades and entry level is that some entrylevel pipes need more time to become good smokers than the high end. Not always, but often, at least in my Petersons. Probably it's the different quality of the briars used ? The paint work? I really don't know. What I know is that even an entry level will smoke wonderfully after a little time, and this is not granted with all the pipe producers. So I really love the Peterson brand.
Here is a tris of shape 107, one of my favorites, the chubby billard. From top to low a Rosslare, a Maigret, and an old Tyrone in good company with Dunhill 965 Mixture...
