Castello Natural Vergin KK Rusticated Canadian Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Founded in 1947 by Carlo Scotti, Castello quickly became known for producing some of the finest smoking pipes in the world. Over the years, the people involved in making Castello pipes has changed – such as Luigi Radice and Sergio Ascorti, who developed their skills in the Cantu workshop before leaving to start Caminetto, or the handing of the reigns of the company to Francisco ‘Kino’ Coppo after Scotti’s passing – but the superlative quality of Castello pipes has not. It is not without reason that Castello is known as ‘the Italian Dunhill.’

Like Dunhill’s Tanshell and Savinelli’s Punto Oro Corallo, the Natural Vergin line from Castello is one that uses superior briar and a very minimal, natural stain. As a result, over time and as they’re smoked, these pipes develop a warm, brown-sugar patina, almost like meerschaum. The key difference with the Castello version is that it features the same basic rustication as the workshop’s renowned Sea Rock Briar and Old Sea Rock finishes, sans their respective stains. Though Castello pipes are typically not stamped with a shape code these days, this one looks to be the shape 31, an 1/8th bent Canadian apple hybrid that’s been part of Castello’s portfolio for decades, and for good reason.

The condition is great. Some minor wear to the rim. As can be seen, the pipe has already started to take on a beautiful golden hue.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.57″ / 39.87mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g