Castello “Castello” 4K Smooth Stack Billiard 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.’

The “Castello” is the Castello’s signature (in more ways than one) rendition of the light, blonde finish that has come to define high-grade Italian pipes. And, as with Castello’s other smooth finishes, each is graded by the number of “k”s stamped on the bowl, referencing Carlo Scotti’s early partner, the late Franco Coppo, and his nickname, “Kino.” This one is a full four-out-of-four “k” grade “Castello,” no doubt earned by the tight, straight grain lining its bowl. The shape looks to be an example of the workshop’s house stack billiard, the 74, a shape perfectly suited for making the most of that grain and, interestingly, the pipe also features a briar insert at the base of its stem, whose own grain is positioned almost exactly perpendicular to that of the bowl. It’s a small thing, but it’s one of those hallmarks of a high-grade, handmade Italian pipes. Based on the “Carlo Scotti” stamp this one will have been made some time prior to 2007.

The condition is good. Some darkening and finish wear on the rim, and slight handling marks.

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.80 / 20.32mm

Bowl Depth: 1.80″ / 45.72mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 46g