Sergio (Ascorti) Business KS Rusticated Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Those who are familiar with Italian pipes will likely know of the lineage that connects Castello, Caminetto, Ascorti, and Radice. Guiseppe Ascorti and Luigi Radice began their careers at the Castello workshop, before departing to start their own venture, Caminetto, before departing again a few decades later to found the Ascorti and Radice workshops respectively. Ascorti and Radice pipes remain favorites among pipe smokers to this day, and even Caminetto was ultimately reborn thanks to the Ascorti family. But there is another, short-lived and often forgotten make that nonetheless had an important place within the lineage just described: Sergio.

Guiseppe Ascorti left Caminetto in 1979. In 1980, he and his son, Roberto, began making pipes again. But they did not do so under the Ascorti name—not yet, at least. For a few months, they made Sergio pipes. Why the Ascortis used the “Sergio” name during this period is still unknown to me but, as one can see, Sergio pipes thoroughly embodied the spirit of the old Caminetto make, while at the same time expressing a freedom in design and manufacture that Guiseppe considered lost during Caminetto’s final years. A rugged, full-bent Dublin in the rusticated “Business” dress, this one even includes the hallmark, asymmetric saddle mouthpiece cut Guiseppe made liberal use of back in the old shop. From what I understand, fewer than 1000 Sergio pipes were produced before the Ascorti brand was founded, making this an especially rare piece of Italian pipe history.

The condition is great. Some minor wear to the rim. This pipe comes with its original box and leather sleeve.

Details:

Length: 6.3″ / 160.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.99 / 25.14mm

Bowl Depth: 1.95″ / 49.53mm

Weight: 1.7oz / 50g