Castello “Castello” KKKK / 4K Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates [SOLD OUT]

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.’

Judging by the nomenclature – more specifically, the encircled ‘k’ grading format, the presence of the ‘Carlo Scotti’ stamp, and the absence of the ‘castle’ dating stamp – this pipe was produced between 1982 and 1987, during Carlo Scotti’s last, triumphant years at the helm of the Castello workshop. It’s a magnificent piece, with tight, straight grain around almost all of its bowl, and bird’s-eye grain covering its rim – in other words, the perfect combination for a smooth finish such as this one. This will undoubtedly by how the pipe earned the highest grade, 4K, or KKKK, in the ‘Castello’ finish. The shape is what might be called an ‘Italian Canadian’, i.e., a Canadian, but with a wider, sturdier bowl than in the English-French tradition.

The condition is excellent, especially for the pipe’s age. There is a small, natural flaw in the briar on the top, right side of the pipe’s bowl, but Castello clearly did not see this as an issue for the pipe, nor indeed enough reason to rusticate it and create a Sea Rock instead of a ‘Castello’ grade. We’ve adjusted the price accordingly in any case.

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.8 / 22.0mm

Bowl Depth: 1.69″ / 42.9mm

Weight: 1.7oz / 50g