Castello Collection KKK Smooth Dublin 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.’

This might just be the nicest smooth finish Castello I’ve ever held. It’s a Collection, so it’s one of Castello’s highest standard grades, but the straight grain patterns are so tight and evenly distributed around its bowl that I’m surprised the stummel didn’t end up as an Aristocratica. As an extra distinction, this Castello includes a bare plateau rim, which I’m normally only used to seeing on Great Line freehands, if on Castello pipes at all. Judging by the shape code in the “castle” stamp, this pipe was made in 1991, while Carlo Scotti was still head of the Castello workshop. It’s a 3 (out of a possible 4) “K” grade Collection, and the “N” stamp indicates that the pipe was originally sold at Milan’s Noli Pipe tobacconist.

The condition is great. There’s some inner rim darkening, but nothing major.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.46″ / 37.08mm

Weight: 1.2oz / 36g