Radice Rubino Spiral Shank Lovat Estate Briar Pipe, Italian Estates

Description

Radice is one of the great Italian workshop pipe makes, belonging to a historic lineage of such workshops. The company began as a family affair, being established in 1980 by Luigi Radice, along with his son, Gianluca, and father, Paolo. But Radice’s pipe-making ‘family’ is a little larger than that. Prior to founding Radice, Luigi ran Caminetto, which he had founded with Guiseppe Ascorti in 1968. Prior to Caminetto, Radice had worked alongside Ascorti in the Castello factory, under the supervision of its owner, Carlo Scotti. It’s quite an impressive genealogy, which is clearly reflected in the quality of Radice pipes.

Taking its name from the Italian for “ruby,” the Rubino line has become relatively uncommon in recent years. The other interesting thing about it, at least to me, is that, amidst a field of virgin blonde Italian pipes, it’s a finish that recalls, instead, the deep red hues of classic English makes. This particular Rubino does, however feature one of Radice’s more idiosyncratic design elements, that being a spiral shank that transforms the pipe from a fairly standard Lovat to something highly distinct.

The condition is very good. Some darkening and a spot of char on the inner rim. Nothing major though.

 

Details:

Length: 5.4″ / 137.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.39″ / 35.30mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 46g