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  1. briarblues

    Italian Pipes, Just My Style?

    Ryan, I can't say it's all in your mind or all in mine, but I tend to agree with you, with a minor exception. For me I find that US and Danish carvers lean towards stems I prefer the "in mouth feel" over the Italian makers. However as far as how the pipes smoke ..... almost all my pipes are...
  2. briarblues

    Show Us Your Opera Pipes!

    Resistance is futile!!! Just arrived from Tabaccheria Corti ( a site sponsor ). A very unusual Castello shape 44 opera pipe. This 2k Natural Vergin has a briar application on the stem. I suspect it will be offered it's first bowl with Escudo.
  3. briarblues

    Show Us Your Opera Pipes!

    Thanks. The watch is my Seiko GMT.
  4. briarblues

    Any Castello Comparable pipes?

    Jesse, Jesse, Jesse ...... ssshhhhh Brebbia's slide so far below the collector radar it's silly. The company has a long rich history going back to the early days when linked to Savinelli. Their upper end pipes rival some of the best of the best from other Italian brands. I could never...
  5. briarblues

    Show Us Your Opera Pipes!

    Just added this little Stanwell to my collection. The white ring originally was ivory, but had shrunk. I asked Sacramento based pipe carver Phil Rivara to replace the ring. The results are excellent. You can see the grain has begun creeping its way through the black dress finish. The...
  6. briarblues

    Any Castello Comparable pipes?

    The only Italian brand I know of that ages their briar as long as Castello is Ardor. Both do not work their briar until it has at least 10 years of aging. That being said there are numerous excellent Italian brands to choose from. IF one had the available cash and could visit a different...
  7. briarblues

    Returning to Canada with Tobacco: Receipts Required?

    10 days out of the country you are currently allowed $800.00 CDN, in goods, duty and tax free, with tobacco and alcohol included in the total spend. The amount of pipe tobacco allowed is 200 grams. The $800.00 CDN is a total. Thus IF you purchased 4 x $200.00 tins ( 50 grams each ), it...
  8. briarblues

    Returning to Canada with Tobacco: Receipts Required?

    Know the rules before you play the game ..... It depends on how long you were out of Canada. The total amount you've spent will come into play. 200 grams of "vintage" tobacco that you may have paid $50.00 US per tin, WILL put you over the exemption for a 24 hour trip. While...
  9. briarblues

    Watch Out or Watch on? Pt 2.

    This is the latest addition to my collection. A Core Seven Sins. The date wheel is not the date. Each day up comes another of the 7 deadly sins. Thought it was an interesting piece.
  10. briarblues

    Collectible Pipes Replaced Stems

    What is the goal? Retaining the value as a "collectable" pipe or it's smoking qualities? IMHO it boils down to what is the important aspect of your pipe "collection". Original condition with value retention or how well the pipe will perform. Does the replacement stem alter how well a...
  11. briarblues

    Show Us Your Opera Pipes!

    The "dress" finish on any pipe will wear down over time. Peterson, Stanwell, Dunhill, Ascorti, Castello and all. Not quickly, but from being held in hand the finish / stain on any pipe will show signs of fading. If left in direct sunlight, the finish will also fade / alter over time...
  12. briarblues

    Canada Pipe Tobacco Question

    Aro, those are the current rule. Back in the bay the allowable amount on return to Canada was different. It used to be ... 200 cigarettes, OR 50 cigars, OR 200 grams of pipe tobacco. Only 1 of the three. If you live close enough to the US border to do a quick few hour shopping trip...
  13. briarblues

    Canada Pipe Tobacco Question

    Where to begin .... #1 - when your order from outside Canada there is no ( zero ) weight limit that is NOT dutiable and taxable. In "some" cases 200 grams ( or less ) might come through un scathed, but this depends on the dollar value and the customs official "examining" the documentation and...
  14. briarblues

    What does "K" markings mean on castello smooth pipes?

    I had also heard similar rumors. That changed in 2019 when I first visited the Castello workshop and selected pipes for the website. All the pipes a retailer selects are ungraded at the time of selection. Then graded by Franco in batches, from what was selected. After I made my selection...
  15. briarblues

    The Famous or Infamous You have Met

    I have met our host Kevin and Brian Levine ....... not sure which side of the famous fence they sit though..... hahahahaha