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My lone Castello, a very cute mini billiard in Sea Rock with a lucite flock military mount. Made in the late 1950's to 1969 ( which is when the K grading began). Currently in restoration (refresh and new stem) with The Pipe Wizard George Dibos. If any of the forum members owned it before please let me know
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Will post post-restoration pictures when George is done with my batch of pipes.
Cheers,

Chris :puffpipe:

 

alexnorth

Part of the Furniture Now
Apr 7, 2015
603
3
That's really cool with that fading coloring. Also pipe monk congratulations on that beautiful piece! :clap:

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,317
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I think that all the Castello guys must have been watching the NFL on Sunday when this one ended, an unsmoked Collection Occhio Di Pernice shape 55 and I was shocked to win this one at my bid. It's only 34 grams and very compact, with a nice, slim button. I just smoked a bowl of MM965 in it, wonderful. The seller pictures had what appeared to be some handling dings, which I was fine with at the price it sold for. But that turned out to just be wax, she's mint.




 
Oct 7, 2016
2,451
5,195
Al, wasn't following that auction, but late last year I picked up two very well kept smooth 55's, one Trademark and one Collection, each for less than what current bid is on a very nice Sea Rock 55 that is up now. Just doesn't seem to be a great demand for smooth Castello's, on eBay at least.

 

bluegrassbrian

Your Mom's Favorite Pipe Smoker
Aug 27, 2016
5,973
51,348
41
Louisville
I figure every serious piper should own at least one Castello or Dunhill..and seeing as most Dunhills don't do it for me, I've found a Castello that I will make mine very soon.
Looking forward to posting some pics when she arrives.

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,317
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Maryland
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I've been looking for a smaller, Shape 65 and Oldgeezersmoker sent me the link to this one. I'm supposed to be selling pipes to fund some work on my MGB, but I couldn't resist this one.

http://tabaccheriacorti.com/gb/pipes/1893-castello-sea-rock-briar-kk.html

This wasn't a shop that I check, but $200 for a new Castello was too good to resist.
35 grams - I can't wait to get this one. A few years ago, I sold a 4k Sea Rock 65, at 60-couple grams, it was just too big for me.
upload pic

upload pic

upload pic

 

jpmcwjr

Moderator
Staff member
May 12, 2015
24,568
27,070
Carmel Valley, CA
Oooooooh, that's lovely.
Wonder about the peaks of the blast not having stain on them. Since it is unsmoked, I guess it was manufactured that way. I used to think it was just wear from handling.

 

sallow

Lifer
Jun 30, 2013
1,531
3,771
What are the dimensions of that pipe? I am also in the market for smaller castellos, see the post above yours. They seem to be few and far in between.
edit - I just checked the link it is 132 mm. Mine is about 125.

 

ssjones

Moderator
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May 11, 2011
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Yep, I covet the smaller ones for sure.

But, I need to put a filter on my posts for oldgeezersmoker to not be able to view "I'd love to find XXX". He can always find it!

 
Oct 7, 2016
2,451
5,195
Al, that find was pure serendipity. I hadn't looked at that site in forever, but I opened it for no particular reason a night or two before I started the thread on Bollito's single k Petit 15's. I just glanced at that particular pipe. It was in no way on my radar screen. When you said you wanted a 2k 65 that was under 40 g, the light went off. I checked the weight and Bob's your uncle, I sent you the link.
I think the smaller Castello's are starting to get more attention in the US Before I took a break from pipes in 2001, I accumulated a fair number of # 14's, the baby brother of the 75's. They typically come in 2k, sometimes 3 k that aren't any larger than the 2k. While not exactly falling out of the trees in Italy, several shops found nice ones for me. The former agent for Castello in the United States brought in one or two for me. At that time, like a lot of fans of the 75 or 32 shape, I was more into shank length. The way the 14's worked with my then preferred go to flakes and coins was a revelation. I always knew that flakes did better in smaller bowls, theoretically, but the 14 combined the feel of the 75 bit with the aesthetics of the Castello Lovat shape that I love and still do. I still have one OA 14, and it is light as a feather and is IMO a darn near perfect flake pipe.
As most old timers will tell you, Coppo is very responsive to the market, and the current US distributor is market sensitive as well. There are limits, of course, they aren't going to take a block of briar that would yield a GGG 75 and cut it down to make a 14. But I feel confident they will find suitable briar. I suspect we will be seeing more smaller Castello's, which given the popularity of flakes, coins, ropes and twists makes a heck of a lot of sense to me. That people will smoke Lakeland's in them is a tragedy that is, I suppose, inevitable. (Bob's Chocolate is permissible.) (Inserting a smiley emoticon is optional)
BTW, the pipe you posted is rusticated, not sandblasted. There will be stain on the peaks in hand and the overall appearance will be stunning. Castello's stains are a much underappreciated part of what they do that makes the pipes so special, IMO, and if you really look, you can find great examples of what I am talking about in Sea Rocks and in every other grade. They take a lot of time on stains
After all, Carlo Scotti built the brand on Sea Rocks. He was not the first person to carve the bowl of a pipe, it was the stain that gave them their jewel like appearance and took the market by storm. Onine pictures don't do justice to the pipes in hand. That is true of many aspects of every brand, but it is particularly true of Castello's and their stains. You, the buyer, can find that artistry on their entry level price point pipes, which I think is pretty darn special.
I will never, ever forget the first time I saw a table that was full of Castellos. It was at the first pipe show I ever attended, in Chattanooga, TN. At that time a shop was lucky to get one or two Castello's a year. The grey market had barely started. A collector from Chicago had a whole table of Castello's for display. Most of them were Sea Rocks. They glistened like diamonds. I was hooked. I have never, ever considered a Sea Rock ordinary since that day.
Well, this reply is way longer than justified. I was halfway watching Gonzaga punch their ticket to the final four and things got out of hand. For the record, I am not commercially affiliated with Castello or anyone with an interest in their distribution or sale. I am not presently buying or selling any Castello's, though that might change at any moment as I am a hopeless pipe porn addict. I am also a firm believer in the saying "You also smoke with your eyes.". Beauty is worth a premium.
Al, I hope you love that pipe!

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,317
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Maryland
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Yep, I really like the rugged rustication of a Sea Rock finish. This one looks particularly chunky. I actually waited a couple of days before pulling the trigger and I was pleased to find it still available. I sold both of my Sea Rocks nearly three years ago, so it was time. (Sold a 4K 65 & a G sized 54)

 

sallow

Lifer
Jun 30, 2013
1,531
3,771
@oldgeezersmoker the pipe is 5'' long. There is no number on the pipe. It is very light, I don't know the weight exactly.