Castello Sea Rock Paneled Is In...AMAZING!

Oh these have been a fancy of mine for a while, I might just have to pony up. That pipe looks beautiful, glad to hear it smokes as good as it looks. What more can a man ask for?

Now that's a pipe I really could go for!

Awesome score on that beauty, congrats!

layin, glad to hear you love your Castello. As you experienced, the pipe practically smokes it self due to the open draw. I am sure it smoked dry as a bone as well. I think you are going to be very spoiled and predict this will not be your last Castello.

Ok. Now you've done it. I am offically putting a Castello pipe on my want list, after hearing you and Cigarmaster from previous posts talk about them. It's your fault. If you get a post from my wife, just remember you've been forewarned

Cigrmaster, i think you might be on to something when you say it will not be my only Castello, lol! Do you notice the sweet and distinct smell of the briar when smoking a bowl, as well as the sweet flavor it imparts that mixes with the tobacco? Gosh, it is something else and very unique. I mean, i have 20 pipes and have never had an experience quite like this with a pipe. It sounds like i could be suffering from a placebo effect, especially with the reputation and raving of so many others regarding Castello's, but i swear i was trying to maintain a sense of neutrality by judging the pipe with an unbiased pallete. There really is something different about this pipe and how it smokes. We'll see if future smokes out of it prove to be a recurring theme of excellent experiences.

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What Al said too...
...the sweetness of Castello briar has been commented upon by too many knowledgeable people to not be true - it is true, and you're discovering that - and it is great to discover such wonder!
But, as fishingandpipes said in the thread when you first scored this pipe:

You, sir, are screwed.
Allow me to explain.
I remember hoarding every last shekel I had to save for my first Castello. And finally, I did it. And, it was great. And then my other pipes... were not so great in comparison. And I was reminded, every time I smoked them, that I could be smoking the Castello instead.
Now I have eleven and $200 for that piece sounds like a pretty damn good deal.
As I said. Screwed.

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LOL
He's probably right.
I remember reading Cigrmaster talking about how he sold all his high grade Euro stuff, his British stuff, and some of his Italian stuff, because after smoking American artisan pipes, especially Rad Davis, that he was simply spoiled and all of his old pipes he picked up couldn't hold a candle, in particular talking about stem quality and how dry they smoke...
...well, now I'm in the same boat, I've been spoiled by fine American artisan pipes - I never really thought I could afford them, but really it's easy, I quit buying crummy old eBay estates for the most part, and I won't buy new brand-name pipes either --- like I've read Briarlues Mike say, it's better to have one excellent artisan pipe than 10 nice factory pipes and I agree, and I have resituated my goals and focus to enjoy these things...
...not that I'm knocking factory pipes, I'm a Stanwell fan, always will be, but I don't buy them anymore.
For all intents and purposes, Castello ain't really a "factory pipe" either, they're very finely crafted with some of the best briar on the planet, they have an incredible briar supply, and they are handmade - I really love alot of their shapes, they definitely have innovated with a good many shapes.
I read elsewhere you bought a pipe from Europe, so you're not afraid to go that route, and I'm not trying to be a PAD enabler, but I do know alotta the hardcore Castello guys get pipes straight from Italy...
...here's a few good links, sometimes you can find some incredible deals, and you'll usually also see stuff that's not available in the N.A. market...
---site sponsor Novelli is always a good place to start!

https://novelli.it/eng/pipes/testdiv3.asp?produttore=ESTATE%20PIPES&modello=Castello&opdb=1
http://www.bollitopipe.it/pipe-castello-c-10_33.html
http://www.tabaccheriadelcorsorimini.it/catalogo/rodato-castello
http://www.sansone-pipe-sigari.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=category&virtuemart_category_id=62&Itemid=309&lang=it
http://www.floppypipe.it/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=69_94

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Remember to give us updates on this pipe and your further analysis of its smoking qualities, I'll be looking out for it!
:puffpipe:

I have a bad case of pipe envy. :crying:

I hope you get many hours of pleasure from that pipe. It's a beauty! :clap:

I do love paneled pipes and that's a stunner. Happy Smoke Rings with it.

This paneled Sea Rock kills.
I hope it becomes a favorite and that you're "cursed" with many more.
This comment was one of the best laughs I've ever had on this forum:
"But, as fishingandpipes said in the thread when you first scored this pipe:
You, sir, are screwed.
Allow me to explain.
I remember hoarding every last shekel I had to save for my first Castello. And finally, I did it. And, it was great. And then my other pipes... were not so great in comparison. And I was reminded, every time I smoked them, that I could be smoking the Castello instead.
Now I have eleven and $200 for that piece sounds like a pretty damn good deal.
As I said. Screwed."
What an excellent turn of the phrase.
Fnord

Glad you like your Castello! I have a Sea Rock #17 (KK) that is definitely my favorite pipe as well. The draw is definitely much more open than any other pipe I own...and I like it. The paneling and rustication on yours are very distinct! I don't know if I've seen another Sea Rock with smooth panels and such regular, fine rustication (especially on the shank). It may just be the pics but mine is much more craggy looking. Very cool and unique to see the way different carvers do the "Sea Rock" rustication.

I'm usually not as attracted to panels as rounded pipes but this is one exceptional pipe.

Congrats - that is a beauty!