Any Castello Comparable pipes?

[Doctor Chopper]

I have 2 Castello sea rock pipes that I bought in Italy, and they smoke great. I like the saddle bits and the way they smoke, but they are pretty expensive! I know.... you get what you pay for. I don't mind paying for a nice pipe for my collection, but I would love to get a cheaper daily knock around pipe with similar features.

Any suggestions on a more affordable pipe that may be similar?

 

[Sigmund]

Radice?
Any I have owned or seen were well constructed and good smokers.

Check out Alpacia. They ship worldwide and you get the tax free price.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Radice?
Any I have owned or seen were well constructed and good smokers.

Check out Alpacia. They ship worldwide and you get the tax free price.

Radice has really nice looking pipes, I will check out the site- thanks

 

[Sigmund]

My only gripe is where the chamber is drilled on top has a hard edge. It makes it easy to singe. I tend to soften mine a little if its not a colored stain on the pipe. Otherwise great pipes.

 

[kcghost]

Savinelli, Radice, Peterson, all make nice pipes in a number of price ranges.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

My only gripe is where the chamber is drilled on top has a hard edge. It makes it easy to singe. I tend to soften mine a little if its not a colored stain on the pipe. Otherwise great pipes.

Good information! Appreciated

 

[daveinlax]

My only gripe is where the chamber is drilled on top has a hard edge. It makes it easy to singe. I tend to soften mine a little if its not a colored stain on the pipe. Otherwise great pipes.

I’m the opposite. I prefer a crisp line. I’ve found beveled or a rounded edge seems to darken easier. Not Italian but Butera, Parks and Roush rusticated pipes are as good or better than a good Sea Rock carving.

 

[briarblues]

I have 2 Castello sea rock pipes that I bought in Italy, and they smoke great. I like the saddle bits and the way they smoke, but they are pretty expensive! I know.... you get what you pay for. I don't mind paying for a nice pipe for my collection, but I would love to get a cheaper daily knock around pipe with similar features.

Any suggestions on a more affordable pipe that may be similar?

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 carver, with a few being visited the same day, as they are close to each other, I think I calculated it would take 80 days. A few of those days would be for travel, but if one organized a clear path from North to South .... about 80 days. So lots of brands.....

 

[warren99]

I have 2 Castello sea rock pipes that I bought in Italy, and they smoke great. I like the saddle bits and the way they smoke, but they are pretty expensive! I know.... you get what you pay for. I don't mind paying for a nice pipe for my collection, but I would love to get a cheaper daily knock around pipe with similar features.

Any suggestions on a more affordable pipe that may be similar?

L’Anatra and Don Carlos tend to make excellent Italian pipes which are generally less expensive than Castello.

 

[warren99]

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 carver, with a few being visited the same day, as they are close to each other, I think I calculated it would take 80 days. A few of those days would be for travel, but if one organized a clear path from North to South .... about 80 days. So lots of brands.....

I am smoking a Collection Occhio di Pernice that I bought from you last year as I write. It’s a wonderful pipe.

 

[Papamique]

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 carver, with a few being visited the same day, as they are close to each other, I think I calculated it would take 80 days. A few of those days would be for travel, but if one organized a clear path from North to South .... about 80 days. So lots of brands.....

Here are some others- Grenci (minimum of 10 years aged briar and few left UNDER 20 years old at this point) and Amorelli (minimum of 5 years but most are well over this ranging from 10-30 years) and Amorelli knows exactly where his briar comes from. He goes out with harvesters on the island of Sicily, where he also lives, and knows the cutters and mill owners by name. It is a tight community. He is even involved in the boiling part of curing the briar at the mill. All of his briar comes from Sicily.

@Doctor Chopper the Grenci can be found for relatively cheap but the Amorelli will set you back as much if not more than the Castello so not a recommendation that fits your OP

 

[sasquatch]

Ser Jacopos are worth looking at, but in truth, if you buy Castellos straight out of Italy, they are about 20% cheaper than the American pricing, you can get them for 2 or 300 bucks.

 

[Papamique]

Mastro De Paja is another one worth looking at. Not too expensive and have a rich history dating back to the dinosaurs. To piggy back on Sasquatch’s Ser Jacopo recommendation, they have a wonderful line called Geppetto that are excellent hand finished pipes that smoke wonderfully and are less expensive to boot.

 

[lraisch]

I would say that Castellos are exceptionally good pipes. Several recommendations already given, such as Ser Jacopo, are worthy of consideration.
If what you're looking for though is more of a "knock around" pipe, you might like a Savinelli or a Brebbia.
If you're considering an "estate" pipe, look for a "Gold Mustache" Caminetto.

 

[Searock Fan]

I would add to this, but the others have said it all. The high end Italians all smoke good. I would, however, take exception to the Savinelli. While they're filter pipes are great for aromatics, to me they just don't taste right with English blends.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

I would add to this, but the others have said it all. The high end Italians all smoke good. I would, however, take exception to the Savinelli. While they're filter pipes are great for aromatics, to me they just don't taste right with English blends.

I have a couple Savinelli pipes, they are definitely different.

 

[AroEnglish]

Ser Jacopos are worth looking at, but in truth, if you buy Castellos straight out of Italy, they are about 20% cheaper than the American pricing, you can get them for 2 or 300 bucks.

Dang please name drop the stores that sell them for under $300!

 

[sablebrush52]

I like my Castellos, but not better than my Brebbias.

 

[Sigmund]

@AroEnglish Al Pacia has a load of Ser jacs under 300 and a few under 200 euro. Shipping is fast and cheap from Italy and you get the no tax rate. Their completely smooth pipes are more. The La Fuma line if you run across them are Ser Jac seconds. Most will have a couple of fills. They are usually hard to see. Im lucky they dont sell 9mm pipes or Id be broke. Their Radice prices are outstanding.

To Doc Chopper...I cant say enough good about my Ser Jac pipes. I only mentioned Radice first because the price point. Radice are great pipes at knock around prices (almost).

I have not owned one but Ive never heard anything bad about the Geppetto pipes amd they are truly inexpensive.

 

[captpat]

Inexpensive knock-around pipe? Hard to beat a cob, or look at Morgan Bones' good smoking briars at a very modest price.