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AroEnglish
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Sorry meant Castellos for under $300
Any Castello Comparable pipes?
- Thread starter Doctor Chopper
- Start date
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AroEnglish
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While I agree, the quest is to find a pipe with a similar bit, feel, smoke as a Costello. Cheap pipes are abundant, but sure don’t smoke like a Castello.
My experience with the bones is varied. Random stem and bit. Some smoke good, others not so. My experience is anecdotal, but my hit rate is 50%, and I decided that double the price for an unfinished pipe was not such a great deal. For a beginner this is a great choice.
If I could get one under $300, I would not have started this thread. Many other brands mentioned are less expensive but still pricey. Maybe you guys have more pocket change than I do.
Love the discussion! Thanks
Have a look at the Italian etailers ‘house pipes’ from sites like bollito or floppy, for example. Very much a case of ‘close but no cigar’ but for 60-80€ should be close enough.
Radice. Equal to a Castello with much better stem work. I love both but the stems on Castello are much too thick.
You can two or three Radice pipes for the price of one Castello most of the time.
You can two or three Radice pipes for the price of one Castello most of the time.
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AroEnglish
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Yeah that’s what surprised me about @sasquatch’s post saying you could get one for $2-300 from Italian sites as I haven’t seen that.
Well you actually have to TRY looking is the thing before you say you can't find something.
Admittedly, prices are up a hair since I last bought a Castello out of these guys, but here's one for 278 euros, shipping will be like 30. Pipe Castello - 'Sea Rock Briar' KK Shape 44 - Tabaccheria Corti Lecco - Online Shop - https://tabaccheriacorti.com/gb/pipes/10319-pipe-castello-sea-rock-briar-kk-shape-44.html
Make sure you are looking at the "tax free" pricing in Italy - their monster taxes only apply to in-EU sales.
But current exchange rate, jeez it's 335 bucks to get that thing to your house, guys. I find that very reasonable.
Admittedly, prices are up a hair since I last bought a Castello out of these guys, but here's one for 278 euros, shipping will be like 30. Pipe Castello - 'Sea Rock Briar' KK Shape 44 - Tabaccheria Corti Lecco - Online Shop - https://tabaccheriacorti.com/gb/pipes/10319-pipe-castello-sea-rock-briar-kk-shape-44.html
Make sure you are looking at the "tax free" pricing in Italy - their monster taxes only apply to in-EU sales.
But current exchange rate, jeez it's 335 bucks to get that thing to your house, guys. I find that very reasonable.
My best pipe is a Castello. The smoking quality, weight and balance all factor in. The pipe was pricey. My local shop suggested I meet with the distributor for Rinaldo and I bought two Rinaldos. For 1/3 the price of the Castello I have found the Rinaldos to be of equal smoking quality. I don't find the Rinaldo grading system to be a factor. I now, with the exception of the Castello, smoke 7 Rinaldos exclusively.
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 understand why the brand did not grab a following. BUT for those with an eye for grain and tight wallets ...... so keep quiet Jesse!! Let's keep this between just a few of us!!
Nice find, and I may end up buying it- but… $375 is still a fairly hefty price. I did state in my post that you get what you pay for, and I may need to dig deep. I don’t mind paying for a good pipe, but my challenge is to get a cheaper pipe that is similar. In my mind I am thinking underneath $250. I will check out some of the other suggestions later today when I get time.
I am waiting until Chicago pipe show to make any purchases, and using these suggestions when visiting the show to hopefully see some in person. If I don’t go over my budget at the show, I will be buying online.
Who am I kidding, I got no real budget. I will buy way too much and beg my wife for forgiveness later.
I have one Brebbia- an Oom Paul with a cap I use for Lunting. It does smoke great. I may need to look at more classic shapes.
Maestro de Paja are great pipes and they are currently selling online for €175 and less. Not sure if any of them speak to you but there are dozens of them to look at.
Many Gepetto are under $250 on smoking pipes and as low as $150 and they are even cheaper direct from Italy without VAT. Made by Ser Jacopo with their wood, workmanship and standards it’s hard to beat that value!
Many Gepetto are under $250 on smoking pipes and as low as $150 and they are even cheaper direct from Italy without VAT. Made by Ser Jacopo with their wood, workmanship and standards it’s hard to beat that value!
My Rinaldo is a top smoker -taste wise and has a very confortable button. I may have got lucky but I love that pipe.
I've had a couple but the shaping and stem work kept them from being keepers. Don Carlos and Bonfiglioli are my favorite Italian makers outside of Savinelli.
I've got a Talamoma (lower right pipe below). It is an outlier in my collection. The other two pipes are long gone, but that Talamona is going nowhere. I generally gravitate to very old Britwood and/or Meers. However, this Italian pipe is a superb smoker. I am into estate pipes ad picked it up for around $70. Estate pipes are not for everyone....
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AroEnglish
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This is the way.Who am I kidding, I got no real budget. I will buy way too much and beg my wife for forgiveness later.
Brebbia, Rinaldo, Radice, Posella, Savinelli