It has always confused me that Castello use the "K" rating for size in the rusticated and for grade in the smooth pipes. They really should have used a different letter for one of them.
Castello Pipes
- Thread starter WVpiper3
- Start date
Once again... It's not a size rating but a code for dealers that shows their cost.
Absolute true, unlike the White Spot Alfred Dunhill ,The Lack of a real shape number makes it an Artisan Company
Have anyone heard anything of another now closed Italian artisan maker of Capitello Pipes and how those compare to say Castello or Radice brand pipes?, I understand these Italian Capitello pipes did not existe for too long, and as are somewhat rare on the estate pipe market of today
Thanks for the kind words. It's very basic in reality.
Yes and not exactly. For the non smooth pipes it's generally a size designation. For the smooth pipes it's more a combination of grain and size. You might find a larger smooth pipe graded lower than a small very well grained pipe.Once again... It's not a size rating but a code for dealers that shows their cost.
Ludwig, Castello pipes are graded in batches, as opposed to a "set chart" of size designations or past historical records of grains.
When I visited the Castello workshop in 2019, I selected a group of pipes for the website. The smooth pipes were shown ungraded, which is the norm. After the dealer selects pipes Franco then grades the pipes as a group.
I asked Franco if I might offer my impressions on the grades and have him instruct me on my errors, which I expected the errors to be numerous. I did that and I was truly amazed at little aspects that Franco noted that I had not.
While the grading, to the untrained eye, appears to be random, to the eye of expertise, it does make sense.
The only confusing part is when you see a KKKK and expect it to be huge, or a K or KK and expect it to be tiny.
Agreed, which is why every retailer should be listing pipe length, bowl height, chamber width, bowl depth, and weight. I can't say for everyone, but I'm a very picky little SOB when it comes to what I want for my collection, thus these are paramount to me. IF any one is not listed, I bypass the pipe right away.
Yes. I double check size specs too. Photos are deceiving.
Boy, am I glad I'm not interested in the K's when buying a pipe...
Forget the K's .... I worry about the $$$'s .....Boy, am I glad I'm not interested in the K's when buying a pipe...
I look at the broad categories of Trademark, Castello, Collection, etc.s
Same. I know what general category my pipes are (Trademark, Castello, Collection, etc), the bowl dimensions, and the total length.
I’ve stopped worrying about the $$$‘s Mike, can’t be a collector and penny pinch is my logic
