Castello SC55 Sea Rock Briar

[codecreatively]

Stoked to see we have an Italian sub forum!
Just arrived from an Italian seller, a Castello SC55 Sea Rock in a natural finish. It's an old one, missing the Carlo Scotti stamp. The only time I've seen Castellos without the stamp is on older pipes with a Reg No. Super clean, inside the shank was still the natural wood color, along the bottom of the bowl. I'd guess maybe 15 smokes through it. Smokes wonderfully, it's a keeper :puffpipe:

 

[pagan]

Very nice

 

[bigpond]

Nice grab! That classic rustication is great I've been on the lookout for a small 55 in Vergin finish for a while now.

 

[daveinlax]

There's often no rhyme or reason to Castello's nomenclature but I would suspect they just ran out of room on the shank. Anyway that is what a Sea Rock carving should look like. I wonder what the story with it is? This was a Wally Frank/Hallco US import back in Italy. It looks to fresh to be from the 60's 8O

 

[codecreatively]

Thanks gents. It has the old style font, I have a stacked billiard with the same font, Reg No., and no Carlo Scotti stamp. Must be the way they did it in the earlier days.
I agree Dave, it looks like it was smoked a handful of times and put away. Usually there is a bunch of gunk in the shank of pipes this old, but it was still virgin briar.
Bigpond, have any Beckers you'd want to trade for this?

 

[mso489]

A classic of its kind. Where did you track it down?

 

[codecreatively]

It was just on eBay. Must have been good timing.

 

[ssjones]

Every Italian fan needs a 55, enjoy!

 

[hakchuma]

I think stuff n things made a YouTube video about eBay and that particular pipe being over priced.

 

[codecreatively]

Well, it's a good thing some people think they're overpriced, otherwise they'd really go for some really crazy money.

 

[ssjones]

and that's why I don't watch pipe you tube videos...

 

[bigpond]

Code, Ha! I prefer a bit more chin...and really I'm looking for a group 1 or a really svelte group 2 55. Believe it or not, they do pop up sporadically. I might consider letting a Becker go for a chance at your Eltang though...dunno.

 

[codecreatively]

I've seen the little Castellos pop up here and there, they're usually snapped up pretty quick. The Eltang ... you may as well ask for a kidney

 

[disinformatique]

Very nice brother, I love Castellos !!

 

[shotime]

love to own a castello, oh well maybe some day

 

[jefff]

I really like the softer chin in many of the Older 55's
Thats a nice looking pipe.

 

[clickklick]

I'd never guess that was a 55. What the heck did we turn the shape into! If all 55s looked like this one I'd own one!

 

[disinformatique]

@clickklick Adam, Castello is crazy about 55, sometimes they go over the top and sometimes it looks like a straight billiard.

 

[fnord]

Code:
Your pipe is gorgeous.
I've always been intrigued by those beautifully craggy Sea Rocks but they've always eluded me - price, timing or luck - I haven't scored one yet, but I will someday.
I hope your Castello becomes a favorite and if it smokes half as well as it looks, then you drew a belly buster inside straight, friend.
Well done.
Fnord

 

[thomasw]

Killer smoking pipe! Hope you've been enjoying it!