Help Determining if This Estate Pipe is Legitimate

[AMDG]

Fellow pipers,
I'm looking into my first estate pipe purchase.

Link: F. Castello KKKK “Castello” Canadian Style Pot Estate Pipe

Few questions:

1. Any indications that this is not a real Castello or does the available information indicate to you that it is a true one? (Note: I don't ask this to disparage the seller in any way, I purely ask the question out of my own ignorance)
2. Is there a way to determine the year of this pipe?
3. Is the price fair in your estimation?

 

[anotherbob]

Not a lot of counterfits. You could get more for a new pipe that could pass for a storied brand then you would making a fake to sell as an estate

 

[ak2000]

I'm no expert, but it looks legit to me. Fair price considering condition, though it has some dings on it from what I assume was some rough handling. No shape number, which could be an indicator of a Castello from this century, but I'm not sure about this in this series.

 

[ashdigger]

That seller is reputable.

Ask the seller and you’ll get appropriate answers. I’d answer, but I don’t know jack shit about Italian pipes.

As for fair price, only you can answer that.

 

[paulfg]

Stamped Carlo Scotti so pre 2007,when it was replaced by Kino.The KKKK looks like upper case to me so after 1982

that’s my guess

 

[ssjones]

That's a little on the high end for a Castello grade Castello. Looks 100% legit to me. (and to my knowledge, no on is counterfeiting Castello's these days)

 

[pantsBoots]

If someone is counterfeiting a KKKK pipe, wouldn't it either A) be incredibly obvious due to low quality, or B) conversely, an extremely well-made counterfeit? My reasoning is those KKKK pipes have absolutely beautiful grain - hard to fake with a shabby briar, no?

 

[cigrmaster]

I am with Al, price is too high. I would check out all the estate pipe dealers like smokingpipes. There are numerous places to find quality Castello's at competitive pricing.

 

[burleybreath]

Looks good to me. It will sell at that price. Nice shot of inner bowl, so no heat splits. Buy it. The price is within market range, so screw any hand-wringing.

 

[anotherbob]

personally I like this one better.

 

[FLDRD]

Both nice looking pipes, I sure like the grain on the 1st one.

 

[AMDG]

Greatly appreciate all the feedback. Thank you.

 

[PipeIT]

Hmm I didn’t know Castello stamped the top of the shank.