Help Me Identify This Castello Shape Number

[Terry Lennox]

Just received my third Castello and I'm relatively new to the brand after 20 years of mostly English briars.
This compact billiard (KK) just seemed perfect for me. I prefer smaller pipes for Va's and VaPers.

Since Castello stopped stamping shape numbers anyone know if this would have been a 35 or a 15 or a 31? Or maybe something else? Thanks for any expertise.

 

[AJL67]

Search for the win.

I see two possibles there, did you buy this new or estate, seems like the actual shape should be on the box mb or where you bought it from would have that?

Castello Shape Guide

Castello Pipes Page Shape number Name Example 10 Brucianaso 11 Brandy Brucianaso 12 Liverpool Canadian 14 Small to medium size Lovat 15 Large Billiard or Pot 15-Q Panel Billiard 16 Military Billiard 17 Pot 19 1/8 Bent Canted Billiard 21 1/8 bent Chimey 23 Apple 24 Prince of Wales with a slightly...

pipes2smoke.com

 

[georged]

Technically, that's a Canadian. (oval shank, tapered stem)

They're usually much longer, but length isn't a component of shape.

 

[ssjones]

Ah, the KK, my prized size! I'd check with Mike @ Briar Blues, he's likely the Castello expert now, and of course also forum member Daveinlax

 

[OzPiper]

Ah, the KK, my prized size! I'd check with Mike @ Briar Blues, he's likely the Castello expert now, and of course also forum member Daveinlax

And @Searock Fan

 

[ssjones]

And @Searock Fan

We might have the entire cadre of Castello experts, right here (or quardo, in Italian)!

 

[briarblues]

First, I am not an expert on anything pipe related, so please don't even suggest it.

If I had to guess, I think it may have started out to be a 33, listed as a short Canadian, and please no jokes ......For some reason, who knows why ... a longer taper stem was used. With Castello nothing is written in stone, or briar, and sometimes something unusual is created.

The first time I was at the workshop I asked Franco if they'd ever though about blending a shape 44 and a shape 55. Oval bowl and bent pot. He just smiled and walked away. I thought, I had possibly insulted him. He came back a few minutes later and put what I asked about in my hand. What shape number would that be? A 44 bent or a 55 oval? At Castello you just never know when they'll put a rabbit, out of their hat.

Mike

 

[Terry Lennox]

Mike I think you may be right! Searching images the bowl looks like either a 33 or perhaps a 32 with a longer stem.

I found this bit of wisdom at SP "While Castello does have a shape chart, one of the neat things about this great Italian marque is that said chart only covers the basic premise of the shapes in question. Each briar is hand-made, and most possess some degree of variation from the "master" shape; thus each has its own individuality."

Here's one more photo of the underside.

 

[ssjones]

First, I am not an expert on anything pipe related, so please don't even suggest it.

If I had to guess, I think it may have started out to be a 33, listed as a short Canadian, and please no jokes ......For some reason, who knows why ... a longer taper stem was used. With Castello nothing is written in stone, or briar, and sometimes something unusual is created.

The first time I was at the workshop I asked Franco if they'd ever though about blending a shape 44 and a shape 55. Oval bowl and bent pot. He just smiled and walked away. I thought, I had possibly insulted him. He came back a few minutes later and put what I asked about in my hand. What shape number would that be? A 44 bent or a 55 oval? At Castello you just never know when they'll put a rabbit, out of their hat.

Mike

You are too modest Mike - but looking at the shape, I thought "hybrid 55"!

@Terry Lennox - I Just saw the nomenclature picture, those KK buttons are right up my alley!

 

[Searock Fan]

And @Searock Fan

And @Searock Fan

Just so there is no confusion, I'm not either of those two gentlemen. By the way, nice pipe. Searock Fan

 

[OzPiper]

Just so there is no confusion, I'm not either of those two gentlemen. By the way, nice pipe. Searock Fan

You're TOO modest

 

[Searock Fan]

You're TOO modest

I'm extremely good looking too.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

33

 

[DeerparkDays]

Just received my third Castello and I'm relatively new to the brand after 20 years of mostly English briars.
This compact billiard (KK) just seemed perfect for me. I prefer smaller pipes for Va's and VaPers.

Since Castello stopped stamping shape numbers anyone know if this would have been a 35 or a 15 or a 31? Or maybe something else? Thanks for any expertise.

View attachment 229830View attachment 229831View attachment 229832

O gosh that pipe is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!

 

[ssjones]

I meant to ask, where did you find this one?

 

[Terry Lennox]

I meant to ask, where did you find this one?

Smoking Pipes. It popped up last week and I grabbed it right away. I was worried it might be too small but when it arrived it turned out to be perfect. I really am done with big pipes.

 

[Terry Lennox]

By the way, length is 5.12, bowl height 1.6 inches

 

[kcghost]

Congratulations on getting a Castello, they are wonderful pipes.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

By the way, length is 5.12, bowl height 1.6 inches

For many years now, 33's have run much larger than that. The first 33's I ever saw back in the 1980's were, of course, so stamped, and roughly that size.

 

[ssjones]

Smoking Pipes. It popped up last week and I grabbed it right away. I was worried it might be too small but when it arrived it turned out to be perfect. I really am done with big pipes.

Well, that's a rare US find. And I'm solidly in your preference camp.

My first Ashton, was an XX and when I unpacked it, it was pretty small and I was slightly disappointed. To that point (11 years ago...) I had only smoked big Boswell pipes. About four years later, I found that I really enjoyed the smaller pipes (and learned to evaluate them based on their weight in grams). So, I still have that XX Taylor Ashton. Now I realize it was a gift from my wife on my 50th birthday, and in a few weeks, it will be 12 years old!