Need Help Dating a Castello

[funpipes]

I purchased this 2K Castello with some nice flame grain on it. I reached out to the seller and asked for his opinion of the date of the pipe, and the best he could say was the 1990's, but I've been looking up some info and I want to say it's probably older (maybe 80's actually). Does anyone have any info on this? See photos below. Thanks!

Link to photos:

https://imgur.com/a/Zu89t74

Here's a list of the markings on the pipe:

LEFT:
CASTELLO
"CASTELLO" and KK in oval

RIGHT:
MADE IN CANTU
ITALY

UNDERSIDE (on briar):
12
Kino in oval

UNDERSIDE (on stem):
HAND MADE
CASTELLO

 

[Hillcrest]

This might help. Nice pipe shank.

The Castello Pipe

Dating The Early Years. No size or grade stampings. The early Castello pieces were small, mostly carved or sand blasted finishes and stamped with ‘Mi Reserva’ or ‘my Reserve’. The ‘reserve’ nomencl…

davismh76.wordpress.com

 

[briarblues]

funpipes, if the pipe carries the Kino, in an oval stamp, it was made post 2007.

Pre K grading. Late 1950’s to mid 1960’s the pipe carried stamps which indicated sizes. These were as follows; SA, SB, SC, and SS. SA being the smallest and SS the largest.

K grading begins. In 1969 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo joins the firm. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the company began the use of the K grading. The upper case large K, was used for non smooth pipes to designate size. For smooth pipes to indicate a combination of grain quality and size. These are also the years that Castello switched from machine made pipes that were hand finished to completely hand made pipes.

Switch from large K to small k in an oval. In 1982 the company changed from the use of the large upper case K grading to a small lower case k within an oval ( 2 k or greater ) or circle for single k grades.

1984 – 1985 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo takes over the running of the firm. The Kino “knickname” given to Franco by Carlo Scotti, and is a shortened version of his full birth name, Franchino.

The Natural Vergin were issued in 1967 first but only in 1985 they started to be produced in series only on the natural carved pipes.

1987 – the 40th anniversary Castello begins the number within a castle stamp. The number added to 1947 gives the year of pipe creation. ie 50 within a castle = 1947 + 50 = 1997.

1992 – Carlo Scotti passes away.

1997 -US stamp begins

2007 – KINO stamp begins – 60th anniversary. Kino is Franco Coppo’s nick name.

 

[wyfbane]

funpipes, if the pipe carries the Kino, in an oval stamp, it was made post 2007.

Pre K grading. Late 1950’s to mid 1960’s the pipe carried stamps which indicated sizes. These were as follows; SA, SB, SC, and SS. SA being the smallest and SS the largest.

K grading begins. In 1969 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo joins the firm. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the company began the use of the K grading. The upper case large K, was used for non smooth pipes to designate size. For smooth pipes to indicate a combination of grain quality and size. These are also the years that Castello switched from machine made pipes that were hand finished to completely hand made pipes.

Switch from large K to small k in an oval. In 1982 the company changed from the use of the large upper case K grading to a small lower case k within an oval ( 2 k or greater ) or circle for single k grades.

1984 – 1985 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo takes over the running of the firm. The Kino “knickname” given to Franco by Carlo Scotti, and is a shortened version of his full birth name, Franchino.

The Natural Vergin were issued in 1967 first but only in 1985 they started to be produced in series only on the natural carved pipes.

1987 – the 40th anniversary Castello begins the number within a castle stamp. The number added to 1947 gives the year of pipe creation. ie 50 within a castle = 1947 + 50 = 1997.

1992 – Carlo Scotti passes away.

1997 -US stamp begins

2007 – KINO stamp begins – 60th anniversary. Kino is Franco Coppo’s nick name.

Nice to see you online. It's been a minute. Hope all is well with you.

OP: this^ gentleman knows more about Castello pipes than just about anyone.

 

[funpipes]

funpipes, if the pipe carries the Kino, in an oval stamp, it was made post 2007.

Pre K grading. Late 1950’s to mid 1960’s the pipe carried stamps which indicated sizes. These were as follows; SA, SB, SC, and SS. SA being the smallest and SS the largest.

K grading begins. In 1969 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo joins the firm. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the company began the use of the K grading. The upper case large K, was used for non smooth pipes to designate size. For smooth pipes to indicate a combination of grain quality and size. These are also the years that Castello switched from machine made pipes that were hand finished to completely hand made pipes.

Switch from large K to small k in an oval. In 1982 the company changed from the use of the large upper case K grading to a small lower case k within an oval ( 2 k or greater ) or circle for single k grades.

1984 – 1985 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo takes over the running of the firm. The Kino “knickname” given to Franco by Carlo Scotti, and is a shortened version of his full birth name, Franchino.

The Natural Vergin were issued in 1967 first but only in 1985 they started to be produced in series only on the natural carved pipes.

1987 – the 40th anniversary Castello begins the number within a castle stamp. The number added to 1947 gives the year of pipe creation. ie 50 within a castle = 1947 + 50 = 1997.

1992 – Carlo Scotti passes away.

1997 -US stamp begins

2007 – KINO stamp begins – 60th anniversary. Kino is Franco Coppo’s nick name.

Thank you so much for this. I'm fairly new to pipe smoking (about to be my third year), and have seen many of your videos. It's an honor to have you chime in on this pipe. Hope you've been well.

 

[woodsroad]

Dating a Castello.
You mean Wanda Castello? Give it up. She’s not interested in you. Even if your personal hygiene was a bit better and you got that abscess taken care of, she’s still way too high maintenance. Besides, she’s 87. Date someone your own age. I mean, that’s just kinda creepy, you know?

 

[Briarcutter]

funpipes, if the pipe carries the Kino, in an oval stamp, it was made post 2007.

Pre K grading. Late 1950’s to mid 1960’s the pipe carried stamps which indicated sizes. These were as follows; SA, SB, SC, and SS. SA being the smallest and SS the largest.

K grading begins. In 1969 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo joins the firm. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the company began the use of the K grading. The upper case large K, was used for non smooth pipes to designate size. For smooth pipes to indicate a combination of grain quality and size. These are also the years that Castello switched from machine made pipes that were hand finished to completely hand made pipes.

Switch from large K to small k in an oval. In 1982 the company changed from the use of the large upper case K grading to a small lower case k within an oval ( 2 k or greater ) or circle for single k grades.

1984 – 1985 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo takes over the running of the firm. The Kino “knickname” given to Franco by Carlo Scotti, and is a shortened version of his full birth name, Franchino.

The Natural Vergin were issued in 1967 first but only in 1985 they started to be produced in series only on the natural carved pipes.

1987 – the 40th anniversary Castello begins the number within a castle stamp. The number added to 1947 gives the year of pipe creation. ie 50 within a castle = 1947 + 50 = 1997.

1992 – Carlo Scotti passes away.

1997 -US stamp begins

2007 – KINO stamp begins – 60th anniversary. Kino is Franco Coppo’s nick name.

Thanks for the info Mike!

 

[ssjones]

funpipes, if the pipe carries the Kino, in an oval stamp, it was made post 2007.

Pre K grading. Late 1950’s to mid 1960’s the pipe carried stamps which indicated sizes. These were as follows; SA, SB, SC, and SS. SA being the smallest and SS the largest.

K grading begins. In 1969 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo joins the firm. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the company began the use of the K grading. The upper case large K, was used for non smooth pipes to designate size. For smooth pipes to indicate a combination of grain quality and size. These are also the years that Castello switched from machine made pipes that were hand finished to completely hand made pipes.

Switch from large K to small k in an oval. In 1982 the company changed from the use of the large upper case K grading to a small lower case k within an oval ( 2 k or greater ) or circle for single k grades.

1984 – 1985 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo takes over the running of the firm. The Kino “knickname” given to Franco by Carlo Scotti, and is a shortened version of his full birth name, Franchino.

The Natural Vergin were issued in 1967 first but only in 1985 they started to be produced in series only on the natural carved pipes.

1987 – the 40th anniversary Castello begins the number within a castle stamp. The number added to 1947 gives the year of pipe creation. ie 50 within a castle = 1947 + 50 = 1997.

1992 – Carlo Scotti passes away.

1997 -US stamp begins

2007 – KINO stamp begins – 60th anniversary. Kino is Franco Coppo’s nick name.

I saved this snap, thanks Mike/BB!

 

[briarblues]

Nice to see you online. It's been a minute. Hope all is well with you.

OP: this^ gentleman knows more about Castello pipes than just about anyone.

Thanks, but I honestly only know a little. I was just fortunate enough to listen and keep notes when speaking and listening to those that truly know the brand and it's history.