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rmbittner

Lifer
Dec 12, 2012
2,759
1,994
I've been lookingat radice pipes for awhile now becase I really like the craggy rustication. Are those pipes worth the price?
I love my Radice New Dear, which is perhaps my favorite finish ever on a pipe. But if you like the “craggy” Radice look, you might also consider estate Ascorti pipes, which can often be found for under/around $100. I love both brands.

You’re probably aware that Radice and Ascorti started out working together in the Castello factory, before leaving to start Caminetto together. Around 1980, both men decided to go their separate ways and make pipes under their own names. But the styles between the two lines share a lot of similarities, since both men were trained in the same factory and then worked together so closely for 5-6 years. (To me, Caminettos have a distinct look all their own.)

If the New Dear finish is what you mean by “craggy,” Ascorti also makes New Dear pipes. If by “craggy” you mean Radice’s approach to sandblasting, Ascorti has a similar look, known as the Business finish.
 
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briarblues

Can't Leave
Aug 3, 2017
376
555
As an authorized Radice retailer .... IMHO Radice Pipes offer maybe the best "bang for buck" in the unsmoked new pipe market out of Italy. On the estate market, Ascorti, Caminetto ( both depending on vintage ) and Radice can be found for very reasonable prices.

What I find is that the majority of current Radice Pipes have a very consistent stem profile. Thin but no too thin. Flat, yet not too flat. Buttons that are tall, yet not too tall. In other words, very comfortable. Plus the internal "engineering" ( drilling width ) is perfect, for me. Also if you're not a fan of Lucite stems, they also make some pipes with Ebonite. The latter have an E stamped on the shank.

Luigi Radice ( the founder ) is now "retired", which is well deserved for a man at 84 years of age. That being said, he is still in the shop, with his sons, and creates pipes. The pipes Luigi is making do not show up in our market often. Each is unique and comes from the brilliant imagination of Luigi.

Currently all Radice Pipes are made by his sons, Marzio and Gianluca. All three are very cordial with a quick wit and never hesitate to answer questions about pipes etc.

I was fortunate enough to visit them in 2019. Luigi kept telling me to ask anything I wished. There are no secrets here.

Feel free to message me and ask any questions you'd like about Radice Pipes. If I don't know the answer I will contact Marzio and ask.

Mike
 

pipingfool

Can't Leave
Sep 29, 2016
369
1,475
Seattle, WA
I have several Radice Pipes and I love them.

They are solid smokers in that Northern Italian aesthetic. Plus they are one of the few Italian carvers that offer Ebonite stems in great colors.

Well worth the price. And if you have the Bronze VIP status at sp.com, then you get an additional discount.
 
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Reactions: milk
Mar 1, 2014
3,646
4,916
As long as prices remain stable then Radice is a good value, though I have had some quirks, my Radice "Collect" didn't pass a pipecleaner until I re-drilled the shank. Pretty bizarre to have that problem appear on a relatively high end pipe, but I had the same problem in another even more expensive Danish pipe as well, no matter the price always inspect your pipes thoroughly before smoking.
 

milk

Part of the Furniture Now
Sep 21, 2022
933
2,414
Japan
As an authorized Radice retailer .... IMHO Radice Pipes offer maybe the best "bang for buck" in the unsmoked new pipe market out of Italy. On the estate market, Ascorti, Caminetto ( both depending on vintage ) and Radice can be found for very reasonable prices.

What I find is that the majority of current Radice Pipes have a very consistent stem profile. Thin but no too thin. Flat, yet not too flat. Buttons that are tall, yet not too tall. In other words, very comfortable. Plus the internal "engineering" ( drilling width ) is perfect, for me. Also if you're not a fan of Lucite stems, they also make some pipes with Ebonite. The latter have an E stamped on the shank.

Luigi Radice ( the founder ) is now "retired", which is well deserved for a man at 84 years of age. That being said, he is still in the shop, with his sons, and creates pipes. The pipes Luigi is making do not show up in our market often. Each is unique and comes from the brilliant imagination of Luigi.

Currently all Radice Pipes are made by his sons, Marzio and Gianluca. All three are very cordial with a quick wit and never hesitate to answer questions about pipes etc.

I was fortunate enough to visit them in 2019. Luigi kept telling me to ask anything I wished. There are no secrets here.

Feel free to message me and ask any questions you'd like about Radice Pipes. If I don't know the answer I will contact Marzio and ask.

Mike
I didn’t know they had ebonite. Huh. How can I un-know that. Now this is going to be stuck on my mind. It’s always a risk reading these threads! PAD.
 

Merton

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 8, 2020
941
2,498
Boston, Massachusetts
Mike's "bang for the buck" description above is right on target. Radice compares favorably with Castello at about 40% of the price. Moreover, Radice stemwork is superior to Castello in every way. You will never go wrong with a Radice.
 
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