I was ordering some tobacco from my preferred vendor when I noticed a Duca Carlo that looked quite nice - especially for the price. I purchase all my pipe products from this vendor - and have bought a number of their new and estate pipes. This pipe was described as "smoked, but rather clean" (you can probably guess the vendor). I figured for less than $38 it was worth a try.
I'm more than pleasantly surprised by the quality - both in terms of fit and finish and how well it smokes. I'd guess it maybe had two or three previous smokes at most, and a couple very small dings in the briar. And yet the Savinelli quality shows through even on this inexpensive line - no fills from what I can see, nice lines, passes a pipe cleaner, etc. It may not have the grain you'd see on a more expensive pipe, but this is certainly a marque that I'd have no concern buying another if I see one. And best of all, it smokes like a champ.
I'm more than pleasantly surprised by the quality - both in terms of fit and finish and how well it smokes. I'd guess it maybe had two or three previous smokes at most, and a couple very small dings in the briar. And yet the Savinelli quality shows through even on this inexpensive line - no fills from what I can see, nice lines, passes a pipe cleaner, etc. It may not have the grain you'd see on a more expensive pipe, but this is certainly a marque that I'd have no concern buying another if I see one. And best of all, it smokes like a champ.
