Al, that find was pure serendipity. I hadn't looked at that site in forever, but I opened it for no particular reason a night or two before I started the thread on Bollito's single k Petit 15's. I just glanced at that particular pipe. It was in no way on my radar screen. When you said you wanted a 2k 65 that was under 40 g, the light went off. I checked the weight and Bob's your uncle, I sent you the link.
I think the smaller Castello's are starting to get more attention in the US Before I took a break from pipes in 2001, I accumulated a fair number of # 14's, the baby brother of the 75's. They typically come in 2k, sometimes 3 k that aren't any larger than the 2k. While not exactly falling out of the trees in Italy, several shops found nice ones for me. The former agent for Castello in the United States brought in one or two for me. At that time, like a lot of fans of the 75 or 32 shape, I was more into shank length. The way the 14's worked with my then preferred go to flakes and coins was a revelation. I always knew that flakes did better in smaller bowls, theoretically, but the 14 combined the feel of the 75 bit with the aesthetics of the Castello Lovat shape that I love and still do. I still have one OA 14, and it is light as a feather and is IMO a darn near perfect flake pipe.
As most old timers will tell you, Coppo is very responsive to the market, and the current US distributor is market sensitive as well. There are limits, of course, they aren't going to take a block of briar that would yield a GGG 75 and cut it down to make a 14. But I feel confident they will find suitable briar. I suspect we will be seeing more smaller Castello's, which given the popularity of flakes, coins, ropes and twists makes a heck of a lot of sense to me. That people will smoke Lakeland's in them is a tragedy that is, I suppose, inevitable. (Bob's Chocolate is permissible.) (Inserting a smiley emoticon is optional)
BTW, the pipe you posted is rusticated, not sandblasted. There will be stain on the peaks in hand and the overall appearance will be stunning. Castello's stains are a much underappreciated part of what they do that makes the pipes so special, IMO, and if you really look, you can find great examples of what I am talking about in Sea Rocks and in every other grade. They take a lot of time on stains
After all, Carlo Scotti built the brand on Sea Rocks. He was not the first person to carve the bowl of a pipe, it was the stain that gave them their jewel like appearance and took the market by storm. Onine pictures don't do justice to the pipes in hand. That is true of many aspects of every brand, but it is particularly true of Castello's and their stains. You, the buyer, can find that artistry on their entry level price point pipes, which I think is pretty darn special.
I will never, ever forget the first time I saw a table that was full of Castellos. It was at the first pipe show I ever attended, in Chattanooga, TN. At that time a shop was lucky to get one or two Castello's a year. The grey market had barely started. A collector from Chicago had a whole table of Castello's for display. Most of them were Sea Rocks. They glistened like diamonds. I was hooked. I have never, ever considered a Sea Rock ordinary since that day.
Well, this reply is way longer than justified. I was halfway watching Gonzaga punch their ticket to the final four and things got out of hand. For the record, I am not commercially affiliated with Castello or anyone with an interest in their distribution or sale. I am not presently buying or selling any Castello's, though that might change at any moment as I am a hopeless pipe porn addict. I am also a firm believer in the saying "You also smoke with your eyes.". Beauty is worth a premium.
Al, I hope you love that pipe!
