Show Us Your Opera Pipes!

[briarblues]

Yeah it’s amazing that the color is made of bugs.

I don’t have any advice but I’m sure someone will chime in shortly. Maybe @briarblues?

The "dress" finish on any pipe will wear down over time. Peterson, Stanwell, Dunhill, Ascorti, Castello and all. Not quickly, but from being held in hand the finish / stain on any pipe will show signs of fading. If left in direct sunlight, the finish will also fade / alter over time.

It's nothing to be concerned about. Most often as the "dress" finish begins to fade you'll end up with a really nice contrast finish.

 

[Mike N]

I won this Castello opera in auction on eBay this evening for $167.50 and was very happy to add it to my collection.

(click on image to enlarge)

 

[AroEnglish]

I won this Castello opera in auction on eBay this evening for $167.50 and was very happy to add it to my collection.

(click on image to enlarge)

I was watching that. Glad to see it come here!

 

[Searock Fan]

Ok, one more time.... Castello Searock, registered mark and dated 1948

 

[AroEnglish]

Ok, one more time.... Castello Searock, registered mark and dated 1948

View attachment 290940

View attachment 290941

View attachment 290942

Castello needs to go back to these oval chambers on their operas.

 

[Alejo R.]

 

[AroEnglish]

View attachment 291077View attachment 291078View attachment 291079View attachment 291080

Very cool! I've never seen this shape from Stanwell before.

 

[Alejo R.]

Very cool! I've never seen this shape from Stanwell before.

It is the first version of shape number 2 designed by Sixten Ivarsson.
Greetings.

 

[AroEnglish]

It is the first version of shape number 2 designed by Sixten Ivarsson.
Greetings.

That guy was a pretty good pipe designed

 

[briarblues]

Just added this little Stanwell to my collection. The white ring originally was ivory, but had shrunk. I asked Sacramento based pipe carver Phil Rivara to replace the ring. The results are excellent. You can see the grain has begun creeping its way through the black dress finish. The previous owner appears to have enjoyed Lakeland blends, but a good 48 hours with damp coffee grounds in chamber and shank has removed almost 90% of the ghosts.

 

[AroEnglish]

Classy pipe and classy watch

 

[briarblues]

Classy pipe and classy watch

Thanks. The watch is my Seiko GMT.

 

[AroEnglish]

Thanks. The watch is my Seiko GMT.

Though I don’t own one (yet) I love Seikos.

 

[marlow-se]

I quite often warm up to shapes and finishes I used to dislike but opera is one that I always feel a pretty strong aversion to still. Who knows though, maybe one day it will just click for me like the hawkbill shape did.

 

[AroEnglish]

I quite often warm up to shapes and finishes I used to dislike but opera is one that I always feel a pretty strong aversion to still. Who knows though, maybe one day it will just click for me like the hawkbill shape did.

I feel the exact same way about the hawkbill

 

[briarblues]

Resistance is futile!!! Just arrived from Tabaccheria Corti ( a site sponsor ). A very unusual Castello shape 44 opera pipe. This 2k Natural Vergin has a briar application on the stem. I suspect it will be offered it's first bowl with Escudo.

 

[emac.917]

Regarding the smoking qualities of the oval shaped opera bowls, it seems the larger surface area could be ideal for smoking specific blends. Does anyone have experience or an opinion on this?


I'm attracted to the shape and the idea that they were made to fit into pockets more easily. Recently, I have picked up this odd habit of walking everywhere with a pipe in my pocket even though smoking in public areas is not allowed here in Metro Manila. I find having it in hand helps me think through problems. Perhaps the influence of Sherlock Holmes? hahaha

 

[AroEnglish]

Regarding the smoking qualities of the oval shaped opera bowls, it seems the larger surface area could be ideal for smoking specific blends. Does anyone have experience or an opinion on this?


I'm attracted to the shape and the idea that they were made to fit into pockets more easily. Recently, I have picked up this odd habit of walking everywhere with a pipe in my pocket even though smoking in public areas is not allowed here in Metro Manila. I find having it in hand helps me think through problems. Perhaps the influence of Sherlock Holmes? hahaha

I haven't experienced a change with the larger surface area but I also don't have the most discerning palate. I think your suspicion is right though.

No smoking in public areas? Sosyal! How strictly is that enforced as I'd imagine there are still many who smoke cigarettes there.

 

[emac.917]

No smoking in public areas? Sosyal! How strictly is that enforced as I'd imagine there are still many who smoke cigarettes there.

Yeah. People smoke outside bars, but only in the nightlife areas like Poblacion. Otherwise, they’ve relegated smoking to small outdoor areas behind buildings or on rooftops.

I think they are pretty strict about it as I generally don’t see people smoking in public. I thought about trying my luck in one of the parks when it’s not busy, but I don’t want to deal with having to bribe the cops if they catch me. Third-world problems

 

[OzPiper]

Regarding the smoking qualities of the oval shaped opera bowls, it seems the larger surface area could be ideal for smoking specific blends. Does anyone have experience or an opinion on this?

I have 3.


All 3 have small (group 2-3) oval chambers. They definitely DO NOT have large(r) surface areas - just differently shaped ones
There are some eg newer Castellos with round chambers (the older ones have oval chambers).

I find mine are good for 20-30 min smokes, depending on the cut of the blend.
I usually smoke English/Balkan or Virginia/VaPers in mine