The best decades?

[vosBghos]

All I can add is if you like factory pipes and want old Briar on the cheap go with Ropp and if you want top-quality Briar and have the cash get an Artisan made with Mimmo's harvested, cut, and dried/aged. Have a buddy who now smokes his stuff exclusively, I can't afford all that with my current PAD.

 

[solideogloria86]

What makes a "good" pipe is so subjective that this an impossible question to answer. If you had a set of objective criteria that you based a study like this on, then sure. Density/weight ratio, longevity when exposed to certain temperatures etc. But, so much of what makes a pipe "good" to one person makes it "bad" to another.

 

[PipeIT]

Yes and then you have the likes of Mr Castello who likes to buy his briar blocks and leave them sit on the shelf for 20 years or so before he carves them, this alone must influence pipe quality outcomes.

There is no Mr. Castello, not sure if that was a mistake you made.

According to Pipedia;

Carlo's choice for his company's name was an inspired one. He needed a name that had a cognate in many of the European languages (Castle, Castillo, Castelo (Portuguese)), and wanted that name to be evocative of pleasant fantasy.

Also, I heard talk in the past Castello ages up to 12 years, not sure though the accuracy.

But, I was interested to finally know, so I sent an email to Luca of Tabaccheria Corti in Italy. Luca always makes trips to Castello to hand pick pipes from them. So I asked if he would please ask Castello about this. I’ll let you know if he finds out anything.

I have a friend that talked to Carlo Scotti and Carlo said it doesn't matter where the briar comes from, what matters is what you do to it.

That just sounded like a friend recently talked to Mr. Scotti, or was that a mistake? As Mr. Scotti passed away I believe in the late 1980s, or early 90s.

Does anyone actually know when Carlo Scotti passed?

P.S. Sorry for off topic...

 

[warren]

I have a friend that talked to Carlo Scotti and Carlo said it doesn't matter where the briar comes from, what matters is what you do to it.

As a carver, I would expect that to be his take on the subject.

 

[VDL_Piper]

There is no Mr. Castello, not sure if that was a mistake you made.

I am acutely aware that there is no Mr Castello. I’m also widely steeped in the history of the company and all things Castello, research is my thing. As to my reference it was not a mistake, simply a a way of encompassing the Castello (Castle) name, one lost on yourself.

 

[Winnipeger]

If you like to look of super craggy sandblasts (which I think a lot of people do), you're going to believe that the Algerian briar used by Dunhill for their patent era shell briars was superior to the Grecian briar they switched to in the 1960's, due to a supply shortage. The Algerian blasted briar looks way cooler, which may be why it's more sought after by collectors. As far as "briar quality", I think there are some tall tales being propagated on this very forum. It's a piece of wood that you stick tobacco in and burn it. The drilling is way more important than when or where the briar was harvested, as long as it's been cured properly. (In my opinion.)

You should read this article by R.D. Fields so you know that I'm not pulling my Dunhill opinions information out of my ass.

I'd second @vosBghos. Buy a Ropp Algerian Superior. Try it out. I love those Ropp pipes. Is it the briar? The Ropps I've owned have smoked really well, but so have most of my pipes, because I dry my tobacco and don't pack too tight.

 

[PipeIT]

I am acutely aware that there is no Mr Castello. I’m also widely steeped in the history of the company and all things Castello, research is my thing. As to my reference it was not a mistake, simply a a way of encompassing the Castello (Castle) name, one lost on yourself.

Oh no, I feel so stupid now! LOL

I wasn’t even paying attention to who I was actually replying to. I was just reading your comments, and your new avatar threw me off.

I actually thought this was another guy from Tasmania, and I was going to go look for you on the forum, and ask about this reply, to get the Tasmanian Translator in here and ask if this was a friendly Australian reply, or when someone in Australia says; Lost on you down under, a friendly way of telling you off for being stupid. LOL

Now stupid me, realizing who I am replying to, of course I’ve seen all your beautiful Castellos, but I also didn’t know your experience with the history of the pipes.

Ok, you can now toss me to the Tasmanian devils as a snack for them to chew on for forgetting you, darn avatar change! LOL




P.S. You have an amazing collection of Castellos!

 

[bullet08]

I mean, 80 was the best decade by far. But I don't think it applies to briar so much. I remember some talk about African Blackwood becoming scarce. But, way musical instruments are keep being produced, I don't think that's true. Never even knew briar was a thing until I read Peter the Rabbit to my boys

 

[Briarcutter]

That just sounded like a friend recently talked to Mr. Scotti, or was that a mistake?

Decade's ago was the conversation.