I will not pretend to know exactly how to date this stunning pipe, because this is actually the first Castello I have ever worked on. From what I have gathered, though, it has to be a pre-1987 pipe.

What caught me off guard was the lack of a size stamp, which I learned is actually not that uncommon on huge freehand shapes like this one.

This Castello is special through and through… In addition to the flawless briar and stunning grain, we get a very pronounced ring grain relief and a gorgeous wavy rim.

Gone are the days when I would restore a pipe, smoke it and then restore it again for sale, just so I could gather as much experience with as many different pipes as possible… but I just had to smoke this one.

And I can confirm what most people say — Castellos are some of the best-smoking pipes out there.

The only reason I am not keeping it is the huge size. I have been getting some pretty big personal pipes lately, but I think I already have too many, so this beauty will be going to one of you.

The pipes go through one final check before shipping, so if you notice any inconsistencies in the carnauba finish or smudges they will be taken care of before your pipe is shipped to you.