Acorti, most underappreciated of the high end pipe makers?

[eklektos44]

I was wondering what people thought of Ascorti pipes? (Or modern production Caminetto's for that matter, as they are Ascorti's). I happen to love them as they were one of the first high end pipes I smoked, so there's the nostalgia factor. I see their Business pipes going for essentially a song on eBay all the time. I wonder if some of the lack of enthusiasm has to do with the fact that they're distributed in the US by the tinderbox chain?

 

[GatorNavy]

I have no idea why they go for so cheap. But it makes me happy because I canbuy a top rate smoker for a song. I own 4 or 5 and they are great smokers.

 

[monbla256]

I was wondering what people thought of Ascorti pipes? (Or modern production Caminetto's for that matter, as they are Ascorti's). I happen to love them as they were one of the first high end pipes I smoked, so there's the nostalgia factor. I see their Business pipes going for essentially a song on eBay all the time. I wonder if some of the lack of enthusiasm has to do with the fact that they're distributed in the US by the tinderbox chain?

Sounds like you've found a pipe maker that WORKS for you so be happy that they are not one of the current "IN" pipes !! SLEEPERS are always great to find as they usually allow one to have more of !! :twisted: You smoke for yourself, right? Does it really matter what others think of what you smoke ? :twisted: :twisted: Buy 'em by the dozen and smoke , smoke, smoke :cheers: :cheers:

 

[joshoowah]

Being a huge Caminetto fan (I owned over 40 at one point) and their "Business" style, I hate what Ascorti has done with the finish. I find their "Business" finish to be basic rustication, when it should be unique as it once was. Their pipes brand new are overpriced for what they are as well. Be content to find them cheap on eBay and enjoy them. I respect the name Ascorti because of Pepino (Roberto's father) and what he meant for Caminetto, but I prefer Radice (the other half of Caminetto) to Ascorti these days.

As said though, if they work for you and you love them, that is great!

 

[eklektos44]

Oh, I'm quite happy that they are inexpensive. In fact, they suck! you should never, ever bid on one.

 

[eklektos44]

monbla256 wrote

:twisted:   You smoke for yourself, right? Does it really matter what others think of what you smoke ? :twisted: :twisted:  

Not really concern with that, just asked whether people thought they were underrated.

 

[monbla256]

monbla256 wrote

:twisted:   You smoke for yourself, right? Does it really matter what others think of what you smoke ? :twisted: :twisted:  

Not really concern with that, just asked whether people thought they were underrated.

 

Wait awhile and they will become one of "the" brands to have and prices will rise!! I've watched it go this way with ALL brands over the years I've smoked. Back in the early '70s, in this area, Charatan's and GBD's were big and you could get BBB's for a lot less than any of these and they were EQUAL to both marques !! It's the "fashion" aspect of pipe smoking !! :twisted: :twisted: If they are a pipe marque you like, buy 'em while their cheap !! :cheers: :cheers:

 

[eklektos44]

monbla said:
 

Wait awhile and they will become one of "the" brands to have and prices will rise!! I've watched it go this way with ALL brands over the years I've smoked. Back in the early '70s, in this area, Charatan's and GBD's were big and you could get BBB's for a lot less than any of these and they were EQUAL to both marques !! It's the "fashion" aspect of pipe smoking !! :twisted: :twisted: If they are a pipe marque you like, buy 'em while their cheap !! :cheers: :cheers:

Works for me. I'm more into traditional shapes which are out of vogue now. Everything seems to be going short and squat. They are some beautiful pipes, but I'm a large person, so they don't work for me.

 

[Zeno Marx]

I like the older Ascortis (pre-90s). Don't have much interest in the newer ones. I don't care for the smoother rustication that looks like it takes a lot less time to work. Same for Caminetto. I've owned several fantastic Ascorti smokers. Have to say that I prefer Radice as a whole, if you're considering the brand outside of eras and changes.

 

[lb]

I prefer the gold A logo pipes. Their sandblasts and rustications were as good as old caminetto"s , so their smoking quality. I notice a difference with the white A logo in most (not all) pipes. In my collection , after having owned several of both , i only keep one with gold logo....and i love that pipe.

 

[eklektos44]

Ok, I've amassed a fair few Ascorti's now. New, estate, gold logo, white logo. And all of them smoke great. I just don't see any difference between the older ones and the new ones. There may be some aesthetic differences, but as far as the quality of the pipes I just don't see any difference. I had a couple of old Caminetto's that got lost in the move and they smoked pretty much the same as the Ascorti's I had. That's just my humble opinion.

 

[RDPipes]

I'm not crazy at all for the New Ascorti's or New Caminettos, most are just ghastly look'en or plain Jane to me, lacking style and grace like the earlier ones. Radice has better designs as far as I'm concerned but, that's just my opinion and I'm nobody of interest............except to the Feds maybe.

 

[joshoowah]

I'm not crazy at all for the New Ascorti's or New Caminettos, most are just ghastly look'en or plain Jane to me, lacking style and grace like the earlier ones. Radice has better designs as far as I'm concerned but, that's just my opinion and I'm nobody of interest............except to the Feds maybe.

+1

I don't get it really. Pre-90s Caminettos are akin to the older ones, but after that they are, indeed, ghastly. I don't understand their or Ascorti's price tags either. Radice has a much more appealing style, IMHO. Our loss, though, is your gain, eklektos.

 

[eklektos44]

Sorry Ron, I don't see it. Perhaps the limited styles you can get through Tinderbox, but Radice "Wax Drip" and Ascorti "New Dear" are virtually the same pipe. Radice "Rind" and Ascorti "Business" same story. They all come from the same town, use the same briar, same techniques, ect. We'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[eklektos44]

I'm not crazy at all for the New Ascorti's or New Caminettos, most are just ghastly look'en or plain Jane to me, lacking style and grace like the earlier ones. Radice has better designs as far as I'm concerned but, that's just my opinion and I'm nobody of interest............except to the Feds maybe.

+1

I don't get it really. Pre-90s Caminettos are akin to the older ones, but after that they are, indeed, ghastly. I don't understand their or Ascorti's price tags either. Radice has a much more appealing style, IMHO. Our loss, though, is your gain, eklektos.

Radice's ain't no less expensive than Ascorti, or the new Caminetto's, they in fact are often more expensive.

 

[joshoowah]

I'm not crazy at all for the New Ascorti's or New Caminettos, most are just ghastly look'en or plain Jane to me, lacking style and grace like the earlier ones. Radice has better designs as far as I'm concerned but, that's just my opinion and I'm nobody of interest............except to the Feds maybe.

+1

I don't get it really. Pre-90s Caminettos are akin to the older ones, but after that they are, indeed, ghastly. I don't understand their or Ascorti's price tags either. Radice has a much more appealing style, IMHO. Our loss, though, is your gain, eklektos.

Radice's ain't no less expensive than Ascorti, or the new Caminetto's, they in fact are often more expensive.

Their aesthetics and quality match their price point. Again, that is my opinion. The newer Caminettos and Ascortis are not worth much more than $100, again my opinion, though my opinion on Caminetto is probably better than most, having owned dozens upon dozens of old and new Caminettos.

 

[eklektos44]

The older Caminetto's business finish was certainly more "primitive" owing to the fact that the they weren't sanded to smooth them out after rustication. The older Caminetto that came up for auction that I posted a picture of recently being an example, though that was a New Dear. But Radice isn't doing that now either, as tastes have changed. The NUS I just got has great lines and there's not a flaw in the finish of that pipe. And they seem to sell just fine in Europe. I'm sorry, I don't find the argument compelling. So we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[joshoowah]

The older Caminetto's business finish was certainly more "primitive" owing to the fact that the they weren't sanded to smooth them out after rustication. The older Caminetto that came up for auction that I posted a picture of recently being an example, though that was a New Dear. But Radice isn't doing that now either, as tastes have changed. The NUS I just got has great lines and there's not a flaw in the finish of that pipe. And they seem to sell just fine in Europe. I'm sorry, I don't find the argument compelling. So we'll have to agree to disagree.

It's not just the business finish. The best series I ever saw from Ascorti was the Peppino series, though they sold at an affordable $140-150. That is about where Ascortis should be priced. You've been buying estate mostly lately, which means you've gotten good deals, but brand new there are better choices at the price point. Caminettos are priced worse than Ascortis (go check their prices on SP). I think the reason Radice has done better than Ascorti and Caminetto since the split is because of his ingenuity and unique style. He evolved very well.

I'm not trying to convince you of anything. You're an Ascorti fan, and that is fine. I am merely saying that there are better pipes at his price point brand new. Estate is another thing entirely. Better Italian representations, however, are Radice, Ardor, Becker, Don Carlos, Cavicchi, and even Il Duca.

There is one Ascorti I have on my list of wants, but I won't pay $350 for it because I rarely buy pipes and if I can spend that much I'm going for an artisan.

Keep scoring though. I encourage it!

 

[eklektos44]

The older Caminetto's business finish was certainly more "primitive" owing to the fact that the they weren't sanded to smooth them out after rustication. The older Caminetto that came up for auction that I posted a picture of recently being an example, though that was a New Dear. But Radice isn't doing that now either, as tastes have changed. The NUS I just got has great lines and there's not a flaw in the finish of that pipe. And they seem to sell just fine in Europe. I'm sorry, I don't find the argument compelling. So we'll have to agree to disagree.

It's not just the business finish. The best series I ever saw from Ascorti was the Peppino series, though they sold at an affordable $140-150. That is about where Ascortis should be priced. You've been buying estate mostly lately, which means you've gotten good deals, but brand new there are better choices at the price point. Caminettos are priced worse than Ascortis (go check their prices on SP). I think the reason Radice has done better than Ascorti and Caminetto since the split is because of his ingenuity and unique style. He evolved very well.

I'm not trying to convince you of anything. You're an Ascorti fan, and that is fine. I am merely saying that there are better pipes at his price point brand new. Estate is another thing entirely. Better Italian representations, however, are Radice, Ardor,  Becker, Don Carlos, Cavicchi, and even Il Duca.  

There is one Ascorti I have on my list of wants, but I won't pay $350 for it because I rarely buy pipes and if I can spend that much I'm going for an artisan.

Keep scoring though.  I encourage it!

I like Radice, and have been looking at a couple. As to the price what they cost in the 80's is hardly relevant. I rarely pay over $150 for any pipe. New or estate. Which is why I don't buy artisan pipes. But Ascorti's are hand made high quality pipes. And for $100 you get a lacquered Chacom or something similar new. (Not that there's anything wrong with them, I have two and they both smoke just fine.) So the idea one is going to buy a hand made pipe for $100 is to me..ludicrous. The Caminetto's I've seen are in about the $200-$300 dollar range for the smooths, which is about the same as the Ascorti's. $100-$200 for the rough finishes. That's pretty much on par with the Radice. I've also been looking at the Pipa Croci's. Although some interesting Randy Wiley's have come up also. BTW, I now own more Ascorti's than I ever have.

Addenum: You can get them directly from Italy new from Al Pascia. You'll see the prices are comparable. SP is to me isn't representative. In Europe the price points are about the same.

 

[tslots]

My questions seeks to further quantify the original question ...

What is a "high end pipe maker"?
What is a "low end pipe maker"?  
Are there any other levels?  
(eg: couldn't give it away on eBay end, very low end, ultra high end, super ultra high end, uber alles)

Where does Cart fall on this scale?