Luigi “Gigi” Radice founded Radice Pipes in 1980 after a storied career at Castello and cofounding Caminetto in 1968. Radice has been a cornerstone for craftsmanship in pipe making ever since. Joined by his sons Gianluca and Marzio in Cucciano, Italy, they produce between 1,200 and 1,500 pipes per year. Luigi pioneered many classic Italian pipe shapes. Innovative designs, new rustication techniques, carving styles, and oil curing helped to place the brand where it is today. Many of Radice shapes end up smooth, but they also produce beautiful sandblasts (Silk Cut), shallow-rusticated pieces (Rind), and more ruggedly-carved pipes that can sometimes be accented with briar, horn, or silver with acrylic mouthpieces.