TWSBI Classic Turquoise Fountain Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

I must preface this review by saying that I came into it with the TWSBI jitters. I, like many others, have a TWSBI tragedy in my past, so when I am introduced to a new TWSBI, I always have one question on my lips: Are you going to break my heart? I've got baggage. But it doesn't stop my heart from fluttering at the sight of a snazzy new pen.

The TWSBI Classic isn't new, but it has been slightly redesigned. It now has two O-rings at the end, which are meant to allow the pen to post--which was one of the biggest issues reported by users of the previous design. It's a simple solution--but effective. The pen posts nicely and the cap feels secure. It does feel a little back-heavy to me when posted, but I have small hands. I can't speak, yet, to the longevity of those O-rings--but they should be fairly easy to replace, if needed.

The Classic has also been given some fresh, new colors to choose from--including this fetching turquoise. I love the color. The chrome accents and smooth octagon shape give the whole pen a sweet mid-century vibe. The bottom chrome of the piston knob is etched with "TWSBI Classic" and the finial has the red TWSBI logo. The clip is plain, and a little stiffer than I like, but at least it's sturdy. The center band has no decoration.

The cap unscrews to show metal threads cushioned with another O-ring. Above the threads is a clear, plastic ink window. The grip section and nib unit unscrews from this ink window. The section is turquoise plastic like the body, though that plastic sleeve slides off of the feed and nib unit. It's a narrow grip, but long, and comfortable to hold. The feed itself is the part that screws into the ink window, where the threads are carved into the inside of that clear plastic. This is the achilles heel of the pen. More on that later.

The disassembly of all these pieces makes the pen easy to clean--a very nice feature for a piston-fill pen. A few minutes of rinsing is all it takes, as opposed to the seemingly endless fill-and-purge routine that most piston pens require. The piston assembly itself is designed to be taken apart for maintenance, and the packaging includes the necessary wrench. The packaging also includes a small vial of silicone grease, which you are going to need immediately. More on that later.

The 1.1 stub nib on my pen was really nice right out of the box. It's a #4 Jowo nib (also available in EF, F, M, and B). It's smooth, but with a good bit of feedback. There's no dragging or scratching, and it starts up right away every time. It's just enough stubbiness to add character to my writing without being so bold that I can't use it for everyday tasks. It's not too wet, but doesn't feel dry. I'm very pleased with the nib--and that will keep me writing with this pen despite the issues I've had so far.

The main issue I encountered was that those plastic threads between the ink window and the feed leak. Like, a lot. Fill-the-cap-with-ink leaking. Open-it-over-your-notebook-and-ruin-the-page leaking. I've been able to slow it down by applying silicone grease to those threads--but when you apply it, be careful to only get the grease on the threads of the feed, and not on the part where ink needs to flow through. If grease gets inside the feed, it will likely be ruined. This isn't a huge undertaking as far as pen set-up goes, but there's nothing about the pen itself that indicates that this step should be necessary. And perhaps it won't be necessary on every pen--but I suspect it will on most. The threads are fairly shallow, and it's two different types of plastic coming together. Even with the grease, I'm finding the occasional bead of ink on the section. I don't mind inky fingers--I think they're stylish--but I would never put this pen in a pocket.

There is another foreboding element to the ink window that has me a little bit nervous. There is a visible seam in the plastic that goes right from the lip of the opening all the way through the threads. I can't tell if this is the actual seam from the molding of the plastic, or if it is the start of a hairline crack. It's this kind of plastic threads that have cracked on me before, so be careful to screw the feed in gently to avoid putting extra strain on the threads.

As it stands now, I can't complain--after a little tinkering, the pen works great. It's a good writer. At $52, it's a decent price for a piston-fill pen. It's not my favorite of the TWSBI designs, but it's cute and would be a nice piece for someone who doesn't care for demonstrators. I'm looking forward to continuing to use mine, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this'll be my TWSBI happily ever after.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Kaweco Special Fountain Pen in Brass: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

The Kaweco Special Fountain Pen in brass is indeed special—a definite step up from the usual plastic and aluminum offerings by the company. This pen is made of solid machined brass in the octagonal shape favored by the brand. The words “Kaweco Special FP Germany” are etched on one side.

The pen comes in a Kaweco tin and includes one blue cartridge.

The screw-on cap has a silver finial embedded in the dome-like top. There’s a grooved ring beneath this. These details give the pen a steampunk look that keeps it from being boring.

The bottom of the barrel has threads for posting the cap. However, I found that posting the cap made the pen too unwieldy. It is a nice detail for those who like to post their pens, and threaded posting means the cap will remain secure.

This pen came with a steel EF nib. It writes smoothly with no scratchiness at all, and the ink flows well.

I’ve bought several Kawecos, and all but two had absolutely horrible nibs. So, I was pleased to get one with a great nib.

The grip unscrews to allow access to the cartridge or converter.

There’s also a rubber ring at the base of the threads to insure that the cap seals well so the nib won’t dry out.

Although this pen is brass, it isn’t too heavy (the body weighs 20 grams). That’s because it is so thin. The grip is only 8.2mm wide and 15mm long, so there’s not much room for your fingers. The threads hit right where I normally position my fingers, and that is uncomfortable. I’ve been holding the pen by the barrel rather than the grip, but writing this way feels a bit awkward.

When you first open up the Kaweco Special, it is gloriously shiny, and the facets gleam in the light. But it doesn’t take much handling for the brass to show fingerprints. And, it only took a few days of use for a patina to form. That’s to be expected with a brass pen, and many people like the way brass looks with a patina. If you don’t, plan to polish your pen frequently.

Although I like the octagonal shape and the brass finish on the Kaweco Special, this is not the pen for me. It is much too thin. My hand starts cramping almost immediately, and long writing sessions are painful. Now that I’m in my 50s, I’ve found that I do better with larger pens. But that’s just me. I know many people prefer thinner pens and this is certainly a nice one.

You can purchase the Kaweco Special Fountain Pen from JetPens for $89.50.

Pros

• The Kaweco Special is a gorgeous brass fountain pen with Kaweco’s unique octagonal shape.
• The pen is balanced (unless you post it) and is not too heavy even though it is made of metal.
• The nib on this pen works well, but I’ve found Kaweco nib quality to vary from pen to pen.
• The rubber ring creates an airtight seal between the cap and the barrel when the pen is closed.

Cons

• The Kaweco Special comes with only one blue cartridge, so plan on buying more cartridges or a converter if you buy this pen.
• The pen is way too thin for my comfort, but as I said in the review, many people prefer slender pens.
• The brass doesn’t stay shiny for long, so you’ll either need to love patina or be willing to do a lot of polishing.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Caran d'Ache 849 Fountain Pen Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

If you've been to a pen show, you've no doubt seen the iconic Caran d'Ache ballpoint pens floating around. They have a unique and striking design with a range of subdued to loud colors available. The Caran d'Ache 849 ballpoint pens are a classic, so it's no surprise that there's also a fountain pen version of this beautiful pen.

The Caran d'Ache 849 collection is a minimal fountain pen from Switzerland. The hexagonal body is captivating and simple, and when paired with the beautiful colors, you find yourself taking a second look without realizing it. They're unique, and they're hard to put down because the writing experience is equal to their good looks.

The fountain pen versions are available in EF, F, and M nib sizes, and the EF model that I have is a fantastic example of the lineup. Even though it's a small nib, it's smooth and produces a very crisp line. I wasn't sure what to expect given the price range, but I was definitely impressed upon first using the pen. The ~$50 range of pens can sometimes be challenging when it comes to big brands, but the Caran d'Ache does an excellent job with this model. The nib is plain and simple, but it does its job well. It would appear that all the design and aesthetics went into the body on this one. The grip section is undeniably cheap, slim plastic, but it feels great in the hand when writing. In this way, it's very similar to the Retro 51 fountain pens, but I prefer the feel of this plastic grip section over the Retro 51 models.

The pen accepts international short cartridges, but will also accept a converter. I chose to use a blood orange ink in this pen, and I think the red on white combination is stellar. The ink flow is fantastic, even though it's a small nib. I haven't had issues with skipping, spitting, or hard starts with this pen, and it can last about two weeks in storage without having any issues starting again. Despite being small and plain, this steel nib is a great performer.

The body, which is a simple hexagonal shape, is simultaneously angular and soft. Given the light weight, it gives the pen a more airy feel than I imagine a heavier steel version of this pen would have. The cap connects crisply to the pen and stays put securely. You can post the cap, but it makes the pen a bit long and it's also a tiny bit wobbly. I don't post this pen when I'm using it, but I rarely post anyway.

The clip isn't super strong, but it gets the job done. It's also easy to remove if you prefer the clean look, but I prefer the look of the clip against the body. Apart from the Caran d'Ache name, a small "849" stamp, and an equally small "SWISS MADE" stamp on the cap, there is not branding on the pen. The top finial has a Caran d'Ache logo, but no words. The same logo is found on the nib along with the nib size indicator. Despite the minimal branding, this pen is instantly recognizable.

The length of the 849 is very similar to a Lamy Safari, but the diameter of the pen is similar to the body of a Kaweco Sport (not the cap). It's slim, but still comfortable to use due to the length.

When it comes to picking and using a pen, it all comes down to how well it writes and how it makes you feel. For me, I'm delighted by the aesthetic of the pen and then equally pleased by the writing experience. It's a great match that can sometimes be difficult to find. If you like the look of this pen, I'm sure you'll also love how it writes.

There are several colors available, along with EF, F, and M nib options. They retail for about $65, but you can usually find them for $10 cheaper.

(Goldspot provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!