Schon DSGN Pocket Six 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. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

If you read my Chicago Pen Show post, you know that this was the last pen I bought, when I was supposed to already be leaving--the pen I just couldn't leave behind, even though it sent me over budget. No regrets. This is an amazing pen.

This is the multi-color version of the Schon DSGN Pocket Six, in a color that was exclusive to the Chicago show. It has one of Schon's "Extragalactic" color patterns, with swirls of orange and black, with silver dots and swipes that look like stars. This colorway looks like Halloween night to me, so it's no wonder I couldn't resist.

The "six" in the name comes from the fact that this wee pen, measuring only 9cm when capped, has a full-size number six nib on it. The metal body feels solid, but not too heavy. The cap unscrews from the grip section and screws onto the back, giving it extra length for comfortable writing. I find it comfortable to write with unposted as well. Every join is very precise and every seam smooth. The cap threads have an o-ring that keeps the nib from drying out or leaking between uses, so this pocket pen really is safe in your pocket. I even had it in my pocket on an airplane with no issues at all.

It's too small to take a converter, but it does take short international cartridges. For my recent Colorado trip, this was my #1 pen. I used it every hour of every day. The EF nib was perfect for taking notes or using on any handy paper, and it fit perfectly into my pocket, purse, or even into the wee clutch bag I carried for the fancy events. And it has been with me ever since, from home to work to fun nights out. It's convenient and practical, and it has gotten me lots of comments when I get it out to write. It may even have sparked a few new pen addicts--there were covetous glints in the eyes of a few writing friends who had never considered using fountain pens before. I've owned this pen for a month and it has already written one short story, four poems, and a bit of novel. I'm not saying it's magical, but I'm not not saying that.

I would expect this pen to cost a lot more than the $165 Ian currently charges for it. It seems rare, these days, to get a pen this nice for under $200. But I'm very glad I did, and I'd do it again. I probably will do it again.

---

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

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

Schon DSGN Pocket Six Faceted Brass Fountain Pen Review

Pen shows are back on the schedule in the US. For how long? Who can really say at this point. I’ve missed attending them, that’s for sure, because the memories made at these events are worth more than any pen or ink or paper that I bring home.

Why do I bring this up at the beginning of this review? Because a pen show is where I first saw the Schon DSGN Pocket Six Faceted Brass Fountain Pen.

I see a lot of pens for the first time at pen shows, so why does this one stick out more than most? Well, have you seen it? That’s what people kept telling me as they were bringing them over to me see at the 2020 Baltimore Pen Show - aka the last pen show I attended in person.

I had just seen Ian at the Philadelphia Pen Show five weeks prior, and even got to tour his workshop as part of a group during that event. The Pocket Six had recently been launched, and I made sure to purchase my second one, with the newly-added Jowo nib compatible grip section.

Fast-forward those handful of weeks to Baltimore, where I had brought Nock Co. to put in some hours behind the table, instead of mixing and mingling, as I did in Philly. Knowing my love for Schon DSGN pens, my “friends” started appearing at my table with their latest purchase that they couldn’t wait to show me. Yes, this very bright, shiny, and beautiful faceted brass Pocket 6. Ian had been very busy since I last saw him!

This pen represented a big change in the Schon DSGN lineup. The pen bodies had always been minimally styled, with the addition of wild anodizing taking the pens up a notch in the recent years. But to modify the base cylinder with a design as complex as these facets? Well, these just jumped off the table when people saw them in Baltimore, and quickly made their way over to me.

I didn’t have the opportunity to grab one at the time, but Ian was kind enough to send me one later to review. If you couldn’t tell by now, I like the pen.

Exterior design aside, the Pocket Six is an excellent pocket-sized fountain pen. As good as any on the market, especially since it is built around a #6 sized nib. I love my #5 nibs, as found in Kaweco Classics and Sports, but using a #6 nib is an upgrade across the board.

Posting is key for pocket pens, and the Pocket Six design handles that with threads on the end of the barrel to attach the cap to. It takes less than two turns to uncap the pen, and then the same amount to post, so it is a relatively fast process.

When posted, it is a perfectly sized writer. That’s what pocket pens do the best. Capped, they can hide away in a pocket or a pouch. Uncapped and posted, the are full-sized writing workhorses.

All of that said, it is the machined faceting that makes the Pocket Six pop. I love the design, and the end result makes for a stunning pen. This design doesn’t come cheap, though, starting at $250 for the faceted model, versus $142 for the standard polished brass.

Is it worth it? It depends on what you feel about the aesthetic. It is a true step up in looks from the base model, but exactly the same from a performance perspective. Regardless of the model you choose, I guarantee you will come away impressed with the work of Ian Schon.

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

---

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

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

Schon DSGN Copper Pocket Six Fountain Pen Giveaway

Plus, a bonus!

Not only has Ian Schon, from his namesake company Schon DSGN, hooked up Pen Addict readers with a Solid Copper Pocket Six Fountain Pen, he went all-out with the upgrades on this model. Included with this full Copper-barrel pen and Medium Steel Nib is the Long Ridge nib section to give it a unique hooded nib look, plus an extra Copper grip section with the Rollerball add-on for fountain pen ink. How cool is that? And how cool is Ian for doing this! Read the rules below and get to entering.

Schon DSGN Copper Pocket Six Fountain Pen Giveaway