If you are looking for the best portable fountain pens you need to look no further than Kaweco. They have perfected the format in my mind, combining design, materials, and performance into one beautiful package. Their latest release, the Kaweco Liliput Brass Body Fountain Pen, may be the best of them all.
I've long been a fan of the aluminum AL Sport model. The short barrel with the wide diameter fits my hand well and the metal barrel gives it the heft that is lacking in the plastic barrel Classic Sport. The original aluminum Liliput took portable to a whole new level with its size and weight. It was a feat of engineering but it was so light it was easy to lose track of. The Liliput Brass is an excellent mash up of the AL Sport and original Liliput.
Kaweco offers a smooth brass barrel in the Liliput but also branched out with a new Wave barrel design. I wasn't sure about it from the pictures but now that I have had it in hand for a week or so I am in love with it. The pattern is visually stunning while feeling awesome at the same time. I have a hard time putting it down because it feels so great. The brass construction is a huge improvement on weight from the aluminum model, making it superior in my book. It is an all around great pen.
I chose the EF nib (reviewed here) with my Liliput, but I have a #ProTip for all of you hardcore Kaweco fans. Since their nibs are so easily swappable I sent one of my brood to Shawn Newton for an 0.5 mm cursive italic grind that I stick in whatever Kaweco I have inked up. That is what you will see in the review below, inked up with the newly released Sailor Jentle Four Seasons Miruai. I love being able to have this much flexibility in nib choices.
The Kaweco Liliput Brass Wave has barely left my pocket since its arrival. The section is already getting that great brass patina from frequent use and I imagine it is only going to get better with age. Kind of like me.
(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)