Two TWSBI Go pens compared against the TWSBI 580ALR (far left) and the TWSBI Eco (second from right).

So Ugly It's Cute? My Thoughts on the TWSBI Go

September 12, 2018

So TWSBI recently launched a curveball into the market for inexpensive pens, releasing the TWSBI “Go” after what seems like not-a-lot-of-hype, at least compared to past TWSBI product launches. Reaction from the pen blogosphere has been … interesting … to say the least. Some people love it, others have referred to it as the “acid-washed jeans” of the pen world. What’s my personal take? I think it’s a great addition to TWSBI’s lineup, and could cause some upheaval in my recommendations at the $20 price point.

As you can see from the pictures above, the Go is a chunky pen, slightly shorter than the TWSBI 580 and the TWSBI Eco, but with more girth. Without the piston mechanism or any metal trim, the TWSBI Go is also much lighter than either of those pens, making it a comfortable pen for long writing sessions. It’s a longer pen when posted, but the cap hardly weighs anything so it didn’t throw the balance off for me.

The only metal used in the pen is the spring around the plunger.

TWSBI really innovated here with the filling system on the Go. While TWSBI refers to it as a “spring loaded piston filling mechanism,” I’d characterize this pen as a plunger filler. Plunger fillers, of course, are not a new concept, but they are uncommon in less expensive pens. The main selling point with TWSBI’s take on things is ease of filling: TWSBI claims that you just need to press down once, release “and you’re ready to GO!” It is indeed very easy to fill this pen (and presumably to flush it out), making the Go not only an excellent pen for beginners but also a great pen to use for ink testing. [Edit: See the comments below for some discussion of the proper terminology that should be used here. My point is that this pen fills differently from your typical “Piston filler” fountain pen.]

A size comparison with some similar non-TWSBI pens. From left: Faggionato Petrarque; Franklin-Christoph Model 20; TWSBI Go in Sapphire; TWSBI Go in Smoke; and last but not least, another great inexpensive demonstrator pen, the Wing Sung 3010. (Look … — A size comparison with some similar non-TWSBI pens. From left: Faggionato Petrarque; Franklin-Christoph Model 20; TWSBI Go in Sapphire; TWSBI Go in Smoke; and last but not least, another great inexpensive demonstrator pen, the Wing Sung 3010. (Look for a writeup on that last one sometime soon).

And, last but not least, I’m going to talk about the aesthetics of this pen, which have prompted more discussion than the new filling system or the overall quality of the pen itself. The TWSBI Go is not “attractive” in the traditional sense - it’s neither streamlined nor shiny, it’s made entirely of plastic, and the filling system looks like some sort of steampunk Rube Goldberg machine. But somehow the look works for me. It’s fun. Don’t think too hard on it.

There’s no clip, but the cap does have a loop, presumably for a lanyard. Please don’t go there.

I do have some concern about the long-term strength of the plastic. The TWSBI Go has a “snap” cap that isn’t internally reinforced in any way, leading me to wonder whether or not it might be prone to cracking over the long term. That said, given the price point, I’m not going to worry too much about this. The TWSBI Go isn’t intended to be a “last-pen-you’ll-ever-need” product.

The Go looks like it uses the same nib as the TWSBI Vac Mini, but the nibs are friction-fit, not the standard TWSBI interchangeable nib unit. I wonder if anyone has done any experimenting to see what non-TWSBI nibs might be able to fit in the Go?

Takeaways and Where to Buy

If you’re just testing the waters with fountain pens in general, have been looking to try out a non-cartridge/converter fountain pen, or just want something different for a change, there’s not much risk in giving the TWSBI Go a try. The filling system is easy to master, the pen holds a decent amount of ink, and TWSBI offers a lot of quality nib options. I do hope that TWSBI introduces the Go in some different colors - this format presents an opportunity for the brand to step outside their clear/blue/gray demonstrator comfort zone - the “Sapphire” and “Smoke” motifs are getting a little tired as they’ve been launch colors for most of TWSBI’s models.

The TWSBI Go is available for purchase from most TWSBI retailers, and is available in both Sapphire and Smoke versions. While we don’t currently stock the TWSBI Go (we may in the future if the demand is there), the T.G.S. Curated Shop offers a large selection of TWSBI fountain pens and other inks and accessories.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pens featured in this review with my own funds, for my own use.

Pen Review: Faggionato Petrarque and PKS Fountain Pens

September 8, 2018

Faggionato fountain pens have brought a much-needed refresh to to the market over the past year or so, introducing new designs and materials at a time when a lot of the special edition, limited edition, and “custom” pens out there are starting to feel a bit stale (at least to me). French penmaker Fred Faggionato turns all pens by hand from his workshop in the south of France, and it’s been amazing to see the increasingly diverse array of materials and finishes he’s managed to come up with, including some intricate Japanese-style lacquers.

Faggionato Petrarque in translucent Blue Tortoise. Check out how much that blue in the acetate pops!

What initially drew me to Faggionato pens were the materials, particularly the line made from cellulose acetate, a celluloid derivative. According to Papier Plume, “[t]he colors are obtained from plant fibers processed, dyed, then heated and bonded together with solvents to produce colored blanks. The blanks are stored in a specialized chamber for several weeks to dry them and remove the solvents through evaporation. The blanks are then cut, turned, and polished into pens.” This process differs from that used to make traditional, vintage-style celluloid, which takes many months (if not longer) to cure. The shorter manufacturing time presumably allows Faggionato and others to bring more of these pens to the market at a lower price point, which is always welcome since celluloid pens regularly command prices in the $500-$1000 range, with prices going even higher for rare and unique materials.

Faggionato PKS in vintage Conway Stewart acetate

Blue tortoise Petrarque and "Dartmoor" PKS side-by-side. The simply engraved, curved clip is one of my favorite design elements of these pens.

While Faggionato makes a few different styles, most of the pens that make it to the U.S. come in either the Petrarque or PKS (Petrarque King Size) model. The Petrarque is the slightly shorter, slimmer version that posts, while the PKS is a larger pen. Both feature the same simple, streamlined design and Faggionato’s distinctive curved metal clip.

Showing off the clip curve on the Faggionato Petrarque.

At the end of the day, what makes these excellent pens is the writing experience. Both the Petrarque and PKS have cartridge/converter filling systems, and are therefore lightweight and easy to clean/maintain. The section has a slightly concave hourglass shape, with no step-down from the body, making these some of the more comfortable pens that I’ve used for longer writing sessions.

Faggionato pens feature Bock nibs tuned by the manufacturer. The medium gold-plated steel nib on my Petrarque writes a beautiful wet line, but I did have Mike Masuyama grind the titanium nib on my PKS to a .4mm cursive italic to tame the ink flow a bit - the nib wrote far too wet for my personal preference and everyday paper choice. But that’s not a knock on the pen or the manufacturer, just an issue that I typically have with titanium nibs.

Two Bock nibs: the nib on the Petrarque has a simple engraving, the titanium nib on the PKS has none.  I definitely prefer blank or minimally engraved nibs to some of the laser-etching you see on other custom pens at this price point. — Two Bock nibs: the nib on the Petrarque has a simple engraving, the titanium nib on the PKS has none. I definitely prefer blank or minimally engraved nibs to some of the laser-etching you see on other custom pens at this price point.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Faggionato Petrarque and PKS made my mid-year list of favorite products from 2018, and so far, nothing has changed. I love handmade/custom pens that feature unique materials, and in that regard neither of my two Faggionato pen disappoints. If I had to choose between the two, I’d probably prefer the Petrarque simply because it posts and therefore fits into my daily workflow a bit better, but both have been in heavy rotation for most of the year.

Size comparison, from left: Faggionato PKS, Faggionato Petrarque, Diplomat Aero, TWSBI Eco, and Montblanc 146.

I purchased both of my Faggionato fountain pens from Papier Plume. You may recognize the name from my New Orleans travelogues - Papier Plume is a pen shop located on Royal Street in the historic French Quarter. The smaller Petrarque starts at $200 for a stainless steel nib (plain or gold plated), with titanium and 14k gold nib upgrades available. The larger PKS fountain pen also starts at $200, but as noted above, doesn’t post. Faggionato makes both the Petrarque and the PKS not just in the gorgeous acrylics and cellulose acetate pictured here, but also in lacquered versions. As you might expect, urushi-style lacquer commands a premium price. If you’d like a peek at the full line of Faggionato pens, check out the Faggionato website, which also offers hints of things to come!

Disclaimer: I purchased both pens featured in this review with my own funds, for my own collection.

Pen Review: Schon DSGN Classic and Clip Collections

September 5, 2018

Ian Schon of Schon DSGN has carved out quite a niche for himself in the pen and "everyday carry" communities with his line of contemporary pocket pens, and I find it hard to believe that I haven't managed to review one until now. Schon DSGN pens sport a modern and sophisticated design built around the always-dependable Fisher Space Pen cartridge. According to Ian, they're intended to be "a compact, dependable pen that you can easily carry with you every day," and they certainly hit that mark.

On the left, a limited edition "Classic" that I picked up at the 2017 DC Pen Show; on the right is the standard polished aluminum "Clip" version.

I love Schon DSGN pens for their functionality and design precisely tailored to their intended purpose. Like the Fisher Space Pen "bullet" pen, Schon DSGN pens are best suited to what I call "pocket writing" - for example, short notes, lists, drawings, or jottings in your pocket notebooks - as opposed to drafting novels or journaling. That said, I find them comfortable to write with for occasional longer note-taking sessions, and the pens post to a good length.

Schon DSGN incorporates a longer, narrower grip section that gives you plenty of room to avoid the metal threads. I've had no issues with in terms of comfort when writing with this pen.

Schon DSGN's "Classic" lineup is available in aluminum, brass, copper, stainless steel, and titanium. The pens are intended to last a lifetime, with the materials chosen to showcase the oxidation and patina that will accumulate from years of use. All of the pens are manufactured in Massachusetts, USA, where Schon DSGN is located.

For packaging, Ian chose to partner with Write Notepads out of Baltimore. Write Notepads makes excellent perfect-bound pocket notebooks, one of which is packaged with each Schon DSGN pen.

One note of caution before you pocket-carry your Schon DSGN pen - the threads that allow you to post the cap securely are fairly sharp, meaning that they can scratch certain other things in your pocket (like a cell phone screen). While of course you should never carry anything in your pocket with your cell phone, absent-minded people (ahem) sometimes don't think about these things and accidents happen.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I love everything about Schon DSGN pens. They're extremely practical writing instruments perfectly tailored to serve their intended function - pocket writing. Size-wise, the pens are just large enough to remain portable without disappearing forever into the crevices of bags, coats, desks, etc., an issue that I (and others, I presume) have had with the smaller Fisher Space Bullet pens. If you're looking for a smart, durable pocket pen, and especially if you're looking for a "one pen" EDC setup, you won't go wrong with Schon DSGN.

Another shot of my limited edition anodized Classic.

You can purchase Schon DSGN pens directly from their online store, and at select retailers. The polished aluminum pen featured here is from the Clip Collection, which starts at $78.00 for a polished aluminum model (pictured) and also comes available in stainless steel ($108), brass ($138), copper 158), titanium ($188). Clipless versions (the "Classic Collection") are available as well, including some wild anodized aluminum limited-editions ($80) like the navy/gold color combination shown above. Colors on the limited editions change regularly as Ian experiments, and if you run into him at a pen show, you never know what he'll have! Schon DSGN also sells refills directly on their site, as well as a new D1 refill adapter, should you wish to use something other than the Fisher Space Pen refill.

Disclaimer: Schon DSGN sent me this pen for review purposes free of charge.

Pen Review: Opus 88 Picnic and Fantasia Fountain Pens

September 1, 2018

Last month, I had the pleasure of spending the 2018 D.C. Pen Show working behind the Vanness Pens table. One of the surprising things that I learned from helping people try (and buy!) pens is the appeal of Taiwanese brand Opus 88 - I think we sold more Opus 88 pens than any other brand during the show, and the Picnic and Fantasia models were probably the two most popular.

The current Opus 88 model lineup, from left: Transparent Demonstrator, Koloro, Picnic, and Fantasia.

I've previously reviewed the Opus 88 Koloro and larger transparent demonstrator. While those are excellent pens, some people are turned off by the half-ebonite/half-acrylic body on the Koloro, and the larger demonstrator is, well, friggin' huge. The Picnic offers a more traditional cigar shape and is made entirely of acrylic, while the Fantasia sticks to the acrylic and ebonite combination but presents a smaller package. In terms of "technical specs," the Picnic and Fantasia are more or less identical to the rest of the Opus 88 lineup. Both pens feature stainless steel JoWo nibs paired with Opus 88's excellent Japanese-style eyedropper system, which I discussed at length in my prior review. The short version is that you fill the pen as you would a regular eyedropper, but the Japanese-style system incorporates a stopper that closes off the ink reservoir from the nib and feed, which prevents ink "burping" and excessive flow due to temperature and air pressure fluctuations. To open the stopper to write, you turn the blind cap as you would with a piston filler, allowing the ink to flow and saturate the feed. You can then either close it up again - I can get 2 pages or so of writing with a fine nib with the stopper closed - or leave it open for longer writing sessions.

The Fantasia features a different clip than the Picnic and Koloro. I like it - it definitely matches the pen better and seems a bit more refined.

Some additional thoughts and observations on the Opus 88 Picnic:

The pen comes in bright colors, including green, turquoise, and purple, in addition to the more staid brown. The acrylic is thick and high-quality, and I've been pleased with the durability and scratch-resistance.
The Picnic is a good size, and the cigar-shaped body is comfortable in the hand either posted or unposted. While I'd prefer to see a No. 6 nib on a pen of this size, the No. 5 JoWo steel nib writes very well.
Colorverse manufactures a line of ink in partnership with Opus 88, with the ink colors tailored to match various pens in the Opus 88 lineup. For example, Colorverse Supernatural matches the green Picnic, and Colorverse Horizon matches the blue Picnic.

Some people prefer the engraved "Opus 88" logo on the Koloro (right) to the applied logo on the Picnic (left).

Thoughts and Observations on the Opus 88 Fantasia:

Some have described the Fantasia as a pocket pen, but I consider it a bit too large for that designation. While it's shorter than the other Opus 88 models, once you post the cap the Fantasia becomes a full-size pen, and even unposted the barrel has enough girth to be comfortable for short periods of time.
The ebonite blind cap on the Fantasia has a lower profile, and the pen is designed so that you can use the cap to turn it to open and close the eyedropper valve. (It's difficult to explain, see the photos below.) I've never used this trick, and have found that it's easy enough to screw/unscrew the blind cap with my fingers.
The cap and blind cap on the Fantasia are both ebonite, and the body is acrylic. I founded the multicolor banded cap design to be much more understated in person than it can appear in photos online.

The blind cap has a Phillips-head pattern carved into the bottom, and you can use the raised metal ridge in the top of the cap to turn it, if you can't make it comfortably work with your fingers. I've not found it necessary.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Opus 88 pens offer a great combination of unique design, value, and overall quality that has started to differentiate the company from its competitors in the $90-$125 price bracket. While eyedropper fountain pens certainly aren't for everyone, Opus 88's twin o-ring system and included glass eyedropper makes the filling process as clean and easy as it can be.

You can purchase both pens featured here from our sponsor Vanness Pens. The Opus 88 Picnic is priced at $99, while the Fantasia runs slightly higher at $125. As noted above, both pens come packaged with a quality glass eyedropper and instructions.

Disclaimer: Site sponsor Vanness Pens loaned me these pens for review purposes, free of charge.

What Makes Up My Everyday Carry: Bellroy Classic Pouch

August 29, 2018

The Bellroy Classic Pouch is insanely versatile, making it one of the more useful items to come across my desk this year. According to Bellroy, the Classic Pouch is intended to hold "pens, cables, cosmetics, and personal items," which, honestly, sounds a little boring to most people, but, well, those are the things most of us cart around every day, and we pen people and stationery enthusiasts know the true value of a good carry-all.

Of course, since this is a Bellroy product, you need some leather trim! The zipper on this pouch is quite sturdy. It should last a long time.

It's a Bellroy product, so of course it's well made. But what surprised me most about this pouch is the volume of "stuff" that it can hold while still maintaining a relatively compact overall size. The internal layout features one large center compartment, which I use to hold a laptop and iPhone/iPad charger and cables. Note: I have two non day-job laptops, a 15-inch MacBook Pro and a Google Pixelbook. The chargers for both of these computers easily fit inside the Bellroy pouch, but it won't hold larger "brick"-type chargers (like those on the Dell workstations at my office).

The Classic Pouch can easily hold both a laptop charger, tablet and/or phone charger, along with cables.

The center compartment is lined by pockets on each side. One side features a single long pocket, which I use to store pens, maybe a pocket flashlight, and some wired headphones. The other side has two separate pockets, which holds my Airpods, SD cards, document flags (fellow lawyers will know what I'm talking about here), and perhaps some smaller Post-its. The pockets themselves are made from a stretchy material (not quite elastic), which has some give and will allow you to cram these fairly full.

You can fit a lot of gel pens, mechanical pencils, sharpeners, etc. into the side pocket, even longer pens like the Papermate Inkjoy.

And the Bellroy owl logo makes an appearance!

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I've been using the Bellroy Classic Pouch for several months - Bellroy sent it to me for testing along with the Work Folio A5 earlier this year, but requested that I hold off on a review until the product was released. In the meantime, it's become a regular part of my "kit." Though I haven't bought into full-on modular carry "systems" like those from brands such as Peak Design or Tom Bihn, I do switch between different bags a fair bit, so I tend to pack the smaller items I use everyday into a few zippered cases and pouches for easy transfer. I may actually purchase one or more additional Bellroy pouches - they're that handy.

You can order the Bellroy Classic Pouch directly from Bellroy, in both Leather Nubuck ($79) and Soft-woven Polyester ($49) versions. Many thanks to Bellroy for making this review possible!

Disclaimer: Bellroy sent me the pouch featured in this review free of charge, for review purposes.