Pen Review: Montblanc M Ultra Black Fountain Pen

September 19, 2018

Once again, I’m a bit late to the party here in reviewing a pen that’s been out for a while - the Montblanc M by Marc Newson, a collaboration between the venerable (and somewhat staid) German brand and the industrial designer, most recently known for his status as a senior member of Apple’s design team. The version featured here is from Montblanc’s “Ultra Black” series, which means matte black resin and ruthenium trim - a combination that’s a personal favorite of mine. (This isn’t the first “Ultra Black” pen I’ve reviewed. You can check out some shots of my 146 Ultra Black here.)

As one would expect from the “Ultra Black” designation, this pen features a ruthenium/rhodium plated, two-toned 14k gold nib, available in fine or medium. The particular pen I’m reviewing here has a fine nib, which writes a relatively wet line with just a touch of tooth. I wouldn’t call it scratchy, just tactile. The textured ruthenium-plated section is comfortable to hold, and the metal ridges offer a nice gripping surface. The balance and overall ergonomics are also nice, though as I’ll discuss further below, you can’t post the cap.

There is a fairly significant step-down from the barrel of the pen to the grip section, which isn’t sharp, but I can still feel it when writing. Note the orange highlight, which adds a pop of color and stands out nicely on the otherwise dark design.

Two aspects of the pen’s design might make this one a no-go for many people. First, the Montblanc “M” Series is a cartridge-only fountain pen. While you may be able to find a shorter converter that fits the barrel, no converter ships with this pen and Montblanc markets this pen as cartridge-only. Second, there is absolutely no ability to post this pen due to the placement of the signature feature, the “plateau” on the back of the barrel emblazoned with the snowflake.

Where Montblanc has excelled, however, is the magnetic cap, which automatically aligns the clip with the “snowflake” logo on the “plateau.” It’s quite accurate, and fun to play with. The platinum-plated clip is different from what Montblanc normally uses on their pens, adds a modern, clean look, and has great tension so that it clips easily to a shirt pocket.

A shot of the split-pronged clip and the two snowflakes. Design-wise, this is certainly a pen that’s grown on me.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Montblanc “M” series draws strong opinions - people tend to love this pen or actively dislike it. I think part of that is the fact that it’s such a departure from Montblanc’s standard line that the pen doesn’t appeal to the “purists” - those drawn to the more traditional Meisterstuck pens and the special and limited editions based off the Classique, 146, and 149 models. On the whole, I like this pen, but it’s probably not one that will end up in my collection in fountain pen form. The step from the body to the section bothers me a little bit, and something about the form factor seems to lend itself more to a ballpoint/rollerball than a fountain pen. For longer writing sessions, I’m not sure that this pen would be my choice, but for short jottings at work with Montblanc’s excellent ballpoint and rollerball refills, I’m still considering picking one up.

Many thanks to site sponsor Appelboom for loaning me the pen featured in this review. The Montblanc “M” series currently retails at $540 for the fountain pen version, or $400 for the ballpoint and rollerball version. Prices listed here are approximations and subject to change due to the EUR/USD exchange rate.

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A size comparison shot, from left: Franklin-Christoph Model 20, Montblanc M Ultra Black Fountain Pen, Montblanc 146 Ultra Black, and Platinum 3776 Oshino Demonstrator.

Testing Out "Tester Pens": What's the Role of the "Cheap" Fountain Pen?

September 15, 2018

You may have noticed that I’ve been trying to reintroduce ink reviews on the site by - well, reviewing more inks. A couple things make this a challenge for me. First, I do use my pens regularly outside of the work I do here on this blog. I have a writing-intensive job with an output that regularly exceeds 20 (typed) pages per day, and the way I work/think involves a lot of longhand note-taking and sketching out ideas before I even start on the computer. These notes are frequently shared among colleagues, and handwritten markups of documents scanned and e-mailed to clients. That’s a long way of saying that whatever ink I use in my daily writers needs to be something that I know is reliable and works well on cheap recycled copy paper, which limits my opportunities to experiment with new inks that I don’t know much about, not to mention properties like sheen and shimmer.

At the same time, I don’t like to write ink reviews based on a swab and a couple lines of writing with a dip pen. That doesn’t give me any sense of how the ink truly “performs,” and whether it’s something I could legitimately recommend for daily use - which is what I try to keep the focus on here. But I also don’t want to ink one of my favorite writers up with an “unknown” ink and just have it sit indefinitely (or stain, clog, melt, etc. if the ink turns out to be not-so-nice). So what to do? Enter the low-cost tester pen.

Earlier this year I discovered Wing Sung demonstrators. These inexpensive Chinese piston fillers were some of the best cheap pens that I’d used to date, and that impression has not changed. Even better, Wing Sung continues to release a steady stream of new models, often sold in packs of four or five pens that gets the price down to a few dollars per unit. This eliminates any risk of testing out “higher maintenance” inks in my nice pens.

Wing Sung 3008 Demonstrators, which I first learned about at this year’s DC Pen Show.

So right now I have a dozen or so Wing Sung demonstrators inked up with an equal number of inks I’m testing, sitting in a cup on my desk at home. Four of them are loaded up with various Colorverse “glistening” inks (Ham, Hayabusa, Brane, and Gluon). The rest contain various Noodler’s permanent and quick-drying inks and some highly saturated Private Reserve Colors. Surprisingly, the extra fine nibs on all of these pens are good writers, and I’ve found myself reaching for them at home quite a bit when I’m working at my desk there. If the inks turn out to be serviceable, I’ll slip one of the tester pens into my pen case and take it to work for the day, giving it a more extended “audition.” If I don’t like it, and it sits so long that it clogs or stains, so what? I’m liking my new system.

So Which Pens Am I Talking About, Exactly?

I’ve purchased all of my Wing Sung pens via Amazon, and the Sellers don’t always make the model number clear, so it can be difficult to know exactly which pen you’re buying. The piston fillers that hold the glistening inks are the Wing Sung 3008, which are sold in packs of four and feature different colored aluminum caps and trim. (I first learned about these because Ana had them at the 2018 DC Pen Show.) The rest of the pens are Wing Sung 3010 and Wing Sung 3001 demonstrators, which are cartridge-converter pens that feature a surprisingly good converter. (So good, in fact, that I’m going to see if this converter fits other pens. It seals really well, and includes a small spring in the barrel which breaks surface tension, ensuring good ink flow.)

So far, I’ve been pleased with all of these pens. Of course, at this price point I don’t expect them to last forever. In particular, the pistons and converters will eventually wear out, or the plastic will crack after repeated capping/uncapping. But in the meantime, enjoy them for what they are: fun demonstrator fountain pens that you can fill up with the craziest of inks, safe in the knowledge that if things don’t work out, at most, you’re out a couple bucks.

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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.