TWSBI Kai Fountain Pen Resting Atop William Hannah A5 Notebook

Pen Review: TWSBI Kai Limited Edition Fountain Pen

November 15, 2023

TWSBI rarely adds new pens to their lineup, with the last completely new shape being the TWSBI Swipe. While some might view the recently released TWSBI Kai as a “new addition”, that’s not entirely true: TWSBI previously released limited runs of similar acrylic piston fillers, spaced approximately 2-3 years apart. The first, the TWSBI “Aurora”, was a green pen in short supply, while the second, the TWSBI “Draco”, received a broader release and more people were able to get their hands on them. The Kai seems to be more widely available, though TWSBI continues to describe it as a limited release. That’s not unusual - most TWSBI editions such as the special edition ECO and Diamond 580 fountain pens are made for a period of time and then retired, but the standard (i.e., clear acrylic, black/white, rose gold) versions remain available. What is unusual is the absence of this otherwise unnamed acrylic piston filler from the regular lineup. It’s solely a limited edition pen.

TWSBI Kai Cap Resting Atop the Barrel Showcasing the Finial — The TWSBI logo is subtly engraved on the finial, as opposed to the inlaid red plastic logo.

I Would Love to See More Regular Higher-End TWSBI Fountain Pens

I’ve really enjoyed working with the TWSBI Kai for the past couple of weeks. Having missed out on the Draco, I made sure to reserve a Kai for myself as part of my larger order for the shop. The pen has not disappointed - the Kai both looks great and serves as a comfortable workhorse with a shape somewhat reminiscent of the Aurora Optima. The Kai shares the same streamlined flat-top profile - an all-time favorite - though the Kai does not post as deeply as the Optima. Fortunately, like most TWSBI piston fillers, it’s also lightweight and well-balanced even unposted.

No surprises here. The Kai uses the same nib as the Diamond 580, which offers the same reliable writing experience I’ve come to expect.

There’s nothing particularly remarkable or unexpected about the writing experience itself - the Kai is classic TWSBI, and uses the same reliable nib as found in the Diamond 580 series. (The Kai doesn’t use the interchangeable nib units, however, as the nib is friction-fit.) What does make this pen stand out, however, are the visuals. I’ve always admired this series of TWSBI releases, and remain puzzled by their irregularity. The Kai is a beautiful pen, featuring a deep indigo blue-flecked acrylic trimmed in rose gold, which TWSBI always does extremely well. The material has a lot of depth, and I’d venture that the pen looks more expensive than its price point would suggest.

TWSBI Kai EF Writing Sample with Diamine Earl Grey Ink — As a more general matter, I’ve noticed that TWSBI’s nib consistency has improved in recent years, and that there is more delineation between the sizes. This EF nib actually writes an extra-fine line. Not a fine (or even a medium like some I’ve used in the past), but a true extra-fine.

A few design touches distinguish the Kai from other TWSBIs. First, there’s no red anywhere on the pen. Most TWSBI models feature the signature red TWSBI finial on the cap, yet the logo on the Kai is engraved. I go back and forth on whether I would prefer the Kai with a pop of red, but at the end of the day feel that TWSBI made the right choice by not adding additional plastic to a higher-end offering.

Second, the barrel and inner cap feature metal rose-gold threads, which work smoothly without any grating noise or excess friction. The pen uncaps in two turns, allowing for quick deployment, and the threads sit high enough on the barrel (behind the ink window) that they don’t interfere with my grip. If I had one critique of the design, it would be the posting issue I mentioned above. Flat-top pens such as this one - including favorites like the Aurora Optima and Sailor Pro Gear - seem especially suited for posting. Could TWSBI have slimmed down the barrel just a bit more? Perhaps, but apart from the Diamond Mini and Vac Mini, TWSBI has never designed pens that post well, and the fact that the Kai is no exception doesn’t surprise me. (Note: As shown above, like most TWSBIs, the Kai does technically post, just not deeply, and I find it uncomfortably long and awkward to use this way.)

TWSBI Kai Ink Window and Rose Gold Threads — The metal threads just work here. I find the pop of rose gold on the barrel visually interesting.

So Where Exactly Does the Kai Fit into TWSBI’s Lineup?

I would organize the current TWSBI fountain pen lineup as follows:

Entry Level Pens: TWSBI Go ($18.99); Swipe ($26.99); and TWSBI ECO and ECO-T “Standard” ($32.99)
Mid-Range: TWSBI ECO and ECO-T “Special Trim” editions ($49.99 - $70), TWSBI Diamond 580 and Diamond Mini “Standard” ($50-$65); Vac Mini ($60); Vac700R ($65)
Upper Mid-Range: TWSBI Diamond 580 Rose Gold Editions ($80-$85); Vac700R Iris ($80); Precision ($80)
“High End”: TWSBI Kai, Aurora, and Draco Special Editions ($130 - the Draco and Aurora were actually priced higher at $150(?))

As you can see, that’s a pretty compressed range in terms of price point, with even the “high-end” TWSBI pens not breaking the bank. TWSBI is known for never having targeted the gold-nib market or the “luxury” price point, hence their fairly dominant market position in the sub-$100 fountain pen segment. I would like to see the Kai, or some version thereof, become a permanent offering. Even if there’s no standard version, having one special or limited pen always available would round out TWSBI’s lineup and expand their appeal beyond those who enjoy the demonstrators.

TWSBI Collection Group Photo. Can you Spot the TWSBI Kai? — One of these things is not like the others.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’m enjoying the TWSBI Kai, and I’m glad I picked one up to compensate for missing out on the Draco (though I’d love to see them bring back that burgundy and black combination). While the Kai is a bit more expensive than other TWSBI piston-fillers, the price is consistent with higher-end pens from brands like Opus 88 and Nahvalur, and maybe even a little lower. It would be great to be able to recommend the Kai as a workhorse fountain pen to those seeking a slightly more traditional design than the Diamond 580 or Vac700R. There’s certainly demand - the Kai has sold well, and I’ve seen Dracos selling on the secondary market for hundreds of dollars!

TWSBI Kai Fountain Pen Next to William Hannah — The Kai is a classy pen that wouldn’t look out of place next to pens twice the price.

As TWSBI retailers, we carry the TWSBI Kai in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and have a selection of these pens currently in stock. It’s unclear when the next run will be made available after these sell out, though I seem to recall that the Draco stuck around for six months or so. The Kai is priced at $130.00, which is the top of the TWSBI range, though in line with the price point of many other similarly-styled resin piston fillers.

New Arrivals: 30+ Different Varieties of Anterique Pens, Plus Anterique "High-Lighters"!

November 14, 2023

Anterique Stationers has taken the classic vintage-style click pen and improved upon it vastly, adding a .5mm “Mach Ball” refill that in my opinion rivals the Uniball Jetstream in terms of reliability, smoothness, and smear resistance. After a trial with the core colors, we recently added to our stock and now offer 30+ different varieties of this pen, including new white + clear demonstrator models. The Brass Ballpoints (shown above) have also been fully restocked, including in two new colors.

Anterique Stationers Ballpoints Shown in White + Clear Demonstrator Colorway, arrayed on table

We’ve also brought in Anterique’s whimsical highlighters (or “High-Lighters”), which are standard chisel-tipped highlighter markers but take on the appearance of vintage paint tubes.

Anterique Stationers High-Lighter Markers, all five colors arrayed on a table

The updated T.G.S. Annual Holiday Gift Guide with be forthcoming later this week, and I expect Anterique Stationers to feature prominently. These pens are excellent gift ideas for people on your list who may appreciate a good pen but not necessarily something far outside their comfort zone. The design is immediately familiar to pretty much anyone, as is the upgrade in quality!

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including Anterique Stationers Products.

Sunday Reading for November 12, 2023

November 12, 2023

How Pens Leave and Enter the Gathering (via A Gathering of Curiosities). How do you manage the number of pens in your collection, if at all? Do you adopt a “one-in, one-out?” philosophy? How do you choose which pens stay and which pens go?
Fountain Pen Day 2023: An Interview with Mr. FPD (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I’ve been in the hobby long enough to recall when Fountain Pen Day first started. I enjoyed reading this interview with my friend Cary Yeager, who started the whole thing!
Fountain Pen Day Project: Starting My Ink Swatch Library (via Cheryl Lindo Jones). Another Fountain Pen Day has come and gone. Did you have any special pen-related projects that you tackled last week?
Tokyo Pen Show Haul (via Inky Rocks). Ok, so I’ve been watching TIPS videos for the past week and have now decided that I’m going to do anything and everything in my power to get there next year.
Pen Upgrade: Pilot 912 with Custom Nib Studio Spencerian Nib (and Flexible Nib Factory Feed) (via Well-Appointed Desk). If you are looking for a soft flexible nib and are willing to invest in customization, I cannot recommend Gena enough for this grind.
This Is All of It (via Line Variation). I really do need to photograph my own collection, even if just for informational/inventory purposes.
Summoning All of the Grinds. Well, Five of Them (via mnmlscholar). There are many ways to choose a “currently inked rotation.” Some people go by color, others by size and shape, and as here, a nice selection of different nib grinds.
Monteverde Jungle Chameleon (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist). Whoa, this very dark purple really jumped out at me!
Flushing New Fountain Pens (via Dapprman). This post points out an important thing to remember with any new pen - if you have flow or skipping issues with a new arrival, be sure to rinse it out and re-ink first because the problem could simply be manufacturing residue or dried ink from quality control testing.
Ink of the Week: Scribo Grigio (via Fountain Pen Love). Or, as I like to describe it, “Best Ink of All Time?” Seriously, it may come to that, as I have three pens inked with it right now.
Pelikan M200 Pastel Blue (via Mountain of Ink). A nice review with photos of the latest Pelikan M200 release, which is a pastel blue color paired with ivory. I tend to prefer Pelikan’s transparent demonstrators in this line but variety is good!

In Case You Missed It….

This week on the blog I reviewed a pen that I picked up at this year’s Dallas Pen Show: a Nagasawa Stationery exclusive 1911L dubbed the Kobe Affection Kyomachi Legend Blue! I also wrote a piece outlining my plans for the remainder of 2023 and 2024 in terms of my notebook and planner setup, as well as some additional insight into how I manage my workflow using analog tools.

Finally, be sure to keep an eye on the T.G.S. YouTube Channel! Yesterday I hit publish on a companion video to my recent review of the Santini Italia Libra fountain pen, and I have another such video in the works on the Sailor 1911L Kyomachi Legend Blue. Video content on these two pens offer me the ability to provide some additional context when discussing size, writing samples, etc. You can expect more of this type of content when I review stuff going forward.

Anterique Brass Ballpoints arrayed on leather book, with all of the colors — We are now fully restocked on the Anterique Brass Ballpoints, including two new colors! (Keep in mind that the top portions are interchangeable with the standard Anterique Pens, allowing you to mix and match to create pretty much any brass + color combination you like.)

Curated Shop Arrivals: New Lamys, Caran d’Ache Special Editions, and Anterique Brass!

The past few days have been huge for the Curated Shop, as we’re listing new arrivals prior to the holidays. The rest of the Caran d’Ache Keith Haring special editions arrived, including the Keith Haring 849 Ballpoints in two different designs, along with Anterique Brass Ballpoints in two new colors.

On the heels of our Kaweco expansion, we’ve also decided to offer additional pens from Lamy, including one of my favorite sub-$200 14k nib options: the Lamy Studio. Be sure to check out all of the new shop arrivals for the remainder of the month as we have more on the way.

Anterique

Lamy

Caran d'Ache

Roterfaden

How to Support TGS!

If you enjoy our content (whether on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), there are several ways that you can support us. We do our best to remain 100% self-supported without having to rely on third-party advertisers or affiliates. Of course, the number one way to help is to visit our curated retail shop, especially during the upcoming holiday season! If you enjoy in-person and virtual meetups and having access to more personal content, consider joining the T.G.S. Patreon, which also includes early access to quarterly gently used sales. Patreon support starts as low as $3 per month, and if you pay annually there is a further discount. No matter how you support us - even if just with a comment, recommendation, or encouraging word - we greatly appreciate your readership!

Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter A5 side-by-side with a William Hannah A5

Notebook and Planner Choices: Thinking on 2024

November 11, 2023

If you’ve noticed a more active T.G.S. over the past month, your eyes do not deceive you: I’m now working here about half-time, in addition to a day job. But that commitment comes with a healthy dose of reality - namely, how to successfully manage different projects that both require time and attention to detail, yet which are very different in terms of both hours and the substantive work involved.

Minimizing Context-Shifting by using Separate Notebooks for Different Projects

Though I may write mostly about pens and ink, paper has always been the focus of my stationery obsession, namely notebooks and organizers and how best to use them. People often ask how I work on multiple unrelated projects at once, but the truth is that I’ve been doing this my whole life. I have divergent interests, and while I sometimes have to “thin the herd” by shelving projects and hobbies that I can’t do justice, over the years I’ve cultivated an analog-focused system that (mostly) maintains my sanity. The trick has been to compartmentalize where I can, and avoid having to switch back-and-forth between unrelated matters, which I find draining.

Hobonichi Yamazakura and Roterfaden A6 Side-by-Side — I picked up one of the A6 Hobonichi Yamazakura notebooks at the Dallas Pen Show just because I loved the cover design, which got me thinking about how much I missed using the Hobonichi products (particularly the daily quotes) and how I might incorporate them going forward without really changing my setup.

The big question from my personal organizational standpoint has always been this: Do I keep one notebook or planner with multiple sections for different projects, or multiple notebooks with each one dedicated to a single project? While I’ve experimented with both methods over the years, I prefer the latter approach because a dedicated notebook locks in my focus on that particular project and allows me to maintain my concentration. (I do keep a central “Planner” that I use to organize my time across projects and track what I work on each day. This is the only daily notebook that deals with multiple subject matters.) Each of the “projects” that I’m working on has their own binder, typically a Plotter or William Hannah notebook that lets me add individual pages, which can then be organized and subdivided into sections as necessary.

Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter containing Hobonichi Cousin — I’ve had a couple questions about whether or not the Hobonichi Cousins “fit” the Roterfadens. I’ve personally used this Roterfaden pictured here with Hobonichi and similarly-sized notebooks like the Nanami Seven Seas for years, but it can be a tight fit given how thick the Hobonichis are. If you want to ensure extra coverage for your notebook, consider one of the recycled leather versions (LB23 or LB15). For the cousin, I’d suggest the SO20, which is a thinner A5 leather cover without an elastic, and it seems to be cut slightly larger than standard A5 and can accommodate the extra thickness.

My Tentative Notebook Setup for the Remainder of 2023 and For the next year

Keeping in mind that this remains a work in progress, here’s my preliminary setup:

Working Journal/Time Block Planner. One technique that’s helped me avoid a sense of overwhelm is “time blocking”: managing my time in dedicated larger blocks as opposed to working off a mixed to-do list and jumping back and forth between projects throughout the day. My ideal setup would be to assign entire days to specific projects - made easier by the fact that TGS now has its own office space - but I’ll settle for a system where I can at least block out hours of time for uninterrupted focus, and my new work arrangement better allows for that. Time management techniques are somewhat beyond the scope of this blog, but if you’re interested in reading further (or testing it out yourself), the Time Block Planner 2.0 by Cal Newport offers a good introduction to this concept. I don’t plan on buying another Time Block Planner once this one runs out, however: I want to customize my layout and plan to use the Hobonichi Cousin as a substitute. (Note: the Time Block Planner 2.0 with the spiral binding uses thicker paper that works with fountain pens.)
Project-Specific Binders. Plotter and William Hannah. I use these ringed notebooks as “binders” to organize notes on the projects that I’m actively working. These binders tend to live on my desk where I can access them when I’m working on the specific project to which the notebook is dedicated. The one exception is the William Hannah, which serves as my “law notebook” and goes with me everywhere since the realities of legal practice requires that I have quick access to my case notes. My A5 Plotter houses T.G.S., and the Bible-Sized Plotter contains notes from a creative writing project I’ve been pursuing for several years and which I’ve decided to finish.
Personal Journal. Hobonichi Techo A6. I felt the most “put together” when I consistently took 20 minutes at the end of each day to reflect in my Hobonichi. The A6 page is small enough not to feel intimidating, and you can always write larger to fill it up a page with fewer lines if time runs short or you’re simply exhausted. I don’t plan on using a Hobonichi Cover. Rather, I’m going to choose a Roterfaden in the A6 size. The leather and recycled-leather Taschenbegleiters are just big enough to fit a standard Hobonichi A6, though you may be limited to just the Hobonichi or the Hobonichi + a slimmer second notebook. (I plan to carry just the Hobonichi in the cover and use the multiple clips to mark off different sections of the Planner.)

This proposed setup isn’t all that different from my current rotation, just more streamlined, which suggests that after a decade of experimentation I’m finally settling into a long-term system that works for me. If you were to ask me what notebooks I envision having in my bag at any given time, I would say it will be (1) the Hobonichi Cousin and a Plotter Notepad in my A5 Roterfaden; and (2) the William Hannah, which are pictured at top. The Plotter A5 will live on my TGS office desk, and the Plotter Bible in my home office with my personal journal. Again, the goal is to stay organized and focused by having separation between the (very) different worlds in which I spend my time, while still preserving flexibility where necessary.

Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Stacked Notebooks in front of Joe's Bookcase — Though you can (and should) take my opinion with a grain of salt since T.G.S. is a Roterfaden retailer, I’ve used the Taschenbegleiter Organizers for years, and love their versatility as dedicated binders that can be used to organize specific projects, or simply as portfolios to hold papers and writing pads.

While these are the notebooks that I plan to use most often, I do keep a multitude of others in rotation, including an A4 Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter with larger format paper for longhand drafting; my Midori 5-Year Diary that I irregularly update as a 30,000-foot record of my life, and a Standard Traveler’s Notebook that’s both my periodic travel journal and pen club notebook. For those who will ask, I do use my Plotter Mini-5 as my wallet, and it’s also an excellent “capture” notebook for when I simply want to go out with a notebook in my pocket and not lug around a bag. That said, none of these are mission-critical to my workflow, and I don’t allow myself to get stressed if I’m not using them regularly because they have specific purposes that don’t arise on a daily basis.

I don’t consider myself a productivity nerd - I’ve actually come to dislike the term “productivity” as it evokes widget-cranking and isn’t consistent with how I believe people actually want to live and work - but I do have a longstanding fascination with information management and how people organize their time and thoughts using both analog and digital tools and systems. Of course, this led me to notebooks, notebook systems, and anything remotely related. Have you developed your own system for keeping your life (relatively) organized? Drop a comment or send me a message through the site. I’m all ears!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain third-party affiliate links or paid advertising.

Lamy Studio LX All-Black Three-Pen Set on a Wooden Pen Rest — You can now build a full set of Lamy Studio LX All-Black Pens, including a fountain pen, rollerball, and ballpoint.

Thursday Drops: Lamy Restock (including the Studio!), New Caran d'Ache Arrivals, and More!

November 9, 2023

Lots of new arrivals to discuss today, including the rest of the Caran d’Ache Keith Haring special editions, the entire Caran d’Ache Colormat-X 849 series, and a huge box of Lamy pens that includes the first Studios we’re bringing into the store! The Lamy Studio is significantly underrated as a pen, IMHO, particularly the Piano Black and Palladium versions which are still priced well under $200. Alongside the Pilot Custom 74, the gold-nib Lamy Studio builds out our growing lineup of workhorse fountain pens that offer exceptional quality without breaking your bank account.

Caran d'Ache + Keith Haring Special Edition Ballpoint Pens in Packaging

We’ve also restocked on a lot of fun favorites, including the Caran d’Ache Infinite 888 ballpoints in all colors (sorry, the mechanical pencils have been discontinued), and a growing selection of woodcase pencils that we intend to expand even further. Eventually these will warrant their own stand-alone shop page, so stay-tuned.

Caran D'Ache Colormat-X 849 Ballpoint Pens arrayed in a rainbow featuring all 8 Colors — Yes, those are all matte-finished. That red pen is calling my name but I must resist.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Keith Haring Caran d’Ache Special Editions. Caran d’Ache has collaborated with the estate of pop artist Keith Haring to release two new 849 ballpoint pens, as well as a Colour Set (colored pencils plus a brush pen) and an A5 Coloring pad featuring Haring artwork.
“Creative Nomad” Caran d’Ache Rylsee Fixpencil Set. Special/Limited edition Fixpencils are much too few and far between, and this set features not just a Rylsee signature Fixpencil but an eraser, a set of 3B leads, brush and fibre-tipped pens, and access to a lettering course taught by Swiss lettering artist Rylsee. These are nearly sold out but I will try to get more.
Caran d’Ache Colormat-X 849 Ballpoints. The most popular models of the Caran d’Ache 849 ballpoint are the ones with matte finishes, and Caran d’Ache recently released the “Colormat-X” in eight bright colors different from much of what has previously been on offer.
Lamy Studio 14k Fountain Pens in Palladium and Piano Black. I can’t tell you how excited I am to offer the Studio, and to see that Lamy is keeping the price point of the 14k nib version accessible. I personally find huge value here and I have many Studios in my collection.
Lamy Studio LX All Black Series. Aesthetically, one of my favorite Lamy pens released in recent years has been the Studio LX (pronounced “luxe”) series. The fountain pen ships with a black stainless nib, but it also looks great with the Black Lamy Cursive nib, available separately and which I will install upon request.
Lamy Pico Pocket Ballpoint Restock. These pens ended up being a smash hit at the San Francisco Pen Show and I’ve been sold out since. We have stock of all the Pico colors as of yesterday, as well as refills.
Lamy 2000 Collection Restock. Lamy 2000 Rollerballs, Ballpoints, Multi-Pens, and fountain pens are all restocked as well, just in time for the holidays. To read more about why this is one of my favorite everyday writers in the $200 range, check out the Workhorse Pens write-up.
Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Organizers. We still have organizers available from our most recent shipment, including a few in A5 and several A6. While I plan to post in a few days how I will match my Roterfadens to Hobonichi notebooks for 2024, these softer leather options (with no elastic) fit an A5 Hobonichi Cousin and standard Hobonichi notebook very well.
Caran d’Ache 888 Infinite Ballpoints. Thankfully, we were able to receive a full restock, in all colors, of what has become one of our best-selling ballpoints, mainly due to the combination of balance, refill quality, and price point. Unfortunately the mechanical pencil has been discontinued, so what stock we have is all that remains and I understand these will be going away indefinitely.
Caran d’Ache Jumbo Maxi Highlighter Pencils. I’ve been looking to add jumbo highlighter pencils for quite some time, as they’re a key part of my work rotation at the office. If these do well I will look to bring in more, and perhaps even the option to buy individual colors by the dozen.