I've previously only reviewed one Conklin pen - the Mark Twain Crescent Filler - and came away from that review impressed with both the looks and the build quality. While I felt that the sale pricing on that pen was reasonable, especially given the unique design, I wasn't sure that the feature set on the pen (steel nib, so-so trim) justified the standard MSRP of $175. I did enjoy Conklin's steel stub nib option, however, and spent some time looking for that same writing experience in a less pricey package.

Honestly, I probably could have gone without this engraved cap finial on the Duragraph, especially since the pen already has "Conklin" engraved on the cap band. But at the $50 price point, you can't always expect absolute elegance.

I found it, and, more, in the Duragraph. Out of all the modern Conklin designs, the Duragraph is my favorite. Like the Crescent Filler, it features vintage-inspired style (think 1920's "flat-tops" from Parker and Sheaffer), some unique acrylics that you don't typically see on a pen priced this low, and a good nib. The filling system is cartridge/converter, which isn't really a surprise given the pen's $50 price point.

The stainless steel stub nib on the Duragraph is the same nib that was on the Crescent Filler that I tested. It writes well, with no significant skips or hard starts. Like many lower-cost steel stubs, this one doesn't have much tipping material, so some might find it a bit crisp or sharp. The nib writes wet enough that I can still describe it as a smooth writer, it's just that this pen won't be considered a gusher like some gold stubs. That's perfectly fine for me, since this is a nib that I can normally use at work on cheaper paper, especially if I choose the right ink.

This nib provides good line variation. Without much tipping material, the nib will give you a very narrow cross-stroke.

The Duragraph is a moderately sized pen, and I can easily use it unposted. The hourglass-shaped acrylic section provides a comfortable grip. While the pen does technically post, this makes the pen comically long, like a nightstick. Maybe if you have huge hands this would work, but not for me.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

If you like the vintage-inspired designs, Conklin should be a brand on your radar in the $40-75 price bracket. Conklin still has a bit of a bad rap in some circles of the pen community, due to the fact that the quality was "spotty" at best when the brand was first relaunched several years ago. It's now owned and distributed by Yafa, and I understand that respected Italian pen company Stipula manufactures the pens for Conklin, or at least many of the components. The quality and consistency are both much better today.

A close-up shot of the "Cracked Ice" acrylic, which is gorgeous. The Duragraph comes in at least six other variations, including Amber, Forest Green, Ice Blue, Orange Nights (which appears "inspired" by the Delta Dolcevita, R.I.P.), Purple Nights, a… — A close-up shot of the "Cracked Ice" acrylic, which is gorgeous. The Duragraph comes in at least six other variations, including Amber, Forest Green, Ice Blue, Orange Nights (which appears "inspired" by the Delta Dolcevita, R.I.P.), Purple Nights, and an apparently unnamed red and black model.

While the Conklin Duragraph is widely available from most major pen retailers, I purchased this one from our sponsor Pen Chalet, which currently has the Duragraph available for $52 (and sub-$50 with a coupon code). In my opinion, this represents very good value. As I observed with the Crescent Filler, if you're a fan of vintage pen design, but don't want to mess with expensive restoration and/or the finicky nature of vintage filling systems, modern Conklins represent a good compromise without significant financial investment.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review from Pen Chalet with my own funds. I did receive a discount on the purchase. This post contains affiliate links.

The "new Conklin" has been one of those pen brands that's flown under my radar, because the pens typically sit in that odd $50-150 price range. While I had heard good things about Conklin's nibs, the designs at the lower end of that price range didn't really appeal to me enough to get me to pull the trigger on a blind purchase, and I was similarly hesitant to spend $150 (or more) on a pen with a steel nib from an unfamiliar brand. A few weeks back, Ron at Pen Chalet asked whether I'd be interested in reviewing the Mark Twain Crescent Filler, and I have to say that I've been pleasantly surprised with both the aesthetics and overall quality.

American Heritage, Italian Design

Those familiar with vintage pens know Conklin as one of the original American fountain pen companies, which was based in Toledo, Ohio and rose to prominence with its patented "crescent-filler" mechanism around the turn of the century. The filling mechanism is an early take on the button or lever-filling fountain pen, and consists of a crescent-shaped piece of metal that you depress in order to collapse the sac. When you release the "crescent," the pen fills with ink. The crescent does double duty as a roll-stopper, and there's a plastic guard that you can rotate to lock the filling mechanism in place and prevent you from accidentally squeezing the sac and squirting ink all over the place.

Red demonstrator pens appeal to me, especially when they have a unique filling system that makes for interesting viewing.

The original Conklin Pen Company went out of business in the late 1940s, but the brand was resurrected in the 1990s and eventually sold to Yafa Pens, which owns brands like Monteverde and is the U.S. distributor for the Italian pen companies Delta and Stipula. I understand that Stipula currently manufactures the Conklin pens for Yafa. (Some new limited edition Mark Twains are being released in materials such as Ambrosia celluloid and red and black striped ebonite - materials previously used to make limited runs of the Stipula Etruria.)

My Experience with the Mark Twain

Let's be honest, the Mark Twain Crescent Filler isn't the most streamlined of pen designs, but I found it attractive and fun to use nonetheless. There's definitely a sort of steampunk aesthetic going on here, combining the antiquated crescent-filling mechanism and vintage-style Conklin clip with the modern colored acrylic used to make the demonstrator pens. The construction is solid, and I had no problem whatsoever with the filling system. Do note, however, that eventually you may have to replace the sac, though I believe these modern pens use silicone sacs which are much less prone to failure than the latex sacs used in vintage pens.

Conklin's steel stub on the Mark Twain Crescent Filler. Conklin's non-stub nibs are two-toned steel and gold plate, but the stubs are all stainless.

Where this pen really impressed me was with the nib. This pen features Conklin's steel 1.1mm stub nib, which is excellent. I experienced zero hard starts or skips, and the nib was super smooth. While I haven't tried multiple pens and can't personally vouch for consistency across the various Conklin lines, I don't think this is a one-off experience. Many people have raved to me in the past about Conklin's stubs, especially on their lower-priced pens such as the Duragraph.

Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Filler writing sample with what else? Waterman vintage-style blue black ink (or, "Mysterious Blue") as it's now called.

Takeaways/Where to Buy

Conklin now has my attention. I'm probably going to pick up one of these crescent fillers at some point in the future, because after I sent the pen back to Ron I found myself missing having it around. It may not be the most practical everyday writer for pocket carry, etc., but if you want a vintage-style pen without having to worry about tinkering with fragile materials and vintage parts, this is a good option. Pen Chalet currently has the Mark Twain Crescent Filler on sale in red, blue, and clear demonstrator models, marked down to $125 and subject to further discount with one of Ron's various coupon codes. (Last I checked, there were only a couple of these pens left at his sale price, but other models of the Crescent Filler are available).

NOTE: It's unclear whether Conklin will continue to manufacture this particular demonstrator fountain pen, as its currently on clearance at multiple retailers. Since stock may run out fast, here are a few different options if you have trouble finding the particular pen/nib combination you are looking for: Pen Boutique; Fountain Pen Hospital; Fahrney's Pens.

Disclaimer: Pen Chalet loaned me this pen for review purposes at no cost. The pen was returned to Pen Chalet following the review. This post contains affiliate links. Pricing and availability are current as of the time of publication of this review.