Pen Review: Newton Pens Hale Fountain Pen

July 12, 2023

When it comes to custom penmakers - especially those who display at pen shows - Shawn Newton is one of the originals. We've both been involved in the pen hobby/business for around the same amount of time (going on 13+ years?!?) and I've enjoyed watching Newton Pens grow and Shawn's lineup of pen models expand! To read more on the story behind Newton Pens, you can check out their website, as well as my earlier review of the custom Newton Shinobi I commissioned many years ago.

Newton Hale Fountain Pen Section — What makes the Hale unique is that the cap threads on to the very tip of the section and sits flush, compared to a typical fountain pen where the section sits *inside* the cap. See the comparison photos with the Newton Orville, below.

The pen I'm reviewing today is the Newton "Hale", a cylindrical-bodied pen with a short cap that first caught my eye at the 2021 Chicago Pen Show. This year, Shawn kindly let me take one home from Arkansas for review. It may not go back. I discovered that I actually enjoy this style of pen ("Short-cap pens"?) and it's possibly opened up a new category of products for me to try.

This “short-cap” style is a recent trend in penmaking, with many penmakers introducing variations on pens where, as here, the cap attaches to the end of the grip section, and, sometimes, where the pen features no traditional grip section at all and you hold the pen by the barrel. (Check out these pens from Tesori/HelloTello Studio, Mayfair, and Franklin-Christoph as additional examples.) The Hale does have separate grip area, though it's nontraditional in that it features a slightly tapered hourglass section that ends up flush with the rest of the pen and cap.

The Hale isn't just visually interesting - I find it insanely comfortable to write with. Initially, I had my doubts about this particular shape, but it didn't take long for those concerns to disappear, at least with the Hale. This slightly contoured grip area works for me, and the pen is well-balanced. For purposes of this review, I chose a "Concord"-style nib unit ground by Mark Bacas, which has a VERY fine tip akin to a Pilot PO ("Posting") nib. This style of pen, with a wider grip, offers a lot of control over your handwriting - or at least it feels that way to me - particularly important when you are writing with such a fine point.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Count me a fan of the Newton Hale! Shawn's designs are well thought-out and well-executed, and this pen is no exception. The particular material used in the pen shown here is the same used in pens like the Leonardo Momento Zero Grande "Girasole/Sunflower", and one of my personal favorites. While I didn't use a Newton Pens nib for this review, it's worth mentioning that Shawn tunes all of his nibs before the pens ship, and they generally write very well.

Newton Pens Hale, Orville, and Shinobi — From Left: Newton Pens Hale, Newton Pens Orville, and Newton Pens Shinobi.

The Hale starts at $170, featuring a stainless steel JoWo No. 6 nib unit. Shawn typically has inventory available for purchase on his website and at shows. While you can also commission fully custom pens, Shawn's a busy man and has quite the wait list, last time I checked! Personally, I enjoy shopping his show stock. Between shows he keeps busy making pens, and part of the fun for me is selecting from the various options he's chosen to make for himself. Come visit Shaw Newton and Newton Pens to see the Hale for yourself at the upcoming D.C. Pen Show, which will be held from August 3-6, 2023!

The pen featured in this review was loaned to me by Newton Pens for review purposes, and I was not compensated for this post. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. To support the site, please consider visiting our store and checking out our offerings, including our recent product collaborations!

Hinze Pens It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Fountain Pen

Pen Review: Hinze Pens "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"

July 30, 2022

At pen shows, it’s always Five O’Clock Somewhere! Always. Especially at the Hinze Pens table. I’ve been sitting on this review for a few months, waiting until just before a pen show when readers might be able to see and pick up a Hinze Pen for themselves. You’ll have that opportunity next week in at the 2022 Washington D.C. Pen Show, as the team from Hinze will be in attendance with a full table’s worth of pens.

This “Five O’Clock Somewhere” resin has so much contrast, and is a far cry from what “The Gentleman Stationer” typically goes for, yet somehow it works!

As I’ve sought to re-spark my interest in fountain pens and refocus my own collection, one goal has been to reduce the percentage of “stock” or “standard” pens that I own, in favor of supporting independent makers and small manufacturers. I’ve known Jim Hinze and Francisco Lopez through the show circuit for years, but had never acquired one of their pens. At this year’s Baltimore show, the pen pictured here caught my eye, and since only one pen in this particular material remained in Atlanta, I went ahead and took it home.

Starry Night Resins Five O'Clock Somewhere Patterns — There are so many different color patterns and swirls in this material that it’s easy to get lost!

This particular pen is the classic Hinze model, which features a minimalist shape designed to showcase the underlying material. In this case, the resin used is dubbed “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” by Starry Night Resins. While I love the pen itself - and I’ll discuss that more in a bit - the resin steals the show. it’s a swirled combination of purple, orange, blue, and grey, with subtle hints of pastel green and cream in the cap. While there are plenty of makers out there releasing colorful swirled acrylic pens, the use of grey, green, and cream in this pen alongside the purple and orange offered a unique color patter that I hadn’t seen before. I hope these blanks come back at some point because I’d love another pen in this material.

This side of the cap might be my favorite feature of the pen. I love the combination of light green, cream, pink, orange - there are just too many colors to name and it seems like I discovery more everyday. Sometimes I find myself staring at this pen, lost in thought.

The pen features a flat-topped, cylindrical shape with a longer section and subtly tapered barrel. It does not post by design. If I had to pick one thing about this pen that I love, it would be the longer section, which I have found exceedingly comfortable for extended writing sessions. As a lighter acrylic cartridge-converter pen, the longer tapered barrel is probaby necessary to create a good balance, one that I’d compare to the “Classic” or “Classic Flush” designs by the Kanilea Pen Company.

Hinze Pens Five O'clock Somewhere Nib — Ultimately I went with a dark blue nib - I felt this color complemented the section better than the original magenta.

A Note on Hinze Nibs

One of Hinze Pens’ trademarks are their multicolored nano-plated nibs. Unlike ordinary anodization, these nibs undergo a different process whereby they are coated in a ceramic plating that is much more durable than typical anodization. Here, I opted for a dark blue, which I felt complemented and drew out the grey-blue tones in this particular pen. (Purple or magenta would have been another option.)

Note that I did have this nib modified, so there is a small gap in the coating where Matthew Chen ground a .5mm cursive italic. Ordinarily, if you grind a coated or plated nib, there is a risk of the coating peeling back and flaking off from the area that’s been ground. So far, I’ve seen none of that with the Hinze nib, and I understand that due to the process used, there’s much lower risk of it happening. Care instructions are included with each pen, including recommendations on “safe” inks and cleaning practices.

Here’s my same pen with a different color nib, as originally shown at the Hinze Pen table at the 2022 Baltimore Pen Show back in March. You can see some additional “Five O’Clock Somewhere” pens on the right.

The inlaid finial that Hinze incorporates into their cap is a nice touch, and gives the pen a high-quality, finished appearance.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

There are many bespoke and “small-batch” penmakers out there. It’s easy to get lost and if you’re new to the fountain pen world (and the pen show world especially), to not know where to start. Hinze Pens can serve as a great starting point for those newly interested in bespoke fountain pens, or a new destination for the experienced enthusiast who enjoys unique materials in a well-made workhorse. The price point is extremely reasonable, with most pens priced from $200-250.

The Baltimore Pen Show display that initially caught my eye.

You can purchase Hinze Pens directly from the company via their website, or even better, visit them at a pen show! They will be attending the 2022 Washington, D.C. Pen Show, running from Thursday, August 4 through Sunday, August 7. Stop by and see their table. (And come see me while you’re at it!)

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for review purposes, though Hinze Pens was kind enough to offer me a discount on the price. This post does not contain paid sponsorship or affiliate links.

My Newton Shinobi:  two-toned in matte black ebonite and alumilite. — My Newton Shinobi: two-toned in matte black ebonite and alumilite.

Pen Review: The Newton Shinobi

February 3, 2016

I’ve written a lot recently about consolidation, and reducing the number of things that I own, especially pens. This year-long process started after last year’s Atlanta Pen Show, when I had the opportunity to hold and write with dozens of pens, the majority of which had been designed or customized by their owners. I quickly realized that my sprawling collection of mismatched cheap and midrange pens wasn’t bringing me much satisfaction. I was buying pens on a monthly basis, and purchasing whatever my budget allowed that month, rather making less-frequent, well-considered purchases of nicer pens that would bring me more long-term satisfaction. Long story short, after Atlanta, I sold off over a dozen items from my collection and ordered two custom pens: A Scriptorium Balladeer and a Newton Shinobi. I’ve already reviewed the Balladeer, but it’s taken me a while to collect my thoughts on the Shinobi.

Who is this man, Shawn Newton, and what is the Shinobi?

Shawn Newton is the (one) man behind Newton Pens, one of the most innovative pen makers active right now, and an all-around good guy. Shawn is a former art teacher who, in addition to making pens, funds student scholarships via donations and the sale of postcards on his website. Since leaving his teaching job to focus on turning pens full-time, his business has expanded exponentially. Now, not only does Shawn turn all of his pens completely by hand on a lathe, but he's taken the next step and offers intricate filling systems (such as piston fillers and button fillers) in addition to the cartridge/converter systems that come standard with almost all custom pens.

The origin of the Shinobi fountain pen has been discussed in much more detail elsewhere, so rather than rehash all that I’ll focus on my impressions of the pen. But in short, a member of the fountain pen network reached out to Shawn with the idea for the Shinobi, and the design proved so popular that it's taken on a life of its own. Apparently there was much pent-up demand for a cylindrical pen with flat ends and a single facet to act as a roll-stopper.

The Design

The design of my Shinobi is not original. I became enamored with the pen as originally conceived by its designer: a black-matte ebonite pen with a red section, but I didn’t want bright red. Instead, Shawn managed to source some deep, blood-red alumilite. I love the result: From a distance, the pen appears almost solid black, yet up close and uncapped the burgundy section stands out just enough to give it character.

There is a barely perceptible band of deep burgundy alumilite around the middle of the pen.

My Shinobi became the first ebonite pen in my collection. Ebonite is vulcanized hard rubber (the same material they use to make bowling balls). It's highly durable, and was one of the original materials used in fountain pen manufacture. Normally, you see ebonite with a heavy shine. I requested that Shawn not polish the finished pen because I prefer a matte finish, and the result is exactly what I wanted.

A close up of the matte finish on my Shinobi.

Note: one of the first thing you'll notice about ebonite is its distinctive smell. It's hard rubber, and it smells like rubber. Think "car tires". The smell fades after you've had the pen for a while, but be forewarned. Another cool fact is that if you look at a cross-section of ebonite (such as the end of a Shinobi), it looks like a vinyl record.

So far, I've only used this pen with the included converter. Ebonite pens make great eyedroppers, however, and I'm sure that once I've found a suitable ink, I'll go that route. I'm still waiting to decide on an ink that I won't get bored with. This is a rather large pen, and whatever ink I decide to use will be with me for a very long time.

The Nib

Shawn's nibwork is excellent.  I asked him to grind a medium stainless steel nib to a cursive italic.  The ink is Emerald of Chivor, which appears dark here because the nib writes fairly wet. — Shawn's nibwork is excellent. I asked him to grind a medium stainless steel nib to a cursive italic. The ink is Emerald of Chivor, which appears dark here because the nib writes fairly wet.

Shawn uses German JoWo nibs, available in either 14K gold or stainless steel. These are the same nibs used by Edison, Franklin-Christoph, and Scriptorium. (Unless you are providing the penmaker with a specific nib you want them to use for your pen, JoWo nibs are really the only quality nibs that are readily available to small-scale penmakers.) While I have never used a JoWo 14K nib, the steel nibs are consistently very good. They may not offer the most exciting writing experience, but they are dependable writers that also serve as a solid base for nib modifications. See, in addition to being a talented penmaker, Shawn Newton also does nib work. I had him grind the medium stainless steel nib on my Shinobi to a medium (.6mm) cursive italic. The nib provides great line variation while still being a fairly wet writer: perfect for my writing style.

Overall Experience and Takeaways

The Shinobi offers a great writing experience. The balance and weight of this pen is perfect for me. Some people complain about the somewhat steep step-down from the barrel to the section, but this pen fits my hand perfectly. If the barrel/section step is something that you're finicky about, worry not. Shawn can customize every pen to your specifications, and I know more than one person who has asked Shawn to modify the section of the Shinobi to make the grip more comfortable for their particular writing style.

I plan on adding another to my collection sometime in the future, once my wallet recovers from 2015. While I have seen at least one Shinobi with a piston-filling system, as I dive ever deeper in to this hobby, I've come to appreciate the versatility of the cartridge/converter/eyedropper model and am glad that I went with the basic design. At some point I'll add a second Shinobi to my collection, and that pen will likely be clear acrylic, so that I can set it up as an eyedropper and watch the ink slosh around inside.

More so than any other pens I own, my custom pens from Shawn, Renee (of Scriptorium Pens), and Brian Gray (of the Edison Pen Company) are functional pieces of art. These pens are not only a pleasure to use, but they’re visually stunning and make me smile every time I see them on my desk. You can check out more of Shawn's work over at his website.

Pen Review: The Scriptorium Balladeer

November 14, 2015

After the Atlanta Pen Show, all the way back in April, I made the tough (for me) decision to liquidate a large number of pens in my collection and invest in a smaller number of more expensive custom pieces. I ended up ordering a Newton Shinobi, a Conid Bulkfiller Minimalistica, and a Scriptorium Balladeer. The most difficult part of ordering a custom pen is that you have to wait for the pen to actually be made, which in some instances can create a lag of three to six months between the time you pay for the pen in full and when you actually have the pen in your hands. It’s worth the wait, though. All three have exceeded my expectations.

While I don’t have a personal favorite—all three pens are well made, and very different—the Balladeer has surprised me the most. While I knew that I wanted to order a pen from Renee at Scriptorium Pens (you can read up on her and her story here), I was torn between several models.

Size

The Balladeer was my favorite from the beginning, but I hesitated because I thought it would be too big. I don't mind a large-diameter pen--I have several--but because I like to post my pens, weight becomes an issue if the cap is too heavy or if the pen posts too high. After some discussion with Renee, she suggested drilling out the barrel to decrease weight (which also has the benefit of increasing the pen's ink capacity when filled as an eyedropper), and tapering the barrel ever-so-slightly to allow the cap to post deeper than it normally would.

Renee conveniently offers pens in a variety of sizes (small, medium, large, and oversize), but keep in mind that even the medium is relatively large. I settled on a medium, after scrutinizing the measurements on the Scriptorium website and comparing them against what I considered the most comfortable pens in my collection. (The site is a pen geek's dream.) The exact degree of variation between sizes will differ depending on the model you order. To give some sense of the scale of the Balladeer, I would compare my *medium* to a slightly slimmer Montblanc 149.

Dartmoor Acrylic

I'm a sucker for celluloids and other materials that *look* like celluloid, such as these Conway Stewart acrylics that Renee and other pen turners scooped up after Conway folded last year. My Balladeer features the "Dartmoor" acrylic, which I'd describe as a dark brown/green/black with veins and flecks of white, gold, and caramel. From what I've seen around the interwebs, Dartmoor and Amber are the two Conway Stewart acrylics that have received the most attention, and photos don't do the Dartmoor justice. To set off the Dartmoor, I opted for end caps made out of Urushi Red acrylic. The end result is a hand turned acrylic pen, made to my specifications, that, at least to me, is practically indistinguishable from a celluloid pen with urushi trim. To purchase the latter--or even to find someone who knows how to make it--would be prohibitively expensive.

Build and Trim

Scriptorium Pens Silver Clip.  I love the minimalist engraving. — Scriptorium Pens Silver Clip. I love the minimalist engraving.

Renee knows her stuff. This pen is hand-turned, and if there are any manufacturing flaws or artifacts, I haven't found them yet. I chose the sterling silver clip and the stainless steel medium JoWo nib, which is the same steel nib used by Edison Pen Co. and Franklin-Christoph. JoWo nibs aren't my favorite, but they are more than serviceable, and the beauty of this pen is what makes it a pleasure to write with.

Value

All models of Scriptorium Pens start at $225, which includes a steel nib with a converter. Some materials, such as ebonite and the Conway acrylics, have an additional charge associated with them. Renee's pricing process is transparent and plainly set out on her site. Between the Dartmoor, the Urushi Red caps, and the sterling silver clip, this pen set me back approximately $275. Value is always a matter of opinion/preference, but I consider that a good deal for a work of art. To the extent any issues ever occur with the pen, I couldn't imagine that Renee's customer service would be anything less than impeccable.

Normal cartridge/converter filling system, but the pen also can be used as an eyedropper.  I just haven't gotten around to testing this out ye! — Normal cartridge/converter filling system, but the pen also can be used as an eyedropper. I just haven't gotten around to testing this out ye!

Overall, I'm extremely happy with my Balladeer, and consider it a great purchase. I've been using it fairly exclusively for the past month or so, given that I find it so comfortable to write with. Renee will work with you to customize your pen to your needs, and I cannot recommend her services enough.

DISCLAIMER: I purchased this pen with my own funds, for my own collection. I have not been compensated in any way for this review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Where Do I Go From Here?

April 22, 2015

It’s a question I asked myself often over the past weekend at the Atlanta Pen Show. One of the great things about pen shows is that you get the opportunity to see, hold, and learn about pens that you never otherwise would have experienced. And since I spent two days surrounded by friends (both new and old) eager to let anyone write with the invaluable pieces in their collections, I experienced a lot of pens. My takeaway from this? I need to break the “pen of the month” habit and focus on acquiring fewer pieces that mean more to me.

This topic came up in a few different conversations that I had over the weekend. A general consensus seems to be that you reach a point in your “collecting” that you plateau, and begin to derive less enjoyment from the typical “production line” pens that are easily available. While there are always exceptions to this rule, finding a unique or different writing experience out of the box becomes difficult, and you end up chasing color variants of the same pen or the full line of stock nib options. Some time ago I reached the point where I don’t feel the need to have more than one TWSBI, especially where I can purchase a bunch of replacement nibs and obtain variety that way.

Leigh Reyes' Nakayas.  While Nakayas are not "custom" (several retailers carry them as part of their regular stock) some of the limited or rare variants are difficult to obtain and made to order, and certain models are exclusive to in… — Leigh Reyes' Nakayas. While Nakayas are not "custom" (several retailers carry them as part of their regular stock) some of the limited or rare variants are difficult to obtain and made to order, and certain models are exclusive to individual shops.

Enter the world of custom pens.

I’m ready to move on. But to where? Of all the pens I was able to try this weekend, the custom pens were the ones that really stood out and spoke to me. By "custom", I'm referring to pens that are generally made to order by a pen turner (typically by hand) according to the craftsman's original design, and can be adjusted to the user's preferences. I was fortunate to handle a wide range of pens made by several makers, from Shawn Newton's Shinobi Eyedroppers to Brian Gray's Edison Menlos in Tibaldi Celluloid. I wanted to keep all of them.

So, I’ll ask myself again, where do I go from here? It’s dangerous to put this sort of thing out there, but it’s pretty much the only way I’ll be able to hold myself accountable. The next two pens I will acquire will come from custom manufacturers, once I can afford them, and until then I plan to thin out the accumulation of pens and ink to reduce the amount of "stuff" that I never use.

If you’re interested in the world of custom pens, here’s some further reading to get you started. My next pen will likely come from somewhere on this list:

Conid Bulkfiller
Romillo Pens (read a review of the Essential #9, by the Unroyal Warrant).
Newton Shinobi
Scriptorium Pens
Edison Menlo
Nakaya (via Nibs.com, the easiest option for those of us in the U.S.)

There are many, many more custom manufacturers out there. Keep in mind that in order to enter the world of custom pens, you’ll have to suppress your desire for instant gratification (something that will be difficult for me). Not only will you have to part with some money up front, but it generally takes at least 6 weeks for a pen to be made, and that's on the quick end of the spectrum. In the end, however, I think the wait adds to the experience.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

A Note on Hinze Nibs

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Who is this man, Shawn Newton, and what is the Shinobi?

The Design

The Nib

Overall Experience and Takeaways

Other articles discussing the Shinobi

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