My pen buying habits have changed drastically over the years. As I find my favorite pens and stick with them, I feel less and less motivated to buy new ones. And my new purchases are influenced by the obscure and novel. Does it use a fill mechanism that is new to me? Does it have a cool/unique design? If the answers to these are no, I'm likely to pass.
The Conklin Mark Twain Crescent fountain pen ticks both of these boxes. I typically stick with F and EF nibs, but the Crescent provided a unique opportunity to add a stub nib to my collection.
Aside from the chessboard design of the black Conklin Mark Twain Crescent, the fill mechanism is the second most interesting thing about the pen. The crescent refers to the half circle protruding from the pen’s body. Depressing this half circle compresses an internal bladder. Dip the pen in your favorite ink, depress the crescent, release, and the bladder will fill.
But wouldn’t it be incredibly easy to accidentally press the crescent and spew ink everywhere? Yes, my friend, it would. Fortunately, the pen features a plastic locking ring that can be twisted to prevent the crescent from accidentally being depressed. In my experience, the lock has performed flawlessly.
Although the crescent filler mechanism gives the pen a cool vintage look, there are some practical limitations to this type of filler system. The ink capacity isn’t as great as I would have hoped, although I’ll give it a pass since stub nibs use loads of ink. If the ink sac does fail or leak, the pen has to be sent in to Conklin for replacement. I believe this is covered by Conklin’s lifetime warranty, but it’s an extra step and could be a hassle, especially for those who like to tinker with their pens.
Another downside of this closed system is that the pen is more difficult to clean. For traditional cartridge pens, I’d unscrew the nib section, toss the cartridge, use a rubber bulb to run cleaner through the nib, and call it a day. I can us a similar process for my other everyday carry, the Opus 88 Koloro, and run cleaner directly through the chamber. Since the Mark Twain Crescent can’t be disassembled, I have to painstakingly squeeze out the ink and pull fresh cleanser in and out until it runs clear.
But I have to be honest, I didn’t buy this pen for practicality—I bought it for the stunning vintage design and to add a bit more flare to my collection. I’ve been using this pen regularly since I purchased it, and it’s a joy to write with. The details are all present. The nib writes well and has a nice amount of flex, the subtle grooves in the checkerboard pattern give the pen a nice tactile feel, and every component of the pen seems to be designed intentionally from the functional filling system to the sturdy but generously flexible clip. It’s clear why these pens have been around for so long.
Note, this review covers the Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Exclusive, which was a limited run and is no longer available. If you’re looking for the closest thing, Conklin still offers its standard Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Fountain Pen!
Bonus Fountain Pen Factoid
“Founder Roy Conklin from Toledo, Ohio, is recognized for creating one of the world’s first self-filling fountain pens. Thanks to Conklin’s work, the design of fountain pens became more practical for public use when his patent for the first automatic filling mechanism went through in 1897. Named for its crescent moon-shaped metal that allows users to self-fill the ink, the Crescent Filler™ soon became a worldwide success. When the crescent is pressed, it collapses a sac, which is then filled when released.
In 1903, legendary American author Mark Twain expressed his praise, saying, “I prefer it to ten other fountain pens, because it carries its filler in its own stomach, and I cannot mislay even by art or intention.” Twain became the official spokesman for the Conklin Pen Company, and discovered yet another benefit to the Crescent Filler, stating, “Also, I prefer it because it is a profanity saver; it can’t roll off the desk.””