I vividly remember my first Kaweco arriving on my doorstep. It was early in my fountain pen journey, I hadn’t even written my first book, and I was eager to inject some analog love into my life. I slid the tiny Kaweco box from the beige bubble mailer and marveled at just how cool the Mint Skyline Sport Fountain Pen looked in person. As my collection grew, I eventually packed the pen away, but it still sits near the top of the list of my favorite pens of all time. So, when Goldspot reached out with an offer to try out their new Kaweco Sport Transparent Fountain Pen exclusive, I thought it would be an excellent time to revisit one of my favorite pens.
She’s a beaut Clark.
This exclusive Kaweco Sport Transparent Fountain Pen comes in blue, but not just any blue. The color is inspired by the 2020 Pantone “Color of the Year” Classic Blue, and it’s a beauty. The pen’s silver accents compliment the transparent blue that edges toward navy. Kaweco fans will immediately recognize the traditional octagonal extended cap of the Sport, and the exclusive blue edition is identical in design, except for a silver Goldspot logo opposing the standard Kaweco logo. Demonstrators are fingerprint magnets, and this Kaweco is no different. Personally, fingerprints don’t bother me, but some pen addicts out there may feel otherwise.
This Kaweco Sport’s color is hard to capture accurately, but it sits between traditional blue and navy when in the sunlight.
In its capped form, the Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen is three-quarters the length of a standard Lamy Safari fountain pen, making it an excellent choice for a pocket-friendly companion. Its cap is threaded and requires one and a quarter turns to uncap. The threads hold the pen closed securely, and I would toss this pen in my pocket with no fears of finding an inky mess later. When posted, it rests comfortably in the web between my thumb and index finger, even though my hands are, let’s say, larger than average. The pen posts with a snug friction fit. Although the pen doesn’t come with a clip, Kaweco sells a slide-on clip that’s snug and sturdy.
The Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen’s grip is on the short and narrow side, although I have written comfortably with it for long periods of time, even with my long spindly fingers. The grip itself is smooth plastic, but the cap threading provides a bit of extra grip to keep it from slipping between fingers.
Not my best photographic work, but it’s hard to capture Kaweco’s lovely nib etchings with an iPhone camera :-)
Kaweco nib sizing is similar to that of western pens, which run wider than their Japanese counterparts. I tested the Extra Fine nib for this review, and it was a solid performer with no skips or hard starts. Still, I much prefer the Kaweco Fine nib, which is a bit juicier. The nibs also have a detailed Kaweco logo inscription along with a few flourishes. Kaweco sells its own brand of short cartridges for the Kaweco Sport Fountain Pens, but the standard international short cartridge will also work. When I bought my first Kaweco half a decade ago, the only converters available were terrible squeeze converters that never seemed to fill all the way. Fortunately, Kaweco now offers a piston converter, meaning those looking to use their own bottled inks won’t have to rely on skimpy squeeze converters or empty cartridges and syringes.
I love opinionated pens. From the unique cap design to the Kaweco logo etched in multiple places, it’s impossible to mistake Kaweco for any other brand. As much as the Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen is an excellent starter pen, it’s boring. The Kaweco Sport offers a unique, compact design, excellent performance, and an incredibly affordable price point. When I began this review, I wondered if I’d feel that this inexpensive Kaweco had lost its charm, after trying countless more expensive fountain pens. But the Sport holds its own, and it was just as much of a joy to write with and carry as it was years ago. The Sport is an excellent starter pen, but if you’re a long-time enthusiast who has somehow evaded Kaweco Sports for this long, it’s time to try one. And if you’re in the market for a blue transparent beauty, check out Goldspot’s exclusive Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen, while supplies last!
Dozens of reviews later, and my handwriting still hasn’t gotten better. I lightened this shot a bit, to better capture the pen’s color.
Here’s a bonus shot. I love Kaweco’s cap logo and thought it deserved extra attention.
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.””
I usually have a good grip on my pen habit, but the Opus 88 Koloro Demonstrator was a complete impulse buy. I’ve always been fascinated by the Franklin Christoph Pocket 40, but I’ve never been able to find it in stock, and I wanted something with a bit more ink capacity at a more affordable price. I stumbled upon the Opus 88 on Pen Chalet, and it ticks many of the Franklin Christoph boxes but has a massive ink capacity and is significantly less expensive.
The Opus 88 Koloro is a big pen, so small hands beware. I have to admit that I’m not typically a fan of large pens, and the size did give me pause prior to ordering. I’m happy to say that I really enjoy the size of the pen. Yes, it’s large, but the material gives it a lighter feel. Since the pen doesn’t post, which may be a dealbreaker for some, it’s not absurdly long in the hand and still rests comfortably in the web of my fingers.
Demonstrators can get a little boring after a while, but the smokey finish on the threading of the Koloro is anything but bland. The pen uses an eyedropper fill system and takes on the characteristics of the ink inside. I filled mine with Diamine Red Dragon, and—well—take a look for yourself. It’s gorgeous. As a supernatural mystery writer, there’s something I find oddly appealing about writing with ink that looks like dried blood.
Speaking of eye-droppers, the Opus 88 Koloro is my first eyedropper pen. Instead of inserting a cartridge or ink converter, you fill the pen by unscrewing the ink reserve and dropping ink directly inside with the included eye dropper. This allows the pen to hold a massive amount of ink and doesn’t tarnish its beautiful appearance with ugly cartridges or converters. Not sure how an eye drops works? Take a look at the video below.
Piston fillers like the Lamy 2000 utilize a piston knob at the end of the barrel to pull ink into the ink chamber. Although the Opus 88 Koloro is an eyedropper pen, it has a piston too although the mechanism serves a unique purpose here. Instead of pulling ink into the pen’s ink chamber, the piston separates the ink chamber from the feed allowing the writer to control the flow of ink. This is especially useful when storing or carrying the pen, since the chamber can be closed off when not in use reducing the chance of leaks. The feed will hold enough ink for shorter writing sessions, but the chamber can be opened during longer sessions to ensure a steady flow of ink from the massive ink chamber.
The Opus 88 Koloro isn’t an on-the-go pocket pen—it’s far too large. The cap also takes ten or so twists to uncap, so good luck doing this with one hand. I primarily use the Koloro for outlining fiction projects on index cards and editing printed drafts, so it tends to live on my desk. The pen does fit comfortably in my Nock Co. Tallulah, still my preferred case of the moment, so there’s no need to worry about whether or not it’ll fit in your favorite case.
Although the Opus 88 Koloro Demonstrator was an impulse buy, it has quickly become one of my absolute favorite pens. The pen’s aesthetic is stunning and unique with its smoky finish, massive ink chamber, and classy black clip. Its filling and ink flow system are well designed and functional, and the pen is an overall joy to use. Although I don’t love larger pens, I make an exception for this one, and I’ve been carrying the pen with me daily since I purchased it months ago. If you’re looking for a unique pen design that’s still sturdy enough to serve as a a daily workhorse, I highly recommend taking a look at the Opus 88 Koloro.
TWSBI is known for producing some of the best bang-for-your-buck pens on the market. The TWSBI 580AL fountain pen was my first “fancy” pen purchase (read-greater than $20), and it’s still the best value pen in my collection. TWSBI recently introduced the TWSBI GO fountain pen at its least expensive price point yet. How does it compare to its more expensive counterparts? Read on to find out.
The TWSBI GO fountain pen offers many of the same benefits of other TWSBI pens, without the frills of its more expensive brothers and sisters. Most metal parts have been replaced with plastic, aside from the nib itself, piston spring, and ink chamber seal. The pen is still sturdy and well-built, and the heavy plastic helps it maintain a nice heft in hand. Most TWSBI pens have a twist-operated piston, but this has been replaced by a sturdy metal spring-loaded piston in the GO. It’s less finicky than a twist piston and won’t need to be greased every now and then, but it does give the pen a cheaper appearance.
To fill the pen, dip it into your favorite bottle of ink and press the piston. The TWSBI GO is a bit thicker, so I did have some trouble getting it past the halfway mark in my smaller Diamine bottles. It turns out TWSBI has developed its own solution for this issue, but unfortunately, the GO doesn’t work with TWSBI’s easy fill mechanism in the top of its inkwells. You're just going to have to fill this pen the old-fashion way.
TWSBI pens-or any piston fillers for that matter-aren’t designed to use ink cartridges. This might scare away fountain pen novices, but the huge ink capacity is worth the tradeoff, in my opinion. If you’re considering purchasing this pen as your first fountain pen, check out my Penventory page for ink recommendations. Diamine inks are a great place to start, since they perform well and are affordable.
Although the TWSBI GO does compromise in certain areas, the nib writes just as well as any TWSBI nib I’ve ever used. I usually rely on F (fine) nibs but purchased an EF (extra fine) nib and have been very pleased with its performance. TWSBI nibs tend to run broad, like most European nibs, and are wet writers in most instances. I have to admit, I think I may prefer the EF nib to the F.
TWSBI 580AL (top) and TWSBI GO (bottom)
This brings me to my only true issue with the pen—its grip design. Most TWSBI grips are smooth, and slipperiness is something that comes with the territory. The TWSBI GO grip is tapered and smooth, except for a molded grip at the base of the nib. I typically don’t grip the pen this low, since its uncomfortable and tends to result in inky fingers, but the GO grip somewhat forces you into this position. I wish the grip design was either fully molded, like the Lamy Vista and Safari, or completely smooth, like the TWSBI 580AL.
TWSBI 580AL (left) and TWSBI GO (right)
Instead of a clip, the TWSBI GO fountain pen comes with a keychain loop. If you absolutely must have a clip but want a TWSBI, try the TWSBI Eco. Personally, I like clip-less designs since I carry most pens in a Nock Co. Sinclair Pen Case. The pen also caps and posts securely and the cap relies on a snap mechanism, instead of a twist mechanism, so no need to worry about pocket leaks.
Overall, the TWSBI GO fountain pen is a competent addition to the $20 and under category. Those looking for an affordable piston filler will be hard pressed to find a pen that offers such a high quality writing experience for such a low price.
Inventery’s Pocket Fountain Pen is a sleek and stylish modular pen that can be customized with a variety of caps and tips. At first glance, there’s a lot to love about this little beauty. The slim design has a smaller footprint than the Kaweco Sport, yet the sturdy brass body gives the pen a nice heft.
The pen extends to full size by posting the threaded cap, and the cap posts and caps securely. I have large hands, and the posted pen rests comfortably in the web of my fingers.
Pocket Fountain Pen with optional extender (top), Lamy 2000 (middle), Pocket Fountain Pen without optional extender (bottom).
Attention to detail is key in taking on the established fountain pen brands and Inventery delivers. The body finishes and coatings are flawless, and the modular components screw smoothly into place and hold together firmly. The pen clip even aligns perfectly with the nib when posted.
I have to take a moment to point out the pen’s modular cap system. It comes with four interchangeable cap tips: clip, keychain loop, stylus, and clip-less. My favorite tip is the simple clip-less, which gives the pen a stunning minimalist look. It’s simply one of the sleekest looking pocket fountain pens that I’ve ever seen.
Speaking of clips, Inventery’s Pocket Fountain Pen clip is sturdy, although there’s an intentional gap between the clip and the cap body. I like the appearance, but it certainly won’t hold the pen in place like some of the tighter clips on the market. Personally, I have no problem carrying the little guy in my pocket without the clip attachment. Since it caps so securely and looks stunning without the clip, I find it worth the risk and have had zero issues.
Okay, okay—design is great, but how about the nib? The pen comes with a Schmidt Iridium tipped nib (more geeky info on “Iridium tips” here). Overall, the nib is adequate, with a nice amount of flex for a steel nib, but some scratchiness on side strokes. Although the nib isn’t quite as special as the pen itself, it works well, and its few idiosyncrasies shouldn’t scare you away. Yes, a gold nib would be nicer, but I’d also feel much less comfortable carrying around a gold-nibbed pen loose in my pocket. Steel nibs are just so inexpensive to replace.
I have to admit, the ballpoint tip sat in the pen box for several days. I tend to use fountain pens by default, but I swapped out the fountain pen tip for the ballpoint tip and was pleasantly surprised. It’s also a consistent writer and sits in the middle of wet and dry. When I’m not writing with a fountain pen, I’m writing with a Retro 51. This tip isn’t quite as nice as a Retro 51 Easy Flow refill, but for a pen that offers so much versatility, it writes nicely. The fact that the pen comes with both fountain pen and ballpoint tips makes it an easy recommendation for someone wanting to dip their toe into the fountain pen world.
Even the packaging is stunning (shown with optional metal extender).
All in all, the folks at Inventery have produced an extremely well-designed and customizable pocket pen that clearly succeeds in its attempt to be both sleek and functional. The price point is the only detail that gives me pause; however, I think that it’s a fair price when considering all of the included customizable components, excellent design, and the overall obsessive level of manufacturing quality. It even comes with nine ink cartridges to get you started. The nib is nothing to write home about, but the pen makes up for the standard nib in almost every other aspect of its design.
The Inventery Pocket Fountain Pen is available in three styles: onyx, brass, and brushed chrome, and all three finishes are stunners. There’s also an optional pen extender, which extends the length of the pens body by a cap-length or so, but I personally found it unnecessary, especially for $30. For full details on the Inventery Pocket Fountain Pen, check out the product page.
