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.
Ever wait for a product so long you felt it could never live up to your expectations? That’s how I felt when I finally received my Anvanda Bag in the mail, nearly a year after I supported the campaign through Kickstarter. My Timbuk2 messenger bag was showing its age, and I’d been lugging the poor guy around since I received it as a gift more than five years ago. It’s not that I’ve solely used the Timbuk2—no—I’ve tried plenty of other bags. But after constant disappointment with loose stitching, crappy zippers, and shoddy materials, I always came back to the Timbuk2. The Anvanda Bag seemed just too good to be true. Anvanda claims to deliver a high-quality bag for a reasonable price, which is what originally drew me to the project. So I waited and waited, and my bag finally came in the mail a few weeks ago. Was it worth the wait?
The Anvanda Bag is simply the best bag I’ve ever used as a daily carry. The bag itself is sturdy, well constructed, and made of high quality materials. This backpack messenger hybrid can be carried in almost any way imaginable. The bag has several strap clips and can be set up to be carried like a backpack, messenger back, or by the handle like a briefcase (although not sure why you’d do this). No matter what angle from which you approach it, it’s easy to grab the bag and get going.
Backpack mode
I purchased the smaller green version of the bag with a leather upgrade. Much to my delight, I unzipped the bag for the first time to discover the inside lining was bright orange. The brown/green exterior gives the bag a classic professorly look, but the orange interior livens things up a bit. Much like my favorite pen addict, orange is also my favorite color.
A laptop sleeve and two large zipped pockets on the interior (in backpack mode)
Pockets! This bag has just the right amount of pockets. I keep my Nock Co. Tallulah in a hidden pocket, easily accessible and tucked behind the front leather panel. The bag doesn’t go crazy with battery packs, bungee cords, robotic arms, or any of those other extras you see on a lot of the newfangled Kickstarter bags—and I prefer the bag for it. The Anvanda Bag does include a rain cover, which is easy to slide around the bag and tucks into a dedicated pocket at the bottom of the bag.
Sturdy snaps, clips, and zippers make this bag something special.
Nearly every component of the Avanda Bag feels custom. The zippers are sturdy, have handy keychain snaps, and are stamped with Anvanda’s logo. While many bag manufacturers source supplies from bargain basement suppliers, which becomes clear when zippers break within a week, Anvanda seems to have done their research, and the bag shines because of it.
My few issues with the Anvanda Bag are minuscule. The laptop sleave is accessible when unzipping the bag in backpack mode but not when unzipping from the messenger bag style zipper. This is a minor annoyance, and I’m not even sure how this could be manufactured in a reliable way without resulting in a flimsy insecure laptop sleave.
There’s no access to the laptop sleeve in messenger bag mode, but there is another secret pocket!
For the first time in five years, I’ve finally found a new bag that’s worthy of everyday carry status. I’ve been carrying the Anvanda Bag exclusively for the last few weeks and, dare I say, I like it more than my old Timbuk2. Capacity wise, I often find myself lugging around my 13-inch MacBook Pro, 12.9 iPad Pro, and a folder stuffed with paper, and the Anvanda doesn’t flinch. It’s just big enough without feeling bulky. There are very few products that live up to the hype of clever marketing techniques, but the Anvanda team has pulled off something special here. The bag is truly phenomenal and worthy of a glowing recommendation. If you’re looking for a durable bag that can be carried in several modes, the Anvanda may very well be worth a look. It’s currently available and shipping via Indiegogo.
The Nock Co. Sinclair has been my go to case for years. It offers plenty of storage for pens and index cards and has lived in my work messenger back for some time. Although it’s a smaller case, sometimes one or two pens is enough, and I don’t need the extra room for stationery. I’ve never been a fan of those compact pen pouches, where the pens roll around freely, commingling with nothing between them. It’s fine for cheap pens, but I couldn’t stand to think about my Lamy 2000 or Pilot Vanishing Point getting scratches or chips from rolling around in a pen pouch. Nock Co.’s Tallulah offers an elegant solution to this problem, providing a compact form factor for my most cherished carry pens.
I received my Tallulah as a reward from the Pen Addict Live Kickstarter, and it’s been my primary pen case ever since. The case has two large pen slots which can handle larger pens like the TWSBI Go and those of standard size. Compact clip-less pens get lost at the bottom of the pocket, but this is common with most cases. The case also has a pocket for business cards, although I have used it to stash one or two extra pens, which it does well. There’s enough slack in the case to store four or five pens total with relative ease, unless they’re big guys. Keep in mind that pens stored in the business card pocket may rub together, so it’s probably best to reserve this for less expensive/delicate pens.
Those familiar with Nock Co. cases will find the same high quality design and construction in the Tallulah. The stitching holds up well under continuous use, and the case’s zipper is still going strong after hundreds of zips and unzips. As an orange fanatic, I love the clay/sunshine colorway. The outer case is a copper tone that’s much more subdued than my mandarin Sinclair, and I prefer it. The inner yellow is bright and cheery and the colors have stayed true despite constant usage.
The Tallulah is another fantastic addition to the Nock Co. line of cases. It’s also more than that, though. I’ve spent a lot of time on this blog exploring the fussy, finicky, and inconvenient—things fun to use but never practical on the go or as daily drivers. You may have noticed the lack of posts since August, and I have to be honest—my life has been complete chaos as of late. Amidst terminal illness (don’t worry—not me), hospital visits, and holiday travels, I appreciate the tools I can throw into a bag at a moment’s notice. The flexibility and compactness of the Tallulah makes it invaluable. My Lamy 2000 and Retro 51, along with a few business cards, live inside at all times. I can throw the Tallulah in a bag with a notebook and my iPad and work from anywhere. It’s this simplicity that has allowed me to continue to get things done amidst the chaos.
