I have this pen and your evaluation is right on the money. I drop it in my right front pocket and it is so handy for quick notes and lists. For longer writing sessions at a desk, it is not the pen that I will reach for. Something thicker is much more comfortable and I most likely will be using a stub if it's a letter.
Easily one my best pocket pens (which are 50+).. I liked it more during the pre-patina era though.. Note that you can use a Kaweco Sport mini converter with its piston pushed half way down. Also, I just realized that I’ve the exact same pens (82, Vintage Elite, N8 and TRC Brass) you showed in the comparison !
I think that's kind of the charm with copper or brass, patina or not they are nice. Sometimes, some people enjoy that process of having to do maintenance with their stuff, so if you get bored with the patina you can polish it back. You can even paint the bullet tip fairly easily if you want, if youre into customising it. I wish I could own more objects that could be made of solid metal to be made of solid metal, that's the appeal that you can make it look like plastic and all, and when you get bored you can restore it back as if it's new.
Great review! The design is pretty unique. Also will you review a Sheaffer imperial 440 fountain pen? It's a cartridge converter fountain pen and can take modern Sheaffer cartridge and the modern Sheaffer piston converter. The nib is inlaid just like the Sheaffer Targa and PFM and also have a very smooth writing feel
Someone is no doubt going to have something to say about this but....I don't care. I bought a generic brass travel pen from eBay for $7 a couple of years ago. It has a generic #5 Genus Iridium nib. It wrote fantastically out of the bubble wrap. No baby's bottom or any other nib issues. It just wrote. It has been dragged around everywhere and just looks more awesome the more that I use it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this pen in any way. I know, I know. Chinese pen manufacturers must somehow find a new design even when there is only so many ways to make a pen and European makers strangely get a pass. But the thing is, the design costs did not come close to the price difference in these two pens. The quality difference is vast and sadly, the cheap $7 pen beats this one for quality every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Ethics of design copying aside China is producing some incredible pens at very affordable prices. As they get the engineering and manufacturing down, I’m looking forward to seeing those companies branch out to more unique designs. Although I haven’t personally come across a copy of this Traveler’s pen, I usually see ones that resemble Kaweco models.
Nice pen with a relatively hefty weight. I am of two minds about the patina from brass, having to have to clean my outdoor brass lights a few years ago. I am the same way with pens made from sterling silver.
I could see people either embracing it or constantly trying to clean it. I don’t personally have a sterling silver pen, but for this brass one I’ve come to enjoy the ‘tarnished’ look. Maybe down the road I’ll do a video showing the cleaning process if it starts to bug me.
I recently purchased this pen and that was my main worry while doing so as well. I am very sensitive to smells and I’d simply threw this away if it bothered me but I don’t have any issues so far. Previously, I had read some comments saying your hands will smell like coins yes, and it is true in a way, but not that bothersome. I have been using my new pen for couple of days now and I do not have any urge to wash my hands right away after I use it. There slightly a smell but you have to put your hand right at your nose to smell it. And somehow it doesn’t linger much. Hope this helps.
I noticed some skipping I've only been using it for two days so I'm hoping it levels out. when I tried the instore one I loved the way it wrote so really hoping that it remedies itself
I recommend looking at the tines under a loop, make sure the spacing is ok. Yours may also have baby’s bottom, which isn’t unheard of from Japanese pens. Also you could try other types of ink.
Good suggestion! Though I wonder how it would hold up after unscrewing the barrel a few times. This was really just a small nit pick of mine in the scheme of things.
