Franklin-Christoph Model 40 Pocket Fountain Pen Review

I have been raving about the Franklin-Christoph Model 40 Pocket fountain pen since I first laid eyes on the Smoke and Ice model earlier this year. It took a few months of hemming and hawing before I pulled the trigger. As I look back now I am left to wonder what took me so long.

The Model 40 Pocket it is a true pocket pen. The smooth acrylic barrel and clipless design allows the pen to slide into even the tightest jeans pocket with ease. (F-C has introduced a clipped version in three models if that is more to your liking.) It is made to be used with the cap posted, and while some may not like that, it is part of what makes this particular pen so great.

While I have been enjoying the portability of the Model 40 Pocket, the sheer beauty of the Smoke and Ice barrel has me wanting this pen with me at all times. Part of the reason it looks so cool is the ability to use it as an eyedropper filler. Short international ink cartridges work fine, but the translucency of the barrel is begging you to allow the ink to slosh around. Was I nervous about using it as an eyedropper AND carrying it in my pocket? Absolutely, but I went for it and it has worked flawlessly since day one.

The feature list doesn't end with portability and beauty. Franklin-Christoph offers something with this pen (and several other models) that no one else does: Nibs customized by nib master Mike Masuyama. F-C offers standard sized (EF, F, M, B) steel and 18k gold nibs, and for a small premium you can upgrade to a Masuyama steel or 18k gold Needlpoint, Cursive Italic (M or B), or Stub (M or B).

For my Smoke and Ice Model 40 Pocket I chose the steel medium cursive italic, or what I now refer to as nib nirvana. There is not another nib in my arsenal that I enjoy as much as this one. It is exceptionally smooth while keeping the sharp, clean lines I would expect from a cursive italic nib. You can see why I enjoy it so much in the writing sample below.

I am prone to hyperbole and use extraneous words in my writing that any high school newspaper editor would strike out immediately. But I write how I feel, regardless of it is proper technique or not. The Franklin-Christoph Model 40 Pocket is an amazing pen and an all-time favorite. I can't imagine ever not having this pen inked up.

PEN: Franklin-Christoph Model 40 Pocket

INK: Sailor Jentle Sky Blue

PAPER: Rhodia DotPad

Pilot 78G Fountain Pen Review

I'm continually surprised by the fountain pens that can be had for less than twenty dollars. I have a few, and they've mostly been delightful to use and share with others who are interested in fountain pens. Today I'll be focusing on the Pilot 78G.

I first learned about the 78G after reading a couple of reviews from PenFan and The Daily Acquisition. To be honest, I've had many Pilot fountain pens on my wish list for quite some time, but most of them are a little expensive. After reading these reviews, I quickly found a reputable eBay dealer and bought a pen to try. The pen shipped from Hong Kong, so it took a week and a half to arrive. For a "cheap" pen, it has not let me down. I think I paid $12 for the pen with shipping, which is a few bucks cheaper than the Metropolitan.

The nib is a very smooth writer, which I expected from a Pilot. The fine nib is on par for the Japanese nibs – nice and small. I used the black ink cartridges that came with the pen, though it also came with a converter. The converter is the type that is included with the Metropolitan. The black ink from Pilot is dark and quick to dry.

The ergonomics of the pen are comfortable, but they detract from the aesthetics. It's light, which makes it ideal for long sessions, but it also looks like brittle plastic and attracts scratches from minor use. I'm not a fan of the gold trim, but that's included on all the color options. In general, I don't expect it to look amazing because of the cost. The aesthetic concerns vanish once I start writing or drawing.

This pen is similar in price to the Sailor High-Ace Neo, and I sometimes favor that pen over the 78G. It's a tough call, but the Sailor puts down a finer line. The pens feel similar in my hand, so maybe I'm just partial to the Sailor because of the silver trim.

Overall, I don't think you can find many pens with such good value and solid performance. It can be slightly difficult to find one, but I had very good luck with eBay. There are several colors (black, red, teal, and green) and nib options (F, M, and B) to choose from. Some sellers even sell packs of several colors. If you are looking for a cost-effective Pilot for yourself or a fountain pen beginner, the Pilot 78G is a good place to start.

Kaweco Elite Review

Another sample recieved from the fine people at Kaweco, the Kaweco Elite is different than any Kaweco pen I have previously reviewed. Most people know Kaweco as the premier pocketable fountain pen manufacturer - the AL Sport and ART Sport are two of my favorites - and they also do a fine job with full sized pens like the Kaweco Allrounder.

The pocketable pens and most of the full sized pens share one thing in common: the nib. It is smaller, somewhere around what many would consider a #5 sized nib. They are also interchangable, meaning an AL Sport nib can be unscrewed and put into an Allrounder. The Kaweco Elite is a loner in the main Kaweco production line, using a larger steel nib they call the 250, which is along the lines of a #6 sized nib.

The larger nib works wonderfully for the Elite since it is a bigger, heavier pen. The barrel is turned from a single block of piano lacquer acrylic with a high-gloss finish that looks spectacular on the octagonal barrel. The metal cap has quite a bit of weight too - you aren't going to want to write with it posted.

Weight isn't an issue at all when writing - any concerns vanished once the nib hit the page. The medium steel nib is smooth and consistent. It is firm as well, which is a feature I personally enjoy a lot in my fountain pen nibs.

This is a great pen, made only better by using a bottle of Kaweco Aubergine in the provided converter, which is the color you see in the written review below. I'll be sad to send this one back to Kaweco, but it has earned a solid spot near the top of my wish list.

You can currently purchase the Kaweco Elite from JetPens for $150 in F, M, and B nib sizes.

Thank you to Kaweco for providing this product for review! You should also check out Azizah's review at Gourmet Pens for more information on the Kaweco Elite.