Pilot Cavalier Fountain Pen Review

(This is a guest post by Brian Gushikawa)

Disclosure: This is a review of a used pen that I repaired to working condition. Writing performance might not be fully reflected in this, but the rest of the review is solid for all Cavaliers. Note that manufacturing variance means that some nibs and feeds need adjusting and no mass produced pen is immune from needing adjustment sometimes.

The Pilot Cavalier Fountain Pen is a slender and very elegant pen, seemingly custom-tailored to fit into pen loops in journals and reminder calendars. The pen is light and styled for office and professional use. This pen seems ideal for women because it's a perfect fit for smaller hands and the pastel colors available can mesh quite well with professional attire.

Smoothness: The steel F nib makes about a 0.4 to 0.5mm line and is not as stiff as the wider Prera and Penmanship pens. The tines are longer and the overall width of the nib is about half as much as a standard Pilot wide nib. The unit I got was fairly smooth for such a thin line; thin nibs are scratchier because they have less of an ink cushion to glide on. This pen is good, though.

Grip and Balance: The grip is smooth and slender, meaning that folks with larger hands might find this uncomfortable to grasp for long periods of time. The cap is kind of heavy compared to the rest of the pen and the balance when its posted is helped greatly. It counterbalances the longer nib very well.

Ink Flow: My unit needed some work, so I cannot say how a standard production pen will be, but expect finer nibs to lay down less ink and seem a little scratchier.

Build Quality: This is where this pen really excels. The tight fit and finish is wonderful to behold and the lacquer job on the barrel is really thick and well done. Threads align 100% and the cap posts on the front with a very nice snap. The seal is tight enough to prevent nib dry out, too.

Capacity: You have options for Pilot Cartridges or a CON-20. I am not sure that the CON-50 or CON-70 would fit the slender barrel, but the choice of the CON-20 expands options on ink.

Clip: Strong, solid and metal. Affixed securely to the stoutly constructed cap.

Post: Affixes to the back with a satisfying click. Although the cap will spin, it won't come off while writing. Pilot really nailed it on this one.

Overall: Although this pen seems aimed at the female demographic, I'd say that a man with smaller hands would enjoy this pen quite a bit. The slender size is perfect for pen loops and the fine writing is great for college ruled notebooks. As long as the hand size is properly matched, I can recommend this pen without hesitation.

Ohto Fine Fountain Pen Review

There is no doubt that the Ohto Fine is a beautiful fountain pen. Long, sleek lines, sharp chrome accents, and a few curves for added visual effect. But functionality is the most important thing for me when using and reviewing a pen, and that is where the Ohto Fine falls short.

I have had great success with other Ohto pens I have reviewed, so I was surprised to be let down by this one. First of all, the length and weight of the pen with the cap posted makes it top heavy when writing. This leads to balance issues, and eventually writing fatigue if you use this pen for long periods of time. I didn’t make it that far due to my second issue with the pen - nib alignment.

I am not a fountain pen expert by any stretch, so it took me some time to figure out. The pen was very scratchy when making certain strokes, and upon closer inspection, the nib appears to be mis-aligned. It is very slight and hard to see, but one side of the nib is higher than the other. I could probably adjust it for slightly better performance, but by this point I was disillusioned with it.

The final issue - and one that will vary between user - is the grip section. Ohto may have gotten too aggressive with the design on this one, because the sharp curve of the barrel hits me right where I grip the pen. That angle cut digs right in to my fingers, and again limits the length of time I can write with it.

At $22.00, it isn’t going to break the bank, but there are better options in the same price range - the Lamy Safari comes to mind immediately. Sorry Ohto, three strikes and you’re out!

Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.3mm Grip Black Review

Finally!

After all of the talk, after all of the praise, after all of the top rankings, I finally have a review of the exact Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.3mm Grip Black that I talk about so much. This is my go to pen.

So, what makes this pen so special? The lines. This pen lays down the best, sharpest, and most consistent lines around. The grip is an added bonus that is only available on the black, blue, and red ink colors, so why not take advantage of that? I also buy the 0.3mm black refills for my Cavalier when I want to switch up the barrel but keep the same writing experience.

The only thing I regret is my photography. I might break down and reshoot this page. The lighting is funky, and the clarity is poor, making it hard to see how clean the lines really are, even in the larger size photos on Flickr. I didn’t realize how bad it turned out until I sat down to write this post.

As much as I love this pen, it is not for everyone. Some find that the 0.3mm tip is just too fine. But if you ever want to take a chance on a pen and a new writing experience, the Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.3mm might just be for you.