Posts filed under Pen Reviews

First Look: Wancher Dream Pen

Wancher launched a new fountain pen Kickstarter today, and I was one of the few who received a loaner pen to preview. If you couldn’t tell by now, they have put on the full-court press in the community around this launch, and for good reason: This pen is something else.

If there is any pen style that makes my heart go pitter-pat it is Japanese urushi pens. Keep that in mind as I discuss this pen because by nature I am predisposed to like it. This is the perfect style of pen for my tastes.

Normally, just saying the words “Japanese” and “urushi” put dollar sign thoughts in your head, and rightfully so. The Wancher Dream Pen itself is expensive, but relative to the time it takes to manufacture one of these pens and where similar pens in the market are priced, this one is intriguing.

What Wancher is trying to do with this project is to bring back the artistry around urushi pens. As with many once in demand skills and trades, the demand for labor and time intensive tasks has shrunk in our modern world. Anything we can do to help continue these valuable traditions I’m all for supporting.

I’ve had my Dream Pen for several weeks now and not only have I enjoyed using it, I can see the craftsmanship that went into making it. The fit and finish of the pen is outstanding, and the urushi application is as good as any that I have seen with my admittedly untrained eyes.

There are several different backer levels of this project, but two primary pen choices: Polished Ebonite or Urushi coated. The polished Ebonite pen ($175 Super Early Bird) alone is worth backing in my book. Yes, it’s “just” a plain black pen, but you get all the pleasure of the Dream Pen without the urushi pricing. Plus, you have the choice of a steel nib to save even more and swap in your own nib.

*L to R: Aurora Optima, Pilot 823, Nakaya Portable, Wancher Dream Pen, Eboya Houga, Edison Pearl, Sailor Professional Gear*

I will be backing one of the urushi coated pens ($350 Super Early Bird), most likely the red, although they don’t make it an easy choice. Blue, Black, and Tamenuri (the finish of my loaner pen) all look stunning. The nibs are Jowo so they are great quality, although I would like to see something added to the design to make a special pen more special. Even a simple logo stamping would help. The price is good enough that I’ll get over it quickly.

*It's right there with the Sailor King of Pen size-wise*

Wancher is a known quantity, but a still new-to-me brand. I’ve enjoyed the few products of theirs that have crossed my desk. I’ve seen nothing out of them so far that makes me think they aren’t going to delivery exactly what they promise in the Kickstarter project, but understand that this is Kickstarter. There are inherent risks with any project. Most of the time it works out as intended, other times there are bumps along the road.

I appreciate the work Wancher has put into this project ahead of time, and I look forward backing this project and owning a Dream Pen of my own.

(Wancher provided this product on loan to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on January 25, 2018 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Wancher, Kickstarter, Pen Reviews.

Retro 1951 Elephant and Rhino Rescue Ballpoint Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

Every time I think "I don't really need another Retro 51", they go and do something like the Elephant and Rhino Rescue Ballpoint. Beautiful pen? Check. Great writing experience? Check. Charity contribution that not only tugs at my heartstrings but pulls them out through my tear ducts? Double check.

Here's another edition of the Tornado that takes a quality pen build and turns it onto a work of art--something Retro 51 does so well. The gunmetal grey body has been acid-etched with a geometric elephant and rhino pattern that mimics the look of pachyderm skin. Clever and gorgeous--and functional, as the texture gives the pen excellent grip.

The build also includes the much beloved features of the Tornado--the knurled top with the twist mechanism to deploy the tip, and the sturdy but springy metal clip. The nose cone unscrews to remove the Easy Flow 9000 ballpoint refill.

The ink in the refill is intended as a ballpoint/rollerball hybrid--and I think it achieves that. It has the smoothness and darkness of liquid rollerball ink, but the drier, long-lasting properties of ballpoint ink. It is very smooth and pleasant to write with. I did get some slight smearing on the side of my hand at one point, but I was writing on coated paper and not being terribly careful. Once the ink had a moment to dry, I didn't have any more smearing. If the ballpoint ink isn't to your taste, it looks like the rollerball refill will also work, if you purchase it with a conversion pack--or you can use any parker-style refill.

Best of all, for every pen sold, donations will be made to ERP--Elephants, Rhinos & People--a nonprofit that helps save the endangered Elephants and Rhinos of Southern Africa. You can learn more about their fantastic work at ERP.ngo.

If I'm to find anything to criticize about this pen, I have to pick some nits. Because really, overall, it's swell. But. The texture is a little on the harsh side and can feel a bit sharp in the hand. And I wish they'd put a decorative finial on the top like they do for other special editions. Also, I found it a bit tricky to insert the refill properly. That's probably something the matter with me, rather than the pen, though.

It's a great new addition to the Tornado line. If you're a Retro collector, an animal lover, or a pen addict of any kind, this is one you don't want to miss.

(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on January 18, 2018 by Sarah Read and filed under Retro 51, Pen Reviews.

Diplomat Magnum Asphalt Gel Pen Review

For me, a big reason that I like any pen is the color and type of material used in the body. In short, this is the aesthetic appeal of the pen, and I would guess that this also drives a majority of pen purchases for other people as well. But, the aesthetic appeal can only carry the pen so far — it also needs to function well as a writing instrument.

The Diplomat Magnum gel pen is a sleek and stylish click pen that features an asphalt gray finish. The finish is a sleek combination of dark gray material with silver flecks mixed in. It's a pretty material that I enjoy quite a bit.

The Magnum also uses a standard Parker-style refill, which is a really good thing since the included refill is quite an under-performer.

When I pick up a gel pen, I usually don't have any concerns about skipping, hard starts, or other issues that typically crop up with ballpoint refills. With the Diplomat, I was bound for disappointment in the refill area.

The gel refill in the Magnum is unlike any others I've used. Picking the pen up and writing with it isn't normally possible without doing a few seconds of scribbling on scratch paper to get the ink flowing. Once the ink starts flowing, the delivery is skippy and inconsistent. If you stop writing for more than 10 seconds, the ink has already dried up and requires more scribbling. All told, it's an incredibly frustrating refill.

The fact that this pen accepts all Parker-style refills really saves its bacon. This is a truly attractive pen that feels good in the hand, and it's also a pretty good value at $20. My only advice is that you need a replacement refill from the beginning if you choose to purchase this pen. There's a chance that the refill I have is a dud, but gel duds usually refuse to write altogether in my experience.

With all this in mind, it's hard to recommend this pen unless you're absolutely in love with the aesthetics. Like I said, it feels great in the hand and operates perfectly as long as you discount the refill performance. Replacing the refill is a must, and this is an extra cost if you don't already have some Parker-style refills lying around.

If you like the style of the Magnum, I suggest you take a look at the Retro 51 Tornado lineup. They're a tad more expensive, but they're better pens that also feature much better refills. Plus, with the wide variety of styles, you're bound to find one that matches your fancy.

(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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