Posts filed under Schon DSGN

Schon DSGN Anniversary Rollerball Pen Review

Q: Is there such a thing as a rollerball pen that takes fountain pen ink?

A: Yes!

Q: Is there such a thing as a good rollerball pen that takes fountain pen ink?

A: Well, …

Fountain pen ink compatible rollerball pens have been around for as long as I have been writing this blog. In general, they have been hit or miss, where “hit” means “passable on a good day.” There have been downright bad ones that I have tested, like the Kaweco Sport Roller and J. Herbin models, plus decent ones that get recommended sometimes, like the Monteverde Engage and One Touch. There has been one great one that has crossed my desk, the Pilot V5 Hi-Techpoint, but it is not easy to find, and not the style of pen many people want.

The issue with the rollerball fountain pen-in my unscientific experience-is that fountain pen ink isn’t as lubricated as other standard inks, which allows the ink to flow smoothly through the metal roller ball tip. Whenever I’ve tested these pens in the past, it has been a dry, scratchy experience. The needle-tip design of the Hi-Techpoint delivers the ink better than the rest, but that design is specific to Pilot.

Other manufacturers, such as Montegrappa, use the Schmidt Cartridge-Rollerball-System PRS tip, as do many smaller makers. That’s the tip used in the Schon DSGN Anniversary Edition, and that I’ve been testing out for months. And you know what? It’s better than expected. That’s why the two Montegrappa pens are the most recommended in this category, and why custom makers are beginning to mix this option into their lineups.

Schon DSGN sent me the full Anniversary kit (fountain, ballpoint, and rollerball fittings,) for review, but this pen is also available in a rollerball-only version. And, already owning several Schon DSGN Pocket Six fountain pens and Ballpoint pens, I wanted to give the rollerball a full go.

The rollerball tip is designed for use with international cartridges and converters, specifically short international in the case of this Schon DSGN model. I chose Graf von Faber Castell Olive Green cartridges for my first attempt, and this ink has been a perfect match.

The biggest concern of this setup is the feel of the tip as it writes on the page. I expected dry and scratchy based on previous experiences, and my expectations were unfounded. The ink flowed well, and I couldn’t feel the metal hitting the paper. The experience is, dare I say, nice. Is it on the level of the Schmidt P8127 rollerball for smoothness? No, but your ink options are essentially endless. I think that is a fair trade.

Now, have I tested this with a wide range of ink types? No. Do I expect all inks to behave as well as this one? Also no. But I don’t have that expectation with my fountain pen nibs, either. GvFC Olive Green is a standard, moderate ink, which fits this pen well.

Outside of the rollerball tip, which is ostensibly what this is a review of, the rest of the Schon DSGN Anniversary Pen represents everything I already love about Schon DSGN pens. The smaller-sized barrel is a great size, the machining tolerances are on point, and brass is a beautiful material for a pocket pen like this that is designed to show wear and tear.

The only question I have when using this pen is to post the cap, or not? It’s a tweener, meaning it’s too short unposted to write for long sessions, and too back-heavy when posted due to the added weight of the brass. For most of my writing with it, I post the cap.

Would I recommend the Schon DSGN Rollerball? Yes. For personal use, I think I would get along with the lighter weight aluminum barrel better, but there is something about the brass patina that makes me keep reaching for this one.

Now, it is time to experiment with inks!

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

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Posted on July 11, 2022 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Schon DSGN, Rollerball, Pen Reviews.

Schon DSGN Pocket Six Fountain Pen 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. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

If you read my Chicago Pen Show post, you know that this was the last pen I bought, when I was supposed to already be leaving--the pen I just couldn't leave behind, even though it sent me over budget. No regrets. This is an amazing pen.

This is the multi-color version of the Schon DSGN Pocket Six, in a color that was exclusive to the Chicago show. It has one of Schon's "Extragalactic" color patterns, with swirls of orange and black, with silver dots and swipes that look like stars. This colorway looks like Halloween night to me, so it's no wonder I couldn't resist.

The "six" in the name comes from the fact that this wee pen, measuring only 9cm when capped, has a full-size number six nib on it. The metal body feels solid, but not too heavy. The cap unscrews from the grip section and screws onto the back, giving it extra length for comfortable writing. I find it comfortable to write with unposted as well. Every join is very precise and every seam smooth. The cap threads have an o-ring that keeps the nib from drying out or leaking between uses, so this pocket pen really is safe in your pocket. I even had it in my pocket on an airplane with no issues at all.

It's too small to take a converter, but it does take short international cartridges. For my recent Colorado trip, this was my #1 pen. I used it every hour of every day. The EF nib was perfect for taking notes or using on any handy paper, and it fit perfectly into my pocket, purse, or even into the wee clutch bag I carried for the fancy events. And it has been with me ever since, from home to work to fun nights out. It's convenient and practical, and it has gotten me lots of comments when I get it out to write. It may even have sparked a few new pen addicts--there were covetous glints in the eyes of a few writing friends who had never considered using fountain pens before. I've owned this pen for a month and it has already written one short story, four poems, and a bit of novel. I'm not saying it's magical, but I'm not not saying that.

I would expect this pen to cost a lot more than the $165 Ian currently charges for it. It seems rare, these days, to get a pen this nice for under $200. But I'm very glad I did, and I'd do it again. I probably will do it again.

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Posted on June 9, 2022 by Sarah Read and filed under Schon DSGN, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Schon DSGN Pocket Six Faceted Brass Fountain Pen Review

Pen shows are back on the schedule in the US. For how long? Who can really say at this point. I’ve missed attending them, that’s for sure, because the memories made at these events are worth more than any pen or ink or paper that I bring home.

Why do I bring this up at the beginning of this review? Because a pen show is where I first saw the Schon DSGN Pocket Six Faceted Brass Fountain Pen.

I see a lot of pens for the first time at pen shows, so why does this one stick out more than most? Well, have you seen it? That’s what people kept telling me as they were bringing them over to me see at the 2020 Baltimore Pen Show - aka the last pen show I attended in person.

I had just seen Ian at the Philadelphia Pen Show five weeks prior, and even got to tour his workshop as part of a group during that event. The Pocket Six had recently been launched, and I made sure to purchase my second one, with the newly-added Jowo nib compatible grip section.

Fast-forward those handful of weeks to Baltimore, where I had brought Nock Co. to put in some hours behind the table, instead of mixing and mingling, as I did in Philly. Knowing my love for Schon DSGN pens, my “friends” started appearing at my table with their latest purchase that they couldn’t wait to show me. Yes, this very bright, shiny, and beautiful faceted brass Pocket 6. Ian had been very busy since I last saw him!

This pen represented a big change in the Schon DSGN lineup. The pen bodies had always been minimally styled, with the addition of wild anodizing taking the pens up a notch in the recent years. But to modify the base cylinder with a design as complex as these facets? Well, these just jumped off the table when people saw them in Baltimore, and quickly made their way over to me.

I didn’t have the opportunity to grab one at the time, but Ian was kind enough to send me one later to review. If you couldn’t tell by now, I like the pen.

Exterior design aside, the Pocket Six is an excellent pocket-sized fountain pen. As good as any on the market, especially since it is built around a #6 sized nib. I love my #5 nibs, as found in Kaweco Classics and Sports, but using a #6 nib is an upgrade across the board.

Posting is key for pocket pens, and the Pocket Six design handles that with threads on the end of the barrel to attach the cap to. It takes less than two turns to uncap the pen, and then the same amount to post, so it is a relatively fast process.

When posted, it is a perfectly sized writer. That’s what pocket pens do the best. Capped, they can hide away in a pocket or a pouch. Uncapped and posted, the are full-sized writing workhorses.

All of that said, it is the machined faceting that makes the Pocket Six pop. I love the design, and the end result makes for a stunning pen. This design doesn’t come cheap, though, starting at $250 for the faceted model, versus $142 for the standard polished brass.

Is it worth it? It depends on what you feel about the aesthetic. It is a true step up in looks from the base model, but exactly the same from a performance perspective. Regardless of the model you choose, I guarantee you will come away impressed with the work of Ian Schon.

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

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