Little Hollow Customs “Mistress” Fountain Pen Review

One of my favorite things about attending pen shows is getting to meet new makers, and hear their ideas for the products they are producing. I’ve been able to talk to Em and Logan, the makers behind Little Hollow Customs (and their awesome daughters as well!) a couple of times over the past year, and getting to see their work grow in that short amount of time has been fun to see.

At the 2025 Washington D.C. Fountain Pen SUPERSHOW last month, I couldn’t help but be taken by the variety of pens I saw at their table. The beautifully crafted, polished, and finished acrylic pens are merely the start, with various sections, barrel bands, and metal finishes - even full metal options - make you stop, pick up, and then ask “tell me about this one.”

Hearing how makers describe what they do gives me life. And I’m not just talking about pen makers. People who are the most passionate about what they make - stickers, notebooks, inks, pens, any and all stationery - make the best products. It’s obvious, right?

It’s obvious to me with the Mistress, the uniquely named fountain pen that I’m reviewing today (read more about the name here), that details matter to Little Hollow Customs. With acrylic pens, I’m looking for a consistent polish, smooth threading, and a few “extras” that can set one pen apart from the other. For example, the little dimple on the end of the barrel is a nice touch. It changes nothing about the performance of the pen, and if it wasn’t there it would be a non-issue, but is one of those extras I notice, and enjoy.

SQUIRREL!

The dimple discussion is burying the lede on what I like the most about this pen: the metal grip section. The material is Nickel Silver, and provides the exact feel I’m looking for in a pen. I like front-weighted pens, so metal sections are my jam, and this one is shaped perfectly. There is a moderate concave into a flared out section before the nib, allowing my fingers to settle in to write.

The barrel band is a nice added touch, in matching Nickel Silver, along with a finial disc with their SQUIRREL! logo. Another small detail, often overlooked, is a ledge cut inside the cap to rest against the grip section when capping the pen to help keep extra air out around the nib. In addition, the cap only takes a half-turn to uncap, so those who need quick access will be happy.

The barrel material is Carolina Pen Company Primary Manipulation 5, and the sparkles in the acrylic pop against the metal accents. I chose Bungubox Sanctuary Blue to ink up the Jowo #6 1.1 mm stub nib, which features a second SQUIRREL! The Mistress is as nice to write with as it is to look at.

The highest compliment I can pay makers is that they “get it.” I think Em and Logan, and Little Hollow Customs, certainly do, and I can wait to see what they come up with next. Like a piston-filler.

(Little Hollow Customs provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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My Pen Picks for San Francisco Show & Tell

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

One of the best parts of pen shows (or any pen gathering) is the opportunity to try other people’s pens. It’s neat to see how other pens look and feel and maybe find a new pen or grind to add your wishlist. It’s just as important (if not, more so) to discover things you might not like - maybe a pen’s grip section is too small, or it is too light or too heavy, or doesn’t fit right in your hand.

With the San Francisco Pen Show this weekend and a lot of empty slots in the currently inked pen binder to fill, I wanted to pick some pens that would be cool for folks to check out and try. Here are some of the criteria I used (in no particular order):

• Nib - Is there something particularly interesting or uncommon about the nib? Maybe it’s been ground, or it is flexy, or a less common ultra extra fine.
• Grinds - Yes, I know I mentioned it above, but more specifically, is there variety in the grinds I’m picking?
• Size - Rather than picking the “typically sized” pens, I like to have pens in different sizes, lengths, girth, grip sections, weights, etc.
• Materials/finish - Is there something different about the pen material itself? A cool resin/blank? Ebonite? Urushi?
• Newer release - When possible, I try to ink up the more recent acquisitions, especially if it’s something that people have been wondering about.
• Less common - This might be a lesser known brand or model, or a hard to find, “grail”-type of pen.

I won’t bore you with the contents of the 48-pen binder, but here are some of the especially fun ones I picked out:

Don’t worry, there are more than these for folks to try at the SF Show during after hours! (Pens are shown, left to right, in the order listed below.)

• Sailor Pro Gear Mini, Crimson - This has the same girth as the Pro Gear, as well as the 21k gold nib, but in a shorter form factor. This has the older screw-to-post barrel (current models post as usual). You can either use Sailor cartridges or their mini converter.

• Aurora Alpha - I bought this at the St Louis Pen Show because I didn’t know about this model which was released in the early 90s. This model also has an interesting grip that I’d never seen before either.

• Platinum 3776 Carnelian - I recently got this stacked Coarse nib (done by Gena Salorino of Custom Nib Studio). The gold colored nib doesn’t match the Carnelian’s silver trim, but it fits in this pen’s Music nib housing (the Music nib is sitting at home sulking). You’ve gotta try writing with it!

• Red Dragon pen with Regalia Writing Labs Trilogy nib - This is one of Ralph Reyes’ Trilogy nibs from ~2019 and is a triple stacked nib that writes wickedly broad on the regular and fine on the reverse. The gorgeous vintage material that Brian Chu of Red Dragon Pen Co used can’t be captured in photos.

• Leonardo Momento Zero with Stylosuite X-Wing Harpoon nib - This is one of my absolute favorite flex nibs and it’s made by Les Sheely of Stylosuite. I almost always have this nib inked up.

• Lamy 2000 with BB Architect/Slightly Stubby Medium Fine on the reverse - This is probably hands down, my favorite nib that Gena has ever done for me (and they’ve done a lot!). Architects aren’t usually my favorite grind (I”m a cursive italic fan) but Gena’s architects are great and this one on a former blob of a BB nib is perfect for my high angle, with the added bonus of a slightly stubbish line on the reverse.

• Pilot x Bungubox Custom 823 - It’s an 823, but more importantly, it’s a colorful 823! Made for Bungubox’s 10th anniversary two years ago, I believe only 200 pens were made. I was fortunate to make it on the waiting list and to have my name called on my birthday - it was definitely a sign! I also like to ink it up around show time because I get to show it to Kaoru of Bungubox at the show!

• Schon x Custom Nib Studio Sashiko fountain pen - This pen was released mid-last month, love the combination of this pen being a result of two good friends’ collaboration, the cross pattern on black ultem, and the Broad Journaler nib.

• ST Dupont Line D Large, Firehead Guilloche Ocean Blue - ST Dupont is not a super common brand, but it has the best snap cap out there, and their nibs write like buttah. And this one is gorgeous, and blue, and has some heft too. Lots of stuff to try in one pen.

Look at the detail of the guilloche AND the scalloped edge of the nib!

• Waterman Carene - If you like inlaid nibs, the Carene is definitely something to check out. I love the look of this nib and it writes so nicely too!

• Pelikan M815 Blue Stripes - Y’all know I love my birds, so when this pen was announced, I had to get it. It’s blue, it’s a Pelikan, and it’s got the metal stripes which makes it heavier than the regular M80x.

• Pilot Myu - The Myu isn’t a pen you get to see every day, and this one has a Medium nib, which is even less common.

• Montblanc 146 and Pilot 823 - Two great writers made even better with urushi and raden work by Hiroko Makino of Bokumondoh. (I’m bringing others too!)

• Krusac L-15, Purple Heartwood with Regalia Writing Labs Sequel - I’ve been meaning to ink up this Krusac again because most folks have never tried a pen made from wood. I paired it with a stacked nib which writes fine on the regular and mega broad on the reverse.

These aren’t the only pens I’ll have with me - the rest of the 48-pen binder will be filled with inky goodness too. So come find me if you want to try these or any of the pens I’m bringing. Your best bet is to find me after dinner, usually not too far from the bar, lol :-) I’m so looking forward to seeing/meeting folks at the SF Pen Show this weekend!

(Disclaimer: All pens pictured are my own, aka, not sent in for review, etc.)

Laban Pens - A Quick Comparison

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

Last year, Luxury Brands of America added Laban Pens to their portfolio of brands that they distribute (including Platinum, Waldmann, Colorverse, Girologio, and others). Founded in Taiwan, Laban Pens has been making pens since 1981 (and inks in 2020). While I own all of their mythology series inks, I didn’t own any Laban Pens, so I wanted to take a closer look at their various models. Thank you to Bryce Gillett from LBA for loaning these pens for review.

Note:

• These aren’t all of the pens that Laban makes/sells, just the ones I was able to get from Bryce since their inventory is often flying off their shelves.
• Since these pens are on loan, I did not ink them up.
• Some of the models are also available as rollerballs/ballpoints, but I am only reviewing the fountain pens.
• I confirmed with Bryce that Laban nib housings are glued in, but you can pull the nib/feed out (it took more force than I was comfortable with, so I did not do so).

325 (and 326):

One of the best known models of Laban Pen is the 325. Most of its colorways sport a cream & light brown cap and finial, while others have a solid black cap/finial. The 325 is a great canvas for highlighting various barrel materials. They announced the 326 earlier this year, which is the same pen as the 325 but with special artisan resins for the barrel. The first, and only colorway so far, is Blue Mirage.

The 325/326 is a fairly light pen, comes equipped with a gold-toned Jowo 6 nib, and is available in Extra Fine to Broad and 1.5 for steel, and Flex EF and Flex F in 14kt gold. Note that this is Jowo’s “flex” nib which isn’t very flexy, even in 14kt gold. The retail price starts at $160 (steel nib), or $360 (14kt gold nib).

Two examples of the Laban 325 model, made with Jonathon Brooks resins, one with cream cap/finial and the other with black cap/finial. Both gorgeous!

The many colors of the 325.

Antique’II:

The Antique’II is the second in the Laban brass series (the first being Antique), and has etched/engraved lines down the cap and barrel. It is made from recycled brass, so expect some patina on the trim (clip/finials/cap band) over time.

The Antique’II is available in EF to Broad. It uses a smaller, two-toned nib, which is made by Bock. I was unable to remove the nib or unscrew the housing to confirm if it is compatible with Kaweco Sports but it looks like it should. It is a slimmer pen with a smaller nib, but the brass gives it some heft. The pen retails for $120.

Laban Antique’II Fountain Pen in Grey.

Antique’II nib (left) next to a Kaweco Sport.

“Jewellery” Series - Abalone and Mother of Pearl:

The Abalone pen comes in two trim colors, Silver and Gun Metal (grey). The Mother of Pearl (MOP) has silver trim. Both start at $270 with a two-toned, size 6 Schmidt steel nib (EF to B). The Mother of Pearl starts at $330 with the same nib options. Both the Abalone and MOP pens are made from real abalone shell and mother of pearl.

Laban Abalone with Gun Metal trim (left) and Mother of Pearl.

Formosa:

The Formosa has a blue swirled resin base that is covered with a silver-plated overlay. It is equipped with a specially-engraved, silver-toned EF- Broad Jowo 6 nib and retails for $280.

Galileo:

The Galileo has a multi-layer overlay design - a resin base, topped with two different plated overlays. Despite two overlays, the Galileo is not a super heavy pen. It is very comfortable to hold because it’s not very hefty. There are currently two colorways, the one shown below (black, rose gold, silver) and rose gold (cream, silver, rose gold). It is equipped with a two-toned EF-Broad nib and retails for $280.

This Laban Galileo has a black resin base, rose gold gear layer, and a silver-plated overlay on top.

Galileo in hand, surprisingly as not heavy as it looks.

Rosa:

The Rosa is another pen in Laban’s Resin collection and has trim bands around the cap, and at the top & bottom. I like the slightly conical ends which makes it visually more interesting than cigar or flat ends. It is equipped with a two-toned EF-Broad nib and retails for $140.

Laban Rosa in Lilac.

Skeleton:

The Skeleton is another overlay pen in Laban’s Filigree collection. Unlike the Formosa or Galileo pens, which have non-transparent bases, the Skeleton has a clear, transparent acrylic base which is then covered with silver, gun metal, rose gold, or in this case, a rainbow plated-metal overlay. The Rose Gold version has a two-toned nib, while the other colors (including Rainbow) have a silver-toned nib. EF-Broad nib sizes are available and most colors retail for $280, while the Rainbow is $300.

Laban Skeleton in Rainbow.

Skeleton uncapped. Not gonna lie, I wish the nib was also rainbow and not silver-tone.

Taroko:

Like the Rosa, the Taroko is part of the Resin collection. The Taroko is a cigar-shaped, gold trim pen. Unlike the Rosa, the Taroko does not have trim rings near the top or bottom of the pen, giving it a clean, classic look. It is equipped with a two-toned EF-Broad nib and retails for $140.

Laban Taroko in Pinnacle.

Laban pens capped (left to right): 325, Antique’II, Abalone, Formosa, Galileo, Mother of Pearl, Rosa, Skeleton, Taroko.

Laban pens posted - While the pens are postable, there is nothing preventing the cap band or threads from potentially scratching the barrel when posting. As such, I gently put the cap on the barrel for the photos. It would also make some of the pens (especially the MOP) extremely back heavy.

Comparison with other pens (L to R): Platinum 3776, Sailor Pro Gear, TWSBI Eco, Laban Pens, Visconti Homo Sapiens, Pilot Custom 823, Pelikan M800, Leonardo Momento Zero.

All of the pens come with a Laban-banded converter (already installed in the pen), orange nib bookmark (and a little tag to let you know the sticker is below the pen panel), and booklet - all encased in a blue box and white box sleeve. Cartridges are not included.

Laban’s converter is standard international. The clear piston knob is less distracting in their Skeleton pens.

Laban’s packaging (minus white box sleeve) shown with the Laban Rosa. I like the orange nib bookmark (on top of the box.)

The Laban pens come in a wide range of styles and price points, and are outfitted with reliable nibs (based on my experience with Schmidt and Jowo nibs on other pens), making them worth checking out. After spending time with all the pens, I’ve been eyeing the Laban Rosa in Lilac and the Taroko in Pinnacle and might have to reach out to Bryce about buying one of them 😀 Laban Pens can be purchased from all of our site sponsors, including Vanness Pens, Pen Chalet, JetPens, and Goldspot, and you can see them at next week's San Francisco Pen Show at the Luxury Brands tables.

(Disclaimer: All pens were on loan for review by Bryce Gillett of Luxury Brands of America. All other pens are my own.)