Kaweco Perkeo Calligraphy Set Review

(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!.)

The Kaweco Perkeo Calligraphy Set includes the Perkeo pen barrel and cap and three different grip sections, each housing 1.1, 1.5, or 1.9 millimeter nibs. 3 Kaweco Pearl Black cartridges are also included but I decided to use my Kaweco Midnight Blue cartridges instead. The set comes in a plastic box.

The pen, grip sections, and cartridges in a clear “tray”.

Since I have already done a review (of the Perkeo), I will focus on the Calligraphy Set. Not only does the set include 3 separate grip sections with the nib and feed, they are different shades of blue, so you can easily tell which nib you’re using. The light blue section holds the 1.1, the royal blue holds the 1.5, and the dark blue 1.9.

The light blue 1.1 section (left) is installed in the pen, 1.5 royal blue in the middle, and 1.9 dark blue on the right.

I knew that the Perkeo would work right out of the box (which it did), but I was really surprised at how nicely it wrote! It wasn’t scratchy but it also wasn’t uncontrollably smooth either. In addition to this Ayush paper, I also tried the smoother Meringue paper and this pen behaved like a champ.

I felt that I had spent a fair amount of time with the 1.1; after all, it’s been inked up since August 1, and used five times before this article, so it was time for the 1.5 nib. This one isn’t quite as smooth as the 1.1, but I think it is a bit more sensitive to angle than the 1.1. Most companies use 1.1 for their stubs so I find it fun to use a 1.5 for variety, and it’s a faster way to go through ink.

1.1 on the first paragraph, and 1.5 for the rest of the page.

Of course, after the 1.1 and 1.5, I have to try the 1.9 and it, too, wrote well out of the box. (The 1.1 and 1.5 nibs have been sitting out on my desk for a few hours so the ink is more saturated. The top of this page is a bit lighter because I put a drop of water on the breather hole to get the ink started.)

Love all the ink that gets laid down by a 1.9!

I liked all three nibs pretty equally, but the 1.9 forces me to slow down a bit more so my letters aren’t as messy.

Writing sample of the 1.1, 1.5, and 1.9 nibs.

The Kaweco Perkeo Calligraphy set retails for $40, which is a good deal for a pen with 3 nibs/grip sections.

(Disclaimer: I bought this set from Vanness Pens. I already had the Kaweco Midnight Blue cartridges and Ayush Paper.)

PS - A 10 ml vial is a great to store the grip sections (Clearly, I cannot grammar when writing! You know what I meant, lol!)

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Kaweco AL Sport Piston Filler 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 Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

One of my favorite things to do is wander off to someplace scenic and then write a lot when I get there. Writing at home, where the dishes and laundry and cats and children are all competing for my attention, is nearly impossible for me these days. Really, I can write anywhere but at home, but good scenery helps. It's nice to have something pretty to look at as I stare into the distance for extended thinky time, which is 60% of the writing time.

But writing on the go has a conundrum. Pocket-sized pens are much more portable and easy to take on the go. BUT pocket-sized pens commonly do not hold much ink. I have a few trusty eyedropper pens that have served me well in these cases, but I was very excited when I learned that Kaweco was releasing a piston filler version of their pocket pen. I already love Kaweco pens, but a Kaweco with a built-in ink tank? Be still my heart.

I finally got my hands on one, and the verdict is: why do other pens even exist? That's a silly question, of course--I love all my other pens, also, and I wish I could write with every single one of them every single day. But this one really is the perfect "run away and write lots" pen. I believe we will have many adventures together.

Our first adventure was a few weeks ago at an all-day write-in at a winery in the middle of the countryside. The setting was gorgeous, the words were flowing, and this pen was a champ.

The Kaweco piston filler comes in two models, the Classic, which is made of plastic, and the AL, or aluminum model. I chose the aluminum one for its durability. It has the characteristic Kaweco Sport shape with the cylindrical body and hexagonal, long cap that covers most of the pen. The cap posts securely to make a normal length pen, though I prefer to write with it unposted. This model has a built-in clip, which delights me. It's the same design as their add-on clips, but this one won't slip off--though you can remove it by unscrewing the finial, if you want. The aluminum body is anodized a matte black and all the finishes are in gold tones, which gives it a very elegant look.

The grip section is slightly shaped for good grip, and behind the grip and threads is an acrylic ink window so you can see how much ink you have left.

At the bottom of the pen is a cap that unscrews to reveal the piston knob. I really like this design. While the cap is a small piece you need to keep track of, keeping the piston knob covered prevents any accidental twisting that could result in ink spillage.

The pen has a gold plated steel nib. Mine is an EF, and it glides. It is so smooth, with just the perfect amount of flow. It's a fantastic writer. It never skipped or stopped for the entire five hours of writing I did at this retreat. It was the perfect pen for the day.

I received the starter set version of this pen, so it came in a beautiful presentation tin with a bottle of Kaweco's classic blue ink, which I was more than happy to fill it with. It's a lovely true blue and looks fantastic in the pen and on the page. The Starter Set AL Sport Piston Filler sells for $170 at JetPens, while the pen alone sells for $160.50. The Classic version in plastic costs $70. It's available in XF, F, M, B, and BB. And with this ink capacity, you could actually rock that BB. The prices all seem quite fair, in line with other Kaweco models. A regular AL Sport costs $76, so it makes sense that the added complexity and convenience of the piston model would be higher.

This pen has been my daily pen since it was inked, and I still haven't had to refill it. This is going to be the perfect pen to take on longer trips without having to worry about running out of ink. There are a plethora of writing events coming up throughout the rest of the year, along with my usual November writing retreat and one long work trip. Kaweco will be my trusty sidekick.

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

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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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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!