[Pen/Pencil Review] The OHTO Rook from JetPens.com
I was thrilled last week when Brad Dowdy from JetPens.com emailed me out-of-the-blue and asked if I would be interested in reviewing something for JetPens if he sent it to me. My response was only slightly more professional than “Duh!” and “HECK YES!” I LOVE JetPens.com. My limited disposable income is often split between bookstores and JetPens.com – which my wondrous, enabling husband introduced me to.
In only a few short days, Brad sent me a delightful package – I’m going to be spreading out the reviews over the next few weeks – including the OHTO Rook Fountain Pen. This is a moderately priced pen – $15 USD on JetPens.com – that I would have NEVER, EVER picked out on my own. And given all the parts individually, really didn’t think I was going to like AT ALL. But we must all remember that a pen – like everything else in existence – is the SUM of all the parts. Brad sent me the brushed aluminum and orange version .
The OHTO Rook took me by surprise. First of all, with the cap closed – not in use – the Rook is 3.75″ long. Yes. The same length as many small notebook pens or the telescoping ballpoint pens my husband carries on his wallet. Closed the body is approximately 90% aluminum with only 10% of the orange showing. In a closed position the pen is just long enough for the nib and a standard small international ink cartridge – with no space for a converter. CLOSED, there is no way to use this pen comfortably unless you have TEENSY WEENSY Barbie hands.
OPEN, on the other hand… With the cap posted to the back end (which is the screw off cap for the ink cartridge – the pen is a much more comfortable 5.25″ long – the length of a capped Platinum Preppy. The ends bow out just enough to make posting snug and secure – there’s no risk of the cap flying off. The body, which is somewhat ergonomically designed is the full orange color. It borders on the JUST too slim a body and too short a length to be comfortable, but stays just on the “good side”.
I hand wrote the first draft of this – and the below sample with this – and my hand got a little tired, but I’m a tense grip writer, but writer’s cramp didn’t set in. I’ve always put a lot of pressure on my fingers when writing longhand, so that’s a major concern for me. This pen – though not recommend for FULL DAY writing, is still remarkably comfortable in the hand. It’s light, but still substantial – the posted cap makes it relatively well-balanced.
The OHTO Rook comes with an iridium fine point nib. Fine Point is about as “broad” as I like to get with fountain pens – the finer the point the better is my philosophy – and this is no exception. It’s a smooth writing nib that didn’t skip or stutter on both my 90 gram Rhodia Webbie – see picture or feather on more mundane notebook paper. There was some in a journal that I’ve been using – but I’ve found that’s more a function of the notebook’s paper than the pen. I’ve had trouble with that journal not liking other pens before.
My only quibble is with the ink that came with it. The OHTO ink cartridge in black just doesn’t do it for me. Their black ink came out more a dark gray, which isn’t black anymore. Of course, I could just be spoiled by Noodler’s Heart of Darkness black, but…the ink just wasn’t vibrant enough for me. It is pretty quick drying on regular notebook paper – I had no smearing issues on that. I did do the smear test – see the photo – on the Webbie and it does take about a second or two longer to dry on the heavier, glossier paper. But, like I said – a quibble.
The OHTO Rook really surprised me in every way – from craftsmanship to handling. This a good pen for experienced fountain pen enthusiasts on the go – I’ve experienced no leaking of any kind. It’s also a good choice for new fountain pen users – good quality with a lower price point than fine pensI was totally prepared to NOT like this pen, but I do. I really do. This will be MY version of my husband’s telescoping ball point pen. When I find a good notebook for my purse with a pen loop – like a small Rhodia or Moleskin for collecting plot bunnies – this will be the pen in the loop.
Thank you, again, JetPens, for the opportunity to check this out – seriously, would’ve never picked it out on my own. It’s a good, solid pen along the lines of Platinum Preppy or even Padrino – but nothing compares (so far) to my LAMY Studio. I give it 4 out of 5 Bronze Pencils.
