[Pen/Pencil Review] Holiday Rerun – Mad Moravian Cigar Style Ballpoint Pen
Please forgive the rerun, not only is it the Labor Day holiday here in the US, I’ve been sick this lovely 3-day weekend. So I’m going to repost this review…
Don’t go looking for this pen at your local Office Supply Chain Store or even your favorite online source. You won’t find it. In fact, you can only Mad Moravian pens from the maker’s Art Fire online store or in very select Science Fiction Convention Art Shows – like ArmadilloCon in Austin.
Each pen is unique. They are hand-turned from a variety of woods and varnishes with high quality black chrome, bright chrome, or gold hardware. Mad Moravian has several body styles to choose from – from slim twist retractable ballpoint pens, to thicker capped roller balls. And though I was able to “ooh and ahh” over all of them, the only one that has come home with me is the Cigar Style.
The Cigar Style has a thicker body (but not too thick), with twist retractable ballpoint mechanicals that handle Parker-style refills, which I love – because I can convert it easily to a Gel Rollerball. The body is a blue burl stain. The barrel has a smooth polish to it that gives it a slight shine, but mostly gives the wood a smooth satin feel. I’m not sure what the wood is, but it’s GORGEOUS. The body fits nicely in the hand with a nice weight and heft. The writing and retracting mechanism is smooth, like any high quality pen. The only “flaw” is that there’s a tiny ridge between the wood and the chrome in the body of the pen that could wear or chip if you’re tough on your pens – but I think that just adds character to the pen.
If you’re in the market for high-quality, unique writing instrument – either for yourself or for a gift – I would highly recommend Mad Moravian. The prices are even reasonable for what you’re getting – in the $40-$60 range. Which, for collectors, you know is a good price for one-of-a-kind writing
instrument.I would buy a variety of them if I could – this one was a gift. And it’s MINE! All mine! Go get your own – go now. I’ll wait. And for the record, the Mad Moravian didn’t know I was going to do this or when. So show him some love. Buy some of his very beautiful work – he does more than pens. The Holidays are coming, you know. Shop early. Shop often.
4.5 of 5 bronze pencils
