[Pen/Pencil Review] A Replica Blue Fountain Pen – Piston Fill
Like I said last week, I really need to learn to do these the night before. Monday’s are getting away from me. We had Day Job Departmental Holiday Dinner. Jimmy got to meet the new group of people I work with. But that means I’m woefully behind. This is one of the last pieces from the Dallas Pen Show. It’s (I think) a replica fountain pen.
The pen has a blue plastic body with gold accents. The clip is sturdy with ridges. The gold plated nib is a wide fine point or thin medium nib. The pen is a piston-fill type with a twist fill in the base of the pen. The cap is a threaded cap and posts relatively securely. The pen is about 5.5″ long capped and about 6″ long posted.
I put Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue ink in it. It was fine for a while, but I think I just have issues with piston fill pens. This one leaked all over me. I’ve gotten it cleaned up, but as I was getting the ink to flow again and testing the piston again, it dribbled.
It wasn’t expensive – $10 – so that’s not a bad price, but I’m not a fan of inking my fingers. Again, it could be “user error” or it could be a function of piston fills that have a better opportunity to link.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 0.5 – It works. I think the line should be darker, but it does work.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – It’s a good length with decent balance. The threads could dig in, but for an inexpensive fountain pen, it’s not bad.
3. Material – 1 – It’s blue plastic with a clear reservoir to see the ink. It’s inexpensive plastic with metal accents.
4. Overall Design – 0.5 – Even if it’s user error, the leaking thing is an issue. I don’t know if I stored it wrong or have bad piston fill karma, but the leakage is a deal breaker.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – It’s an okay price point – $10 isn’t bad for a piston fill fountain pen, but I wouldn’t do it again.
That’s 3.5 of 5 bronze pencils.
