REVIEW: SCHON DSGN CLIP PEN

I was sceptical about the Schon DSGN pen. More than sceptical really. Judging from pictures, it looked clunky and crude. Especically the section seemed like it would never in a million years be comfortable in the hand. Yet, I kept reading positive things about it online, what was it about this pen that I didn't see? 

After getting one in hand for this review, I found out what's so special about this little pen, and I had to thoroughly re-evaluate my opinion (this seems to be a recurring trend with many products I review...). 

The Schon DSGN Classic pen (or Clip, depending on your choice of clipped/clipless) in a neat box that folds open to reveal the pen with its 'buyer's card' accompanying it. I had a little WOW moment when I first opened it, because the pen itself is sooo much tinier than I expected! It's often quite difficult to judge a pen based on measurements you find online, but in this case I completely missed the ball. 

Anyway, we'll come back to the size later. Let's focus first on the design, because the moment I held the Schon Clip pen in my hands, I started to appreciate the design choices that Ian (founder of Schon DSGN) made. It doesn't look crude or clunky in person. Very industrial, yes, but you can clearly see the thought that went into this -seemingly- simple pen. 

Symmetry is key!

It's a straight, flattop, cylindrical pen from the outside, so nothing too spectacular per se. But as is the case so very often: the devil is in the details! The body of the pen is equal in length to the the cap, and to enhance the symmetry between both parts, the three grooves near the cap finial mimic the the threads at the back of the barrel. Nifty!

The folded steel clip is very similar to those used by Karas Pen Co., which is a sound choice for EDC-focused pens, and continues the industrial look. Different to the one found on Karas pens, the Schon pen features a narrower clip, which looks elegant but is also a bit easier to use because it's less stiff. The clip is bolted to the top of the pen, almost flush with the cap finial, so the pen doesn't stick out too far if you wish to pocket carry. 

Underneath the cap, you'll find a slender but very long section, which ends in a short and stubby nose cone. The block threads are really short and placed towards the back of the section, closely followed by a rather large step. All these aspects together make for a rather interesting section that looks a bit out of proportion, but it really isn't. My only gripe would be that the nose cone is a bit too stubby, making it hard sometimes to see what you are writing.

The back of the barrel has the same short block threads which allow the cap to post. It looks like a cross-threading nightmare, but to my surprise that only happened occasionally. Most of the time, the cap and barrel align itself quite well and thread together smoothly. 

The Schon DSGN pens don't dissasemble near the section, like most pens do. Instead, you'll find a brass set screw at the back finial, which you have to unscrew to change the refill. I like this quirky design element, and I particularly like that all pens (various different materials, from stainless steel, brass or copper to annodized aluminium) come with the same brass screw, almost like a maker's signature.

The set screw has one downside however: changing the refill means you have to have a flathead screwdriver handy. The Clip pen takes care of that, as the the tip of the clip is pointed upwards just enough to use it as a screwdriver! I wouldn't suggest using the clip for DYI jobs, but just for this task, it works perfectly. 

L to R: Kaweco Al Sport, Lamy Pico, Baron Fig Squire Click, Inventery Pocket fountain pen, Schon DSGN Clip pen, Lamy Safari, Lamy 2000

At 10.2 cm (4") closed, 14.6 cm (5-3/4") posted and with a diameter of 1.3 cm (1/2"), these are definitely pocket pens. They have a surprisingly good heft to them, at 34g (1.2 oz) for the aluminium Clip version (up to 93g/3.3 oz for the solid copper versions!). 

It's obviously not meant to be used unposted, because it will literally dissapear in your hand. But with the cap posted, it transforms into a surprisingly comfortable full-sized writer. The section may be slender, but because it's long, it does a good job keeping my grip away from the threads and step. So while it may not seem comfortable at first, it's actually quite enjoyable to use for such a compact pen.

The refill closes the deal for me, as Ian chose to make his pens compatible with the popular Fisher Space gas pressurized refill. These are excellent ballpoint refills. They are well-behaved and put down a smooth and relatively dark line that is as consistent as ballpoint pens go. Apart from that, it obviously has the advantage of being perfectly usable in wet, cold or hot environments, on difficult surfaces or even upside down. The choice of refill makes this pen all the more appropriate for EDC use. The only downside is that the refills are smalL, and quite expensive.

To round up, the Schon DSGN Clip is a pen that does things right; It's clear aim at EDC use reflects in every aspect, from the durable build, practical size, strong clip,...all the way to the quality Fisher Space refills. I've followed Ian and his brand for many years (despite never pulling the trigger on one of his pens) and I know how anal retentive he is about quality and even the smallest of details (Talking about details: check out his drop-dead gorgeous handmade watches at Schon Horology! Expensive, but holy cow they are cool!). 

Ian persuaded me about his product, I have to admit I'm now one of the bloggers that will tell you this is an amazing pen. Yes, the price is a bit higher compared to the rest of the market, but that seems to be a recurring theme with made in the USA, EDC goods, and there is clearly a market for these high-quality products. If you want an excellent EDC pocket pen, and are willing to invest, watch the Schon DSGN pen!

This product was sent to me by Schon DSGN so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affilate links.