REVIEW: KAWECO SUPRA STAINLESS STEEL FOUNTAIN PEN

Remember the Kaweco Supra brass (review HERE)? It was such a refreshing new product when it launched back in 2016. (yes, that was four years ago!) I think it was generally quite a well-conceived pen, there certainly was a bit of a hype surrounding it for a while (I don't think I exaggerate when I say Kaweco as a whole was a hype brand at that time!).

Back then, I naturally expected Kaweco to follow the same business strategy as with their uber-popular Sport and Lilliput pens: bring out new versions and special editions on a semi-regular basis to keep the product line fresh and relevant, and the customer's interest peaked.

But they didn't. Total radio silence about the Supra.

Four years went by, and just this year - when I thought all hope for a successor was lost - they decided to release the next installment in the Supra product line: the Kaweco Supra stainless steel. In my irrelevant opinion, that's about three years too late though. I feel like people lost interest, and maybe even forgot about the Supra altogether. 'Out of sight, out of mind' certainly applies here.

That's unfortunate because the Supra was is a cleverly designed, cool, well-built chameleon of a pen! Chameleon, obviously, because this pen adapts to the kind of use you want to get out of it. It shines as a pocket pen when the extension piece is removed, creating a pen that's a good bit shorter and even a bit thinner than the Kaweco Sport while still packing a full-sized writing experience and a #6 nib (So far, that's something only this pen and the Schon DSGN Pocket 6 are able to say).

I personally use the Supra with the extension piece in place about 80% of the time. I really like the looks of the Lilliput, but find the form factor just a bit too compact for a comfortable everyday writer. The Supra offers the same, pill-shaped, simple (I want to say 'minimal' but I already overuse that term to death) design as the Lilliput, but with a more normal footprint that I find more enjoyable to use.

The addition of a stainless steel version should make a lot of people very happy since it offers the same hefty feel without the smell that brass and copper give off. From an aesthetic point of view, it's interesting how the all-stainless steel construction gives the Supra a clinically clean appearance, much more modern-looking than the brass Supra and its vintage-esque patina.

L to R: Ensso Piuma, Kaweco Sport, Lilliput, Supra Brass, Supra stainless steel (with extension), Lamy Safari, Lamy 2000

The more 'normal' footprint of the Supra equates to what's still, for all intents and purposes, a mid-sized to smaller pen. Especially capped, at just 13 cm (5.11"), it's comparatively short alongside a true average pen, like the Lamy 2000 or Safari (which have become somewhat of a 'sizing standard' in my reviews). Uncapped, it retains most of its length though, so at 12.5 cm (4.92") it still hits that sweet spot of a comfortable size without needing to post. Obviously, these are all measurements with the extension piece in place.

With both the extension in place, and the cap posted, the supra is really quite a long pen.

Without it, the Supra shrinks about 2.5 to 3 cm in length, making it effectively as long as the Lilliput. The extra girth of the Supra is the biggest contributor to making this pen feel more like a normal-sized pen.

Even though I prefer to hold the girthier Supra over the Lilliput, in absolute terms, comfort has never been the Supra's strong suit. The threads are cut deeply and have surprisingly sharp edges. Without the extension piece, the barrel has an almost imperceivable step behind the threads, but with the extension piece (which is wider than the barrel) in place, you do get a noticeable step right behind the threads. The section - while nicely concave-shaped - is short, so your grip automatically rests right on those sharp edges. I'm not typically one to complain about threads or steps, but in this case, there's definitely room for improvement.

It sort of speaks for itself, but the construction of the Supra is actually a lot beefier than that of the Lilliput. All parts are machined substantially thicker, and therefore a lot heavier as well (50g total). The machining is clean and precise, bringing the overall build quality to a very high standard. It looks and feels like a precision but also heavy-duty tool, ideal for in an EDC kit.

The Supra can technically take a full-sized converter (however, only with the extension piece in place!), but I continue to find myself using syringe-filled cartridges, just like I did in my original review. It's just a better trade-off than having to switch between converter and cartridge every time you want to add or remove the extension piece, and it's not like you get more ink capacity out of a converter anyway.

If you've recently read the Pen Addict's review of this exact pen, you'll notice that my writing experience was quite different from his. I did adjust the F steel nib a bit upon arrival, out of the box it was a bit too dry for my liking. A few passes with a brass shim increased the flow to a more balanced level that I was happy with. Other than that, the fine steel (Bock) nib has been an excellent writer that's perfectly polished -not too smooth, but still very little feedback- and responsive. I also found that, contrary to Brad's findings and my experience with a great deal of Bock nibs I own, it's a fairly stiff nib, although I don't really have a strong preference for one or the other.

At the end of the day, I've had a positive writing experience with this particular pen, but nib performance is, and always will be a case-per-case unknown. Maybe I got lucky and Brad didn't? Or maybe my writing style is better suited for Bock nibs? There's a lot of variables.

PS: I wanted to write that I feel like there should be a slip-on clip available for the Supra, even if it was just to prevent it from rolling off your desk - but it turns out they already make one! Only available in bronze though, but it's better than nothing.

I don't know if the Supra is a best-seller for Kaweco (probably not, with the fierce competition of their own Sport pens!) or even if it ever has been a popular model at all. But I can't stop wondering what it would've been like if they had updated it more steadily over the years. In any case, I hope they don't forget about it again, and maybe come up with a titanium or aluminium version in the not-too-distant future.

The Kaweco Supra is different, and even after four years I continue to like it simply because of that. True, it may not be my first pick for long, comfortable writing sessions, and the ability to swap between a full-sized and pocket pen on the go might be a gimmick to some people. But it does do a lot of other things very right: It's a fun design, the modularity can actually be practical for the right person, build quality is rock-solid (excellent for EDC?), and it still comes in at a relatively decent price: 110€ / 135$ for this new stainless steel version.

NOTE: This product was provided by Kaweco, 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 affiliate links.

KAWECO STEEL SPORT FOUNTAIN PEN REVIEW

Ah yes: a new year, a new Kaweco Sport review! Kaweco has made a habit of releasing a new metal version of their classic pen each year, and the latest metal in the line-up of Kaweco's ever-growing collection of Sport pens is stainless steel. Since I'm so terribly late with this review of last year's release (Yeah, it's 2018 already! Anyone else who still thinks it's 2017?), I'm already waiting for what is up next. I really hope they'll go for a copper Kaweco Sport this year.

Anyway, I thought it would still be relevant to talk about the Steel Sport, since it's something a little different to the Brass Sport that came before it (that I still enjoy very much). My thanks to Kaweco for sending one over for this review! 

Stainless steel is relatively similar to brass when it comes to density (just slightly lighter), so it's somewhat comparable to the Brass Sport in terms of weight (total weight of 40g). But most importantly, it lacks the smell that so many people absolutely hate. It's the best of both worlds for the most part, but I do miss the awesome patina that brass gets after use. 

Instead of patina, the Steel Sport received a brushed finish to give the cold grey surface some visual texture. I quite like how this makes it stand out from the wide variety of other finishes that is available on the Kaweco Sport. It gives the pen a pleasant texture in the hand, and it provides a nice satin look.

The threads seem to have received a black finish that contrasts the rest of the pen quite nicely. I don't know if this is a side-effect of the machining of steel, or if it's finished like this on purpose, but either way I think it looks quite good. 

L to R: Kaweco Sport mechanical pencil, Kaweco Steel and Brass Sport, Lamy Safari, Lamy 2000

An 'open' comparison, to show once again how full-sized the Kaweco Sport becomes when posted

In terms of size and dimensions, I realised I always drag on and on about the convenient size. Yet I never actually showed a good comparison of how the Kaweco Sport compares to some other pens when posted. So in the two photos above you can clearly see how it relates to the Lamy Safari and Lamy 2000 (both what I would consider full sized pens). When posted, it's somewhere in between the Safari and 2000, at 12.7 cm (5"), which is the perfect size for my hands.

One thing I noticed in use, is that the cap does not post as securely as my other Kaweco Sport pens. Each metal has different characteristics that can cause differences in the machining process. So I assume the tolerances might be a bit different with this one. A firm push is needed to post the cap, and even then it occasionally pops off. 

Since I tried and reviewed most Kaweco nib sizes so far, I opted for one that's usually out of my comfort zone: the extra fine. What nib I prefer depends strongly on my mood and what I am using it for, but this EF actually finds a good use in my daily carry. It's a smooth nib (considering the line width, of course it's not as smooth as a BB!), and it writes a consistent fine line. I like to use it for taking notes on crappy copy paper, which is unfortunately very common when you're a student.

Again I didn't notice any 'shoddy QC' with this nib. It's sort of a bad rep Kaweco has always suffered from, yet in my opinion it's not quite justified. Of course you can always come across a dud (which can happen with every brand), but in general I have always found Kaweco's nibs quite good. They might not be the most exciting steel nibs ever, but they rarely don't do what they are supposed to do. Ink choice is a VERY important aspect of how a nib behaves, so I generally like to keep my Kawecos filled with something a bit more lubricated or wet (My personal favorites being Sailor or KWZ). 

The succes story of the Kaweco Sport continues with the addition of steel to the ridiculously varied offering of metals and other materials to choose from. Each material has a slightly different price, based on the cost of the material itself and production process. Unfortunately, the Steel Sport is the most expensive as of yet (excluding the AC Sport which is a bit of a special case). I suppose that's partially because it's harder to machine compared to brass or aluminium. 

With a price of 85 EUR (from Mostwanted Pens) or 88.5 USD on the US market, it's not exactly cheap for a pocket pen. The Classic Sport, made of plastic, is a more ideal entry-level, and the step up to an aluminium AL Sport is a bit easier to digest (at 57.5 EUR incl. VAT on the european market). The Brass or Steel Sport, and even the AC Sport, are more aimed at those that want to expand the collection, or try something different.

Note: This product was provided by Kaweco, free of charge, 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.

INKTASTIC: KAWECO SUNRISE ORANGE INK REVIEW

I'd say Kaweco recently released two new inks, but that was almost a year ago, and I'm just terribly behind on reviews. Kaweco already had a pretty decent selection of inks, with eight typical colors to choose from. The two latest inks are Smokey Grey, and Sunrise Orange. Let's focus on the latter...

Kaweco Sunrise Orange has a lot going for it. And on top of that it's actually one of the more usable orange inks I've come across. It reminds me a lot of Lamy's special edition ink of two years ago: Copperorange. It's not the typical bright, burns-your-eyes-orange, instead it's a bit darker and more subdued. 

Sunrise orange shines in slightly wetter nibs. I always use a Lamy Safari for these ink reviews, which is not THE wettest writer. But nevertheless it shows off some decent shading. In really wet nibs (or in swabs as you can see above), it shades to a dark brown-ish orange, in other nibs the shading is more subtle. 

Lamy Safari, medium nib

Lamy Safari, broad nib

Kaweco inks may not be the most exciting in the world, but they are quite well-behaved in general. It seems a bit on the dry side, however not to a point where it gives issues with flow. It's very well-behaved: no bleedthrough, no feathering. Dry times are moderate. There's no waterproofness to talk about, any contact with water completely wipes it out.

Lamy Safari, 1.5 stub

Kaweco Sunrise Orange is a strange ink. It's not extraordinary in any way, it doesn't have crazy shading or sheen. Yet it doesn't need all that to be a cool ink. It's subdued and dark enough to be used for 'normal' writing (ok maybe take that with a grain of salt), but it's still a fun and colorful ink.

Kaweco inks all come in small 30ml bottles (or standard international cartridges). The bottled ink runs for 10 EUR / 13.5 USD. It's often said that Kaweco inks are overpriced but I'd have to disagree. True, they are not the cheapest out there, but I think they are good value for money. 

Note: This product was sent to me by Kaweco, free of charge, 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.

KAWECO PERKEO FOUNTAIN PEN REVIEW

Lamy has the Safari, Pilot has the Metropolitan, Kaweco has the classic Sport. All extremely popular pens, all -not coincidentally- extremely affordable pens. But one of these pens is not like the others: The Kaweco Sport is a pocket pen, unlike the other two, full-sized pens. Kaweco, up until this point, didn't offer an affordable non-pocket fountain pen.

A pocket pen can be nice and useful, but it's not always ideal and it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea. That's why they now finally decided to up their game, expanding their entry-level offerings with a full-sized fountain pen: the Kaweco Perkeo. My thanks to Papier & Stift, for sending these over for review!

No tin box packaging this time, just a plastic sleeve

Going up against something like the uber-popular Lamy Safari or Pilot Metropolitan obviously isn't an easy task. Especially because the entry-level market is small, with a select group of products that have an established position (some of them for decades, like the Safari). I personally think there are three things an affordable fountain pen should have: good size, good price, and good nib. Those three things combined are the recipe for success (at least if you ask me). 

I'm a big fan of the subtle raised branding on the cap

Apart from those three 'vital' aspects, of course having a good design doesn't hurt. And it just so happens that Kaweco did an excellent job on designing the Perkeo! Kaweco is very loyal to their distinct design philosophy, which is good because it makes their pens recogniseable. The Perkeo is extra recogniseable because they incorporated a lot of design elements from the Sport into a full-sized pen. The cap seems like it's taken right off the Sport and placed on a longer, sixteen-sided (hexadecagonal) barrel.

Only that's not the case, the cap has the same overall shape, but the dimensions are completely different. As for the body, the hexadecagonal profile is interesting. I wasn't sure about it at first (would be interesting to see how a normal round body would look on this pen), but it adds some visual effect to the pen. Apart from the design aspect, the profile of the body also helps to prevent it from rolling around when uncapped.

One design aspect I haven't discussed yet are the color schemes. The Perkeo is available in four different two-tone color schemes, of which two are shown here: 'old chambray' (blue/white) and 'indian summer' (black/yellow). The other two available colorways are 'bad taste' (black/pink) and 'cotton candy' (grey/salmon pink). I like what they did with the colors, but they all are quite in-your-face. I think there should be at least one subtle color option available to make the Perkeo appealing to a wider audience, maybe all black would be cool (a bit like what Ana from Well-Appointed Desk did in her review of the Perkeo). Of course further color options might be an idea for yearly special editions, similar to what Lamy does with the Safari.

The Perkeo has a clipless design, which is not that unusual with Kaweco pens. However, most other clipless Kaweco models can be 'upgraded' with a removable clip. The cap of the Perkeo has a completely different cap diameter, so any of the available removable clips won't fit. 

Personally, I'm not a clip person, I don't attach my pens to a shirt pocket or notebook so I generally quite like clipless designs because it makes the pen sleeker, and the clip is obsolete for my use anyway. However, on an inexpensive pen like this, I would've liked to see one anyway. It would make the Perkeo slightly more versatile and enjoyable for people that do use clips.

Speaking about versatility, there's a lot of disagreement about the triangular shaped section on the Lamy Safari. It's ideal for beginner fountain pen enthusiasts, but it's a nuisance for most others. Kaweco chose middle ground for their section design. It's still triangular in shape, but the profile is less pronounced, and thus slightly more comfortable if you don't have an 'ideal' grip. 

L to R: Kaweco Ice Sport, TWSBI Eco, Pilot Metropolitan, Kaweco Perkeo, Lamy Safari, Lamy 2000

The Kaweco Perkeo is without a doubt a comfortable full-sized pen, measuring in at 13.9 cm (5.47") closed, and 12.9 cm (5.07") without cap. It's a completely plastic pen, which explains the low 14 g total weight (the Lamy Safari is 2 grams heavier, probably from the metal clip). The cap can be posted, which changes absolutely nothing in terms of balance because the cap is so light. 

Despite being really light, Kaweco sure knows how to make a sturdy pen. My Kaweco classic Sport (one of my first fountain pens I ever bought) has always been a testimony to Kaweco's excellent build quality, and I think the Perkeo won't be any different. 

Comparison of the smaller regular #5 kaweco nib (bottom), and larger Perkeo nib (top)

The Perkeo has a really cool trick up its sleeve... Ok maybe it's not a real trick, but nevertheless I was quite suprised when I found out that the Perkeo nibs are slightly larger than the regular small nibs (as seen on the Sport, and most other Kaweco models), which means they aren't interchangeable. To make things even more surprising: the nibs on the Perkeo even seems to be better than the regular nibs!

Why would the nib on Kaweco's cheapest pen be better than all other -more expensive- models? It makes no sense, but I did find both nibs (a polished steel F and black-coated M) surprisingly consistent and even a slight bit springy (both characteristics the other Kaweco nibs don't have). They really are quite good writers. The flow is on the wet side, and the nibs are well-polished. Available nib sizes seem to be limited to F and M for now.

I'm sincerely fascinated by how good these pens are. Kaweco nibs occasionally have some issues regarding consistency, but these were great out of the box (I didn't use a particularly wet or lubricated ink). A beginner fountain pen has to have a reliable and hassle-free nib, the Perkeo delivers.

Oh, BTW: have you noticed from the pictures that the black-coated nib looks kind of blue? Yeah, I don't know what's up with that either. I don't know if it's normal, or just a one-off mistake, but it doesn't seem to influence the performance so I don't really mind it too much (it just looks odd).

It's not an easy task to take on established pens like the Lamy Safari, but I think the Perkeo could be Kaweco's chance. It's a solid, decent writer, with a great Kaweco-esque design, and it's very affordable. At just 13 EUR / 16 USD (prices vary between retailers), it's priced very competitive compared to the Safari and Metropolitan (the Metro is slightly less expensive in the states, but here in Europe it's priced higher). 

Note: this pen was sent to me by Papier und Stift, free of charge, 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.

KAWECO ICE SPORT BLACK FOUNTAIN PEN REVIEW

During the past year, the release of the über-cool Kaweco Supra (reviewed here) clearly dominated their product lineup when it comes to media attention and reviews. But they haven't exactly been sitting still when it comes to their other product, especially the 'Sport' line of pocket pens. A couple new colorways were released, spread across some of the different finishes (Ice sport, Al sport, AC sport,...), further diversifying the already immense variety of finishes and colors you can choose from.

The one I was most excited about is the new black Ice Sport. The brightly colored Ice Sport pens are nice, but I had been hoping for a more subtle version for quite a while. With the smokey transparent black colorway, they added a stylish, modern and subtle version to the Ice Sport collection, it's definitely one of my favourite colours within their offerings at the moment!

The cool thing about the Ice sport is that the barrel of the pen is made out of clear plastic, and the rest of the pen is translucent. There are no metal parts, which means it can be converted into an eyedropper quite easily.

Eyedropper pens used to be a thing from the past, but they have become increasingly popular over the last few years. Some brands even explicitly focus on this filling mechanism and market their pens accordingly (of course I'm talking about Franklin-Christoph, who make pens like the P40 Ice that I reviewed HERE). The plastic Sport pens can be quite easily converted into eyedroppers with a bit of silicon grease around the threads. I filled mine up with Diamine Asa Blue and I think it looks great combined with the smokey black cap and section.

L to R: Kaweco Ice Sport, TWSBI Eco, Faber-Castell Loom, Lamy Safari/vista, Pilot Metropolitan, Lamy 2000

The Ice sport is of course still the same pocketable pen as we're used to. It measures in at 10.7 cm (4.2in) closed, and transforms into a full-sized 13.4cm (5.27'') long pen when posted. The all-plastic construction makes for an extremely light pen, just 10 grams in total. Yet still if you hold one, it actually feels quite solid (as a testimony to that, I haven't had a single Kaweco break in all the years that I have been using them!).

It's no secret that Kaweco nibs can occasionally be a bit finnicky. Across the board, Kaweco nibs usually run slightly on the dry side, but occasionally you'll encounter a dry writer, or one that skips/has hard start issues. A good rinse before use (the nibs are friction-fit so they can be pulled out to clean them thoroughly), and choosing relatively wet and lubricated inks such as Sailor, Iroshizuku, KWZ, has always solved things for me. It's a matter of experimenting with different inks, to see what works best for you.

Once you get the ink choice figured out, Kaweco nibs are actually very enjoyable to write with. They are relatively smooth, but not overly so, and you can choose from a wide variety of nib sizes. Another benefit is that the nib units can be bought separately for under 10 dollars, and the nibs are friction fit (either directly into the section, or in a screw-fit housing) so you can swap nibs between almost any Kaweco pen!

The Kaweco Ice Sport is a pretty cool pen. Kaweco's continuous effort to bring novelties on the market makes sure that there's plenty of choice in finishes and colors. The black Ice sport has quickly become one of my personal favourites because of its' clean and simple appearance, and the attractive price. At just hese are ideal pens for a first venture into fountain pens. At a retail price of 25 USD (18 EUR), the many varieties of the Kaweco Sport, including the Ice Sport, is a heck of a deal, It'd be crazy not to give them a chance! 

Note: this pen was sent to me by Kaweco, free of charge, 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.

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT KAWECO AC SPORT GIVEAWAY

Touchdown! Our Kaweco AC Sport fountain pen giveaway has ended! Thanks to everyone who participated, and big thanks to the kind people over at Appelboom, who sponsored this giveaway. So here is the winner:

From a total of 141 comments, the winning comment, as chosen by random.org, is: 

Which was the comment from: 

James Shirley!

Congratulations James! Don't forget to get in contact with us via email (pencilcaseblog@gmail.com) to claim your prize!

Thanks again for all the support, and thanks for entering the giveaway! Didn't win this time, or missed out? Maybe consider following The Pencilcase Blog on social media (tip: you can also follow by email subscription through the RSS provider!), that way you'll never miss future giveaways!