My last review was of the thousand-euro Otto Hutt design08, a complex, challenging all-metal beast of a pen that's all about the engineering. It was a tough review to write for many reasons. The subject of this review, the Benu Talisman Foxglove, could not be more different from the Otto Hutt. With the exception of … Continue reading Benu’s Talisman Foxglove is charming (pun intended)
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Getting to grips with the Otto Hutt design08
I waited a long time for the Otto Hutt design08. The fiesty German manufacturer's wares have crossed my desk multiple times: I've reviewed the 03, 04, 06 and the flagship 07 too. Each pen model I tried was interesting, admirable, even exceptional, but not quite right for me personally. Then along came the designC. It's … Continue reading Getting to grips with the Otto Hutt design08
Snippets: Teal Breaker, Otto Hutt, Gravitas, Benu and more…
It's shaping up to be a very exciting month for my doormat. Teal Breaker: get in while you can Do you like the sound of a limited edition John Garnham pen, produced in a custom hand-poured teal-and-red resin to match a bespoke sheening ink from Diamine called "Teal Breaker"? How about throwing in a nib … Continue reading Snippets: Teal Breaker, Otto Hutt, Gravitas, Benu and more…
Progress over perfection: the Venvstas Magna CC
Let's get the politics out of the way This review has a little backstory. Some time ago I reviewed the Venvstas Magna, an unusual carbon fiber fountain pen from Italy. I felt my review was thorough and balanced, and I quite liked the pen, but I had some problems with the nib and flow and … Continue reading Progress over perfection: the Venvstas Magna CC
State of the Collection: May 2021
It's been a while since I've done one of these. And since my last post showed off my new Galen pen trays, now seems like a good time to take a scoot through what's actually in them...! How much change has there been since my last post? Well, here's how the tray looked in January: … Continue reading State of the Collection: May 2021
Snippets: Schon, John Garnham, Pebble, GLP, Cross
It's been a quiet month here on the blog. I haven't posted anything for ten days, which is a long spell for me. But I do want to shout about a few things, so it's time for a Snippets. Bye to Instagram Thanks to those of you who took the time to email me to … Continue reading Snippets: Schon, John Garnham, Pebble, GLP, Cross
What the Sport should have been: the Kaweco Supra Fireblue
It’s almost sacrilege to say it, because the Kaweco Sport is a true icon, but the Supra I have in front of me here is in many respects a better pen, and in my opinion probably the best competitor to the Schon P6 if you’re looking for a metal pocket pen. Where the Supra shines … Continue reading What the Sport should have been: the Kaweco Supra Fireblue
The Gioia Alleria: a new Italian piston-filler with panache
I am here today to tell you about the Gioia Pens Alleria, but first I want to say this: wow, aren’t there a lot of exciting pens coming out of Italy recently? Leonardo, Maiora and Nettuno, Tibaldi, Tesori, ASC’s Studio, plus the stream of new releases from Visconti, Aurora, Santini and Scribo, and the recent … Continue reading The Gioia Alleria: a new Italian piston-filler with panache
Cutting the collection in half: January 2021
My last SotC post was in early November — and what a lot of change there has been since! A number of review samples have crossed my desk, and more than a few personal purchases too, but it’s overall been a period of tremendous consolidation for me. In short: more out than in The last … Continue reading Cutting the collection in half: January 2021
Three mini-reviews in one: Fine Writing Fenestro Kuroshio, Montegrappa Monte Grappa, Cross Sauvage
Sometimes I don't see myself writing a full review of a pen, but I have some things I want to say about it. So here you go: three reviews in one. Fine Writing Fenestro Kuroshio I bought this pen from Write Here. You can get it here, for a hair under £95. What's good about … Continue reading Three mini-reviews in one: Fine Writing Fenestro Kuroshio, Montegrappa Monte Grappa, Cross Sauvage
