TL;DR: check out the video review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs9db1kEDFE The full story This is an unusual, even special, pen. It features a skeletonised sterling silver overlay on both cap and barrel, created by the late Henry Simpole. Overlay pens are not common nowadays, and to me they are strongly associated with vintage pens: you find overlay pens … Continue reading Onoto Heritage Overlay by Henry Simpole: artistry, at what cost?
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Onoto’s The Flanders Pen is a tasteful tribute
As we head towards November, and Remembrance Sunday, for many of us the two World Wars will be on our minds, and the familiar poppy symbol will start to appear on the lapels of our winter coats. Despite this, the events of World War I in particular can seem a little unreal, barely more than … Continue reading Onoto’s The Flanders Pen is a tasteful tribute
Atoms to Astronauts: UK-made, fountain-pen friendly notebooks
I used to review a lot of notebooks. Like, a lot. Then gradually I settled on (mostly) Tomoe River paper from a select roster of makers: Pebble, Elia Note, Musubi, Galen, GLP. And now I have a stockpile of more than 25 notebooks, enough to last me years. So you could say I'm not actively … Continue reading Atoms to Astronauts: UK-made, fountain-pen friendly notebooks
The big bargain: John Garnham JG8
John Garnham's pens (previously reviewed here) are difficult to get hold of. You can still only buy them through the Fountain Pens UK Facebook group, and he makes them only in limited quantities. He's not interested in building a business around pens, so he doesn't even have a website. But that doesn't mean he avoids … Continue reading The big bargain: John Garnham JG8
Re-reviewing Loft Pens: how does v2 stack up?
After my original review of the Loft Pens bespoke pen a few weeks ago, Sam reached out and offered for me to test out the improvements he'd made to the design and manufacturing process. I am always happy to re-review products that have changed significantly since I tested them: it doesn't help buyers like you, … Continue reading Re-reviewing Loft Pens: how does v2 stack up?
The mighty Sequoyah from Onoto
This pen grabbed me from the first photo I saw of it, and I'm happy to say it's even better in person. After a series of Scottish-themed releases, and after many releases celebrating British luminaries like Nightingale and Churchill, Shakespeare and Dickens, Onoto's release of the American-themed Sequoyah came as a bit of a surprise … Continue reading The mighty Sequoyah from Onoto
Review: Namisu Horizon
Remember the Brutalist Namisu Naos I reviewed a couple of weeks back? Well the pen I'm reviewing here, the Horizon, could not be more different in its design approach. While the Naos was all ruler-straight lines and flat ends, the Horizon, when capped, is all curve. Run your finger from end to end, past the … Continue reading Review: Namisu Horizon
Beginner fountain pen buyers deserve better than the Parker Jotter
Let me be bold and say this: the Parker Jotter is a pretty bad fountain pen. But before I explain why, let me clarify a couple of starting principles: I have deep, fond memories of Parker fountain pens from when I was growing up. As many Brits do, no doubt. Nowadays they may just be … Continue reading Beginner fountain pen buyers deserve better than the Parker Jotter
Shining a light on Loft Pens
One of my greatest pleasures writing this blog is to introduce you to independent makers that might not be on your radar. Leonard Slattery, Rockster, Applied Pens, John Garnham, Eureka, Kasama... I'm building up quite a list. Every one of these makers does things their own way, showing their personality and their vision for what … Continue reading Shining a light on Loft Pens
Does Brutalism have a place in pen design? Hands on with the Namisu Naos Ti
When I get a pen in for review, I often sit with a blank sheet of paper in front of me and freely jot down the observations or ideas that occur to me about it. With the Namisu Naos, one of the first things I wrote down was ‘Brutalist’. Its severe, angular barrel in matte … Continue reading Does Brutalism have a place in pen design? Hands on with the Namisu Naos Ti
UK fountain pens 