I've wanted a Kaweco because so many people rave about how smoothly they write, but my overall impression of their pens is that they aren't very attractive. While I view all my fountain pens as tools, ultimately I still like to enjoy looking at them. Enter the Kaweco Student Fountain Pen.
I got the one that's cream-and-orange--called '70s Soul'. It's a much more classic shape, with a gold-colored nib, section, cap band, clip, and Kaweco logo jewel on top of the cap. The body is a lovely cream, with the slightest taper toward the end. The cap is orange, but not a bright orange. Definitely a 70s darker orange (but NOT burnt orange). I'm not a huge fan of metal sections, but this one isn't slippery despite being very shiny. For me, it's the perfect length and diameter. The nib is small--probably a #4--and gold-plated steel (I assume--no one would put a gold nib on a pen this inexpensive), and suits the overall aesthetic of the pen.
Now, about that nib...
Smooth as butter on a hot plate. It's just a lovely writer. I got the F nib because it's a German pen and didn't want a Western M writing experience. Not having my matching-color ink on hand yet (it's still in transit, darn it!) I turned to Caran d'Ache Chromatics Infinite Grey, which I have in a cartridge size that will fit this pen. It's an absolute dream to write with.
The one drawback is that most of the cartridges I have on hand won't fit, and in my vast array of extra converters not a single one worked with this pen. It doesn't come with a converter, so I had to order one separately. For some, that might be an automatic 1-star downgrade, but I don't personally find that off-putting enough to downgrade an otherwise perfect pen.
If you want to try a well-made, nice-looking fountain pen that's around $55 that will give you an amazing writing experience, I highly recommend the Kaweco Student.
| Manufacturer | Kaweco |
|---|---|
| Brand | Kaweco |
| Item Weight | 3.52 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 6.3 x 0.39 x 0.39 inches |
| Item model number | 10002018 |
| Color | 60's Swing |
| Closure | Screw Off Cap |
| Pencil Lead Degree (Hardness) | F |
| Material Type | Acrylic |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Size | 1 Count (Pack of 1) |
| Point Type | Fine |
| Ink Color | Blue |
| Tip Type | fountain |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 10002018 |
