Jump to content

Twsbi Classic, Ef Nib Review


butangmucat

Recommended Posts

Of all the TWSBI pens carried by the Goulet Pen Company, this is the only one I found in stock. This is also the only one that is designed to have the cap posted. I have always wanted a piston filler pen that uses a blind cap and I do not want to buy all these flagship pens that are way out of my budget. So I ended up with this TWSBI, the blue version is to match the color of my ink.

 

Appearance & Design: 10

 

http://img.vim-cn.com/5f/8ec4eab71315166edc144c6703e1757ea21920.jpg

 

The TWSBI Classic has a blue barrel, with some silver highlights. The clip is sturdy but not tight, and the pen has a screw-on cap. I usually do not give 10 points for a fountain pen, but I found this one exceptionally elegant and a plastic barrel being exceptionally shiny and beautiful. This is until now the nicest pen I have.

 

Construction & Quality: 9

 

TWSBI have always being praised for its construction, and I have to say it is true. Though the barrel is plastic, it does not feel cheap at all. When holding the pen in hands, one can feel that pen is well-made and carefully adjusted. The details have been well-polished and I believe that his pen can take abuse to a certain level. The TWSBI logo at the top looks really cool and all the metal parts have been nicely cut. The ink window is also useful and not common on pens at this price range.

 

Dimensions & Weight: 10

 

This pen is just the right size for me. It is comfortable for holding for a long time and the pen is not exceptionally heavy. It is well-balanced, can be comfortable whether posted or not. It smaller than previous TWSBI pens and worth a try for the ones looking for a smaller TWSBI.

 

Nib & Performance: 7

 

http://img.vim-cn.com/58/998b1f7efd390d50675c98f8db573e3225b790.jpg

 

Written using Private Reserve American Black Fast Dry on a Clairfontaine French-ruled notebook with 90k paper.

 

Like all TWSBI pens, this one used a steel nib. I have got the EF nib and it writes well. There has no observable skipping or start-up issues. Though it is an EF nib, there is only little feedback and it lays down an European-style EF line. The line is enough for writing Asian scripts, though.

 

There is little line variation from this nib and the nib is on the wet side (considering that I am using fast dry ink). It is probably come the next to my Faber-Castell which has the best steel nib I have ever encountered. This is definitely an enjoyable nib.

 

Filling System & Maintenance: 8

 

This pen utilizes the whole barrel as ink storage and uses a piston filler commonly seen on more expensive pens. This pen can be fully dismantled for maintenance too. TWSBI have included a handbook for dismantle and also supplied with a wrench and some silicon greece. So far, this is the only other company besides Noodler's to supply pens that can be fully dismantled.

 

Cost & Value: 9

 

This pen is $50 on The Goulet Pen Company and $55 on TWSBI's official Amazon store. I have to say it is probably the least expensive piston filler beside Noodler's and definitely comes with a better build quality.

 

This is a pen that does not cost a lot, provides a smooth writing experience, and has an elegant appearance. Probably one of the most balanced pen (price, performance, and appearance) I have ever got so far.

Edited by butangmucat
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 14
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • arandur

    3

  • Jamerelbe

    3

  • KenS

    2

  • Venator

    2

Such a nice-looking pen! Great review, butangmucat.

 

I am using a TWSBI Classic with a fine nib, right now, filled with Montblanc Midnight Blue, and it also seems rather wet.

 

If you are looking for a piston filler that uses a blind cap (since the TWSBI pens are simply piston fillers, no blind caps here), take a look at the Noodler's Konrad. It does use a blind cap to cover the piston knob.

Built from Ink and Tea: A Blog about Lego, Fountain Pens, and...Tea!



http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5642/postcardde9.pnghttp://img525.imageshack.us/img525/606/letterji9.pnghttp://img181.imageshack.us/img181/3937/paperzu3.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Such a nice-looking pen! Great review, butangmucat.

 

I am using a TWSBI Classic with a fine nib, right now, filled with Montblanc Midnight Blue, and it also seems rather wet.

 

If you are looking for a piston filler that uses a blind cap (since the TWSBI pens are simply piston fillers, no blind caps here), take a look at the Noodler's Konrad. It does use a blind cap to cover the piston knob.

How do you generally get on with the MB midnight blue?

I've found it to be the best ink I've ever used by far in most pens.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It has been pretty good so far. I enjoy the shade, and on some paper it looks much more saturated than on others - a plus in my book.

For as much as they cost, the Montblanc inks behave rather well, I have found. The standard blue and black are nothing mind-blowing, but the Irish Green and the old formulation of Lavender Purple are personal favorites. Sadly, I didn't get on the British Racing Green before it was already gone.

Built from Ink and Tea: A Blog about Lego, Fountain Pens, and...Tea!



http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5642/postcardde9.pnghttp://img525.imageshack.us/img525/606/letterji9.pnghttp://img181.imageshack.us/img181/3937/paperzu3.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the input and apologies if it's derailing the thread slightly.

I've found it's excellent for immediate starts, and it doesn't seem to dry out very easily. I had a Hero 382 which started immediately after 3 months of not being used with this ink. I've rarely found that with any other ink. So, expensive - yes. Worth it - deffo!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice review. I've always been drawn to the TWSBI Classic simply for those work situations when my TWSBI clear demonstrators might not appropriate. The pen's conservative and smart looks do appeal to me.

 

 

Of all the TWSBI pens carried by the Goulet Pen Company, this is the only one I found in stock. This is also the only one that is designed to have the cap posted...

 

FYI - The TSWBI Mini is also designed to be posted and in fact I find it is a pretty unusable in my large mits when unposted.

Matt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice review. I've always been drawn to the TWSBI Classic simply for those work situations when my TWSBI clear demonstrators might not appropriate. The pen's conservative and smart looks do appeal to me.

 

 

 

FYI - The TSWBI Mini is also designed to be posted and in fact I find it is a pretty unusable in my large mits when unposted.

Agreed in regard to the work situations. It is a very understated and slick pen, especially in black, reminiscent of the Pelikan M2XX series in that way (no other comparisons being made).

 

Having large hands, too, I find the same in regard to the Mini, yet I still love it.

Built from Ink and Tea: A Blog about Lego, Fountain Pens, and...Tea!



http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5642/postcardde9.pnghttp://img525.imageshack.us/img525/606/letterji9.pnghttp://img181.imageshack.us/img181/3937/paperzu3.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Such a nice-looking pen! Great review, butangmucat.

 

I am using a TWSBI Classic with a fine nib, right now, filled with Montblanc Midnight Blue, and it also seems rather wet.

 

If you are looking for a piston filler that uses a blind cap (since the TWSBI pens are simply piston fillers, no blind caps here), take a look at the Noodler's Konrad. It does use a blind cap to cover the piston knob.

 

I do have a Konrad and I modified it with a Montverde nib. Maybe I should review it some day,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this EF nib the same that would be on the 580 or Vac models? Thanks for the helpful review!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this EF nib the same that would be on the 580 or Vac models? Thanks for the helpful review!

 

I believe it's the same as the EF nib on the Diamond Mini - which has a narrower 'wing-span', but otherwise is (supposed to be) identical to the 580 nib in terms of line thickness etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I find it interesting that the cap posts on the TWSBI shown, On the TWSBI Classic that just came into my possession, the cap will not post. Have there been design changes, and if so, which is the more current?

 

Thanks, Ken

Link to comment
Share on other sites

After the original Classic design's inability to post caused a bit of an uproar, TWSBI modified the design of the blind cap (added a couple of rubber o-rings, I believe?) to allow the cap to sit over it and fit snugly. Sounds like you got the older design - I believe TWSBI are happy to provide the necessary replacement part, if it's a problem for you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I believe it's the same as the EF nib on the Diamond Mini - which has a narrower 'wing-span', but otherwise is (supposed to be) identical to the 580 nib in terms of line thickness etc.

I see, thank you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

After the original Classic design's inability to post caused a bit of an uproar, TWSBI modified the design of the blind cap (added a couple of rubber o-rings, I believe?) to allow the cap to sit over it and fit snugly. Sounds like you got the older design - I believe TWSBI are happy to provide the necessary replacement part, if it's a problem for you!

Thanks for the answer to my posting question. I guess I do have one of the older ones. I'll probably just wrap the filler know with tape, or maybe heat shrink.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the answer to my posting question. I guess I do have one of the older ones. I'll probably just wrap the filler know with tape, or maybe heat shrink.

Or you could email Philip Wang at twsbiinc@gmail.com, and ask him about a replacement blind cap. If there's a cost involved and you don't want to pay, that's fine - but I'm guessing they'll only charge for postage...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33501
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26627
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...