Kaweco Al Sport Vs Liliput

[Tom Traubert]

Hi all. I fancy a new Kaweco, having both a Classic and Skyline Sport and being pretty impressed with them. To be honest, I think I prefer the looks to the writing experience but the latter certainly isn't bad. I also like the portability and durability of the pens, so am thinking of adding another to my collection.

 

I'm torn between the black stonewashed AL Sport and one of the eco brass Liliputs.

 

http://d15bv9e9f3al6i.cloudfront.net/imgs/products/cp/950_constW/KW30868-ZZZ~Kaweco-AL-Sport-Fountain-Pen-Black-Stonewashed_P1.jpg

http://d15bv9e9f3al6i.cloudfront.net/imgs/products/cp/950_constW/KW41940-ZZZ~Kaweco-Liliput-Fountain-Pen-Eco-Brass_P1.jpg

http://d15bv9e9f3al6i.cloudfront.net/imgs/products/cp/950_constW/KW41946-ZZZ~Kaweco-Liliput-Fountain-Pen-Eco-Brass-Wave_P1.jpg

I love this description from Cult Pens:

 

• New addition to the brass range - Eco brass contains no lead, less useful for nuclear shielding but better for your health should you decide to eat your pen.

 

And I also like this idea:

 

The untreated finish means this pen will - like the Al-Sport Raw that came before it - wear over time and develop a unique patina depending on use and storage conditions. The finish can either be left to develop its patina or can be restored using brass polish and a liberal application of elbow grease.

But the the stonewashed AL Sport just looks badass from the off, although the idea of a brass Liliput that is totally unique due to my own filthy hand oils and pocket dirt is possibly even more badass. But which of the two to choose?

 

And, to make things worse, both pens are £62.99 (is this a thing in the USA too? Why the hell do they not round up to the nearest pound?) on Cult Pens and have the same nibs.

 

I like the copper Liliput best of all:

http://d15bv9e9f3al6i.cloudfront.net/imgs/products/cp/950_constW/KW40964-ZZZ~Kaweco-Liliput-Fountain-Pen-Copper_P1.jpg

But that's £89.99, which is officially 'silly money' for a pen with a steel nib.

Edited April 19, 2015 by Tom Traubert

[emerson]

Tom,

 

The notion that a wee fountain pen will be considered badass ["tough, uncompromising, or intimidating"] by someone other than yourself is interesting. It's a description that might fit certain objects. But a FP? That would be... interesting.

 

The only FP I can think of that could come close to qualifying [and it wouldn't, really] is a knurled section old-style Rotring 600. And not one in that affected black finish, either. Conceivably, *it* could be used as a physical threat. Sport or Lilliput, not so much.

 

Please let us know how this turns out.

[Frank C]

I like the copper one, myself. I have considered it, but not bought one yet. The fact that it has a steel nib doesn't bother me; my other Kawecos' steel nibs are excellent writers. I try not to eat my pens, or even chew on them, therefore nuclear shielding is more important to me. I have purchased from Cult Pens on several occasions they are a pleasure to work with.

[sakayume]

I really like the copper Liliput too. The only thing stopping me from buying it is that it only takes cartridges. I don't mind the steel nib either.

[alexander_k]

Kaweco actually makes a short squeeze converter for their short pens: http://www.kaweco-pen.com/en/Schreibgeraete/andere_serien/zubehoer/ersatzteile-federn/ersatzteile-federn.php

[Tom Traubert]

I've had some issues with the steel nibs. My Skyline Sport came with a B nib, which was a horrible hard starter and skipper; I changed that for an M, which was less slippy but still a hard starter. Undeterred, I swapped it for a 1.9 stub; fun as it was, it's a rather idiosyncratic nib to keep on a pen supposedly designed for convenience. Finally, I've just got a 1.1 stub which, as well as actually working properly, is as good a stub as I've ever used. Easily as good as TWSBI's and considerably better than Lamy's.

[Tom Traubert]

So yeah, I have my reservations. I can get a Pelikan M2xx series for roughly the same price. I'm a bit torn there.

[The Blue Knight]

If you like mini pens consider this, it's about the price of the AL-Sport

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/282945-diplomat-balance-review;-distinctly-different/

Edited April 19, 2015 by The Blue Knight

[Goudy]

Your pictures are not to scale. The Liliput really is a tiny pen, even alongside the AL Sport. I have the black Liliput and the AL Sport Raw, each bought new from a German distributor on eBay (the AL Sport was £38, the Liliput £29):

 

http://i.imgur.com/csGzXsj.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/lbMtygv.jpg

 

I love the AL Sport. I wanted a pen I could tote around in a pocket or bag without worrying about it getting broken or scratched, and the Raw is perfect for that. I swapped the medium nib for an extra fine and it writes very nicely indeed for a steel nib. Once posted, it feels as comfortable as a full size pen. As for the Liliput, it writes as well as the AL Sport (in fact the two pens have interchangeable nib units), but I find it too small for comfort. Also, the fact that you have to screw the cap on to post it makes the Liliput a bit more fiddly.

Edited April 19, 2015 by Goudy

[Tom Traubert]

Crikey, that is smaller! I was just going off the pictures on the Cult Pens website!

 

I might just get a Pelikan M215.

[Jimothy]

I bought the Lilliput Blue yesterday at the Northern Pen Show from Hamilton Pens. I've been using it all day and I think it's absolutely awesome. I also have the Sport but I think the Lilliput is a great pen for convenience. I'm thinking of buying the copper one to go with it.

[sakayume]

Kaweco actually makes a short squeeze converter for their short pens: http://www.kaweco-pen.com/en/Schreibgeraete/andere_serien/zubehoer/ersatzteile-federn/ersatzteile-federn.php

Have you tried fitting the squeeze converter into a Liliput? I was under the impression that the squeeze converters could only fit the Sports, and that the Liliput was too small/thin for even that converter. But I'd be happy to be proven wrong!

 

I hadn't thought about the the Liliputs being in the same price range as the Pelikan M2xx. The Liliput is charming (even the name is charming! ), but now that it's been mentioned I'd go for an M2xx over the Liliput, unless one really wants a pocket pen.

[Goudy]

Have you tried fitting the squeeze converter into a Liliput? I was under the impression that the squeeze converters could only fit the Sports, and that the Liliput was too small/thin for even that converter. But I'd be happy to be proven wrong!

 

The Kaweco squeeze converter is slightly too long for the Liliput. I wouldn't recommend the converter anyway - I've never managed to fill it even to the halfway point. I suppose I could fill it with a syringe, but then I could just use an empty cartridge for that.

[Tom Traubert]

If you like mini pens consider this, it's about the price of the AL-Sport

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/282945-diplomat-balance-review;-distinctly-different/

 

That's cool. I do want to get a Diplomat at some point.

 

I got an M215. It's a delight. I probably will get an AL-Sport at some point though. Those stonewashed ones are cool. The Liliput looks just too tiny for my sausagey fingers.

[Dickkooty2]

I have two Kaweco Sports (black w black ink, blue w blue ink … Captain Dullard …) I use the squeezer in both and find that while the volume maybe isn't quite what a cartridge is, I like the idea of the real ink sloshing around. The aerometric fillers seem to work fine for me.

 

Of course, I should just turn them both into eye-droppers.

 

The model for the Lilliputian market is too small for me.

[Tom Traubert]

As if by magic!

 

http://d15bv9e9f3al6i.cloudfront.net/imgs/products/cp/950_constW/KW43592-ZZZ~Kaweco-AL-Sport-Fountain-Pen-Brass_P1.jpg

[sakayume]

I saw that Brass Sport on instagram last night, but couldn't find anything else about it on the internet (not even the official Kaweco site!). Good to see it's available for purchase. I've come to really like my Kaweco Sport (gripes about the converter notwithstanding, though actually I've managed to fill it about half full so I'm satisfied), so the brass version is very tempting.

 

Are you getting one?

[The Blue Knight]

How much is it?

[Tom Traubert]

£65.99 on Cult Pens. If you click the picture I posted above, it'll take you to the website.

 

It weights 44g. That's practically a lethal weapon. I might need a concealed carry permit.

 

And yes, of course I'm getting one! I post a thread about this and, days later, Kaweco produce the actual pen I want - the size of a Sport with the finish of the Liliput. I'm ecstatic!

[The Blue Knight]

That's not bad! I'd love to see one that had aged.