Twsbi Montesa Venizia Fountain Pen,

January 27, 2011

Ordered 19 Jan, delivered UK 27th. No duty requested.

Ordered: TWSBI Montesa Venizia Fountain Pen, Nib F, BURGUNDY

Appearance/design 6/10

Appearance: Modest... has the overall look of a low cost pen. Design:

I am impressed by some aspects: Thread, body to cap is bulky chrome,

presumably to hold the thread. The clip is very plain (practical and

strong), appears as though no design effort was expended. Both ends

have a red pastic insert (semi transparent). No TWSBI logo though.

Presented in a plain strong card case, with a soft material carrier.

I'm not overly impressed by the initial look of the pen? More design

could improve this aspect.

Construction/Quality. 8/10

Solid feel, possibly a brass body. Appears well made. Screw fittings,

cap to body, body to section, are something like pressed chromed

brass? I.e. not machined. From the looks of them, I wouldn't trust the

cap to remain on were it to hang from the clip. It is, however smooth,

i.e. when writing the threads are less noticable. IMHO just looks ugly.

Weight/dimensions. 8/10

32.2 gms inked.

135mm cap on126.5mm uncapped,

164mm posted.

9.5mm section where I hold it.

I took to the weight/ thickness quite well. It did feel heavy compared to

my other daily use pens, though not uncomfortably so. Too heavy/long

when posted for me, though a good length unposted.

Basically felt quite well balanced and comfortable for me, 220mm

finger span,

Nib, performance 4/10.... 8/10

Rigid, Schmidt nib (fine). On arrival one tine was bent upwards. It

wrote smoothly prior to my looking at it closely, though with a slight

drag. Straightened and smoothed out, it writes very well, no skipping,

clean and 'appriate line width', i.e. meets my definition of fine, identical

in line width to a Lamy fine nib. Plain steel nib, no flex.

Filling system. 10/10

Came with a pair of cartridges and a converter, which I filled with

Noodlers black. The piston is the smoothest I've come across. I'd

believe it if someone said it had been treated with Silicone

grease. Makes filling the pen a treat.

Cost/value. 6/10

For me, this is a moderately expensive pen. I don't think it worth the

$66, £42 I paid for it.

Conclusion. 7/10

*May* fall into regular use. It is a fair to good

writing instrument. Not something to fall in love with.

January 31, 2011

Update: 31 Jan.

Since I received this pen I've written (about) 2500 words in my journal. Initially I mixed the Montesa with my other pens when I reached for my journal. Quickly glancing back, the majority is using the Montesa. I'm coming to the conclusion that it really could become my daily go-for pen.

Minor nit realised yesterday. I can't remember using a pen posted. Out of curiosity I tried to put the cap on the pen body. I went on, but 'rocked', as if it were a point fit rather than smooth. Doesn't bother me at all. As a QA issue it should bother the manufacturers. I'd modify my score downwards from 8 to 5 on this count.