Visconti Homo Sapiens Steel Midi

[Miadhawk]

Hello FPN members! Title says it all, I've gotten my hands on a Visconti Homo Sapiens Steel Age Midi pen. (whew, what a long name) I've had it for a few months now, and its time I do a review of one of my favorite pens

 

Appearance & Design (9/10) – Its very hard to rate this pen any lower, its made out of a combination of igneous rock from Mt. Etna in Sicily, Italy, and some resin. At first look it appears a matte black, maybe even gray. Once you look closer to it, you can see there's a lot going on, its got a porous surface that is slight hygroscopic, which means it will absorb a little moisture, such as sweat from your hands, its no towel however, so don't use it as such! The nib is unplated for the Steel Age version, which is to my preference, if the trim is silver-colored, (its actually steel) I feel the nib should be the same color. The cap is a very nice arc, which features the brand name on both sides. It is spring loaded, and is very firm, although I never leave fountain pens in my pocket, this is one pen I could trust in there. Also, the cap has a very unique mechanism that I can only call a combination of a pull/push and a screw cap. Its hard to describe, but what appears to be a design on the pen is actually similar to what you'd expect to be pen threads.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8285/7600668680_a1e5a02bd9_b.jpg

Visconti HS Midi by miadhoque, on Flickr

 

 

Construction & Quality (10/10) – I hear a lot on the Italian pens sub-forum of sketchy quality from Visconti, being my first Visconti (and Italian pen!) I went to the Fountain Pen Hospital in Manhattan, NY to pick one up. It was flawless from the start, and it feels like I'm holding tank armor in terms of how strong it is. I haven't dropped it, but the material is very thick and strong on this pen.

 

 

Weight & Dimensions (7/10) – Compare the size of this pen to the Pelikan M600, its certainly heavier, unlike the feather light feel of a Pelikan. Its cap can be posted, but grossly imbalances the pen, making it too strenuous to write with it, to my left hand to be held it goes.

 

 

Nib & Performance (7.5/10) – Now this is what sets the Visconti Homo Sapiens Steel Age Midi apart from other pens. Not only is it made of a unique body material that is understated, yet functional and appealing, its nib is also very unique. Its made of 23k palladium. Visconti is the first to use it (to my knowledge) in the making of nibs. Its very soft, not nearly a flexible type of pen, but it rebounds to a fine like slowly, like any modern pen with line variation now. Its really a nice writer, feels comfortable in the hand, and looks very nice. I purchased this pen with a fine nib, and it writes far more like a medium, which irritated me in the beginning, but I've since learned to adjust to, and love it. I can write for extended periods of time, several pages without any issues.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7278/7600670424_8e8aa85436_b.jpg

Demonstration of the Nib by miadhoque, on Flickr

 

Filling System & Maintenance (7/10) - Its a piston filler, but said to be a "trapped" or non-removable piston converter inside the pen, which is a waste of space in an already small ink compartment. The innards are made of titanium to avoid corrosion, which is cool. Its easy to clean and fill, but there is one glaring issue. This is the nib being "flooded" with ink, the pen holds excess ink it cannot take in under the nib due to its curvature. This is a minor gripe, as it can wiped off or you can simply remove the nib from the bottle before finishing twisting the piston knob, which is very smooth. Thankfully, the nib and feed can both be removed and easily separated from one another.

 

 

Cost & Value (10/10) – I got it on a whim (thanks Visconti rep) while browsing the Fountain Pen Hospital during its Spring Expo, this pen cost a lot of money (for me) and I've saved up quite a while for a pen like it. My original intention was an Pelikan M800 from the FPN classifieds, but I'm glad I was sidetracked. I got this pen for $375 instead of its usual $500 price tag (woohoo sale!) I honestly can't recommend this pen enough, its not a punch you in the eye attention grabber, but is very pleasing. In addition to its unique material and nib, it is a very secure and well built tank, kind of like German cars!

 

More photos!

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/7600672454_952c2a0a7d_b.jpg

Nib/Cap by miadhoque, on Flickr

 

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7600667028_60950678aa_b.jpg

Entire Pen by miadhoque, on Flickr

 

 

Writing Sample- Keep in mind this is a wet pen!

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7137/7600681018_fe3b92dbeb_b.jpg

DSC00429 by miadhoque, on Flickr

[watch_art]

Awesome review. I especially love the pics with it on the chipping paint windowsill. Looks perfectly natural there.

Thanks!

[brh]

Excellent, thanks for this review! Always nice to read more about these. I handled one of these at Fahrney's, and am definitely planning to pick one up. Feels great in the hand, looks interesting while remaining somewhat understated, and the cap closure is genius. I also think it's refreshing to see a pen made out of so many unique materials that isn't a limited edition! Now, if only they'd make the bronze in the midi size…

[breaker]

nice review and pics!

thanks!

[terminal]

Did you have a chance to compare the MIDI with a standard sized? I've been debating getting the MIDI because I thought it would be too short compared to my standard bronze age.

[Miadhawk]

Awesome review. I especially love the pics with it on the chipping paint windowsill. Looks perfectly natural there.

Thanks!

 

Thank you! I was hoping it would work

 

Excellent, thanks for this review! Always nice to read more about these. I handled one of these at Fahrney's, and am definitely planning to pick one up. Feels great in the hand, looks interesting while remaining somewhat understated, and the cap closure is genius. I also think it's refreshing to see a pen made out of so many unique materials that isn't a limited edition! Now, if only they'd make the bronze in the midi size…

 

I think its pretty odd that they don't.

 

nice review and pics!

thanks!

 

Thank you for the compliment!

 

Did you have a chance to compare the MIDI with a standard sized? I've been debating getting the MIDI because I thought it would be too short compared to my standard bronze age.

 

Yes, the oversize version is a bit longer and wider, think of an M800 sized pen in that regard.

Edited July 19, 2012 by Miadhawk

[georges zaslavsky]

congrats on the pen

[raging.dragon]

Now, if only they'd make the bronze in the midi size…

I think its pretty odd that they don't.

 

If the steel age midi sells well, they probably will.

[SHK]

Thanks for this good written review and images as well.

The midi is the one which I have already for a long time in my head.

I think it is only a question of time until I wll purchase it.

 

Sascha

[Rubicon]

This is what I love most about the Homo Sapiens. It is (or it seems anyway) indestructible, very functional, and a beauty to boot. How many pens can claim that?

[ozsu]

Now if I can make up my mind whether to get midi or maxi...

[humsin]

Maxi hands down!!

[karmakoda]

Very informative and readable review, great photos. Thank You!

 

This pen tempts me; cannot deny the strong quality of Visconti pens. Many wonderful pen manufacturers, but Visconti may be the most innovative, creative, and tasteful pen company out there.

 

Congrats!

[elderberry]

Great pictures! The lava material just looks great with steel, even better than with bronze.

Enjoy your pen in good health!

[Rubicon]

Very informative and readable review, great photos. Thank You!

 

This pen tempts me; cannot deny the strong quality of Visconti pens. Many wonderful pen manufacturers, but Visconti may be the most innovative, creative, and tasteful pen company out there.

 

Congrats!

 

Visconti is one of the only company whose entire catalogue (in design) is appealing to me... Ok. Maybe except for OMAS. Montblanc is the company whose pens I buy most often, though, some days Italian pens are just too over the top for me and MB has that cool balance between beauty, quality and functionality. Funny how companies are so different.

[Miadhawk]

I can't recommend Visconti enough, I used to be a full on Pelikan fan, but Visconti's designs

[MyDarnSnakeLegs]

Man, I love the look of that pen. I'm going to have to see if I can find one to handle at the DC show. Good camera-work!

[vondauster]

I can't recommend Visconti enough, I used to be a full on Pelikan fan, but Visconti's designs

 

+1. And Dante del Vecchio is a class act all the way, and a heck of a nice guy to boot.

 

The Steel Midi is a more usable size than the original Bronze, though I prefer the vacuum filler and more hour-glass shaped section of the original. Is the full-sized Steel also a vacuum filler?

 

Will

[raging.dragon]

Is the full-sized Steel also a vacuum filler?

 

The first batch were, but subsequent production have been piston fillers. I don't know if anyone still has the Steel Age vacuum fillers in stock.

[vondauster]

Is the full-sized Steel also a vacuum filler?

 

The first batch were, but subsequent production have been piston fillers. I don't know if anyone still has the Steel Age vacuum fillers in stock.

 

Grumble. Oh well, back to lusting after a green Wall Street... no, not Wall Street green.

 

Thanks for the reply,

 

Will