Recently I was at my local Staples and saw new pen series from Cross.
It is called Aventura. They have it as FP, RB and BP. Have several color choices like black, burgundy. I was in a hurry at the moment, so took quick look at it.

FP. It had a nib and section which reminiscented Cross Apogee. Stainless steel nib which is not large and section looked like polished stainless steel to, but is pretty light and has feel of pained plastic. It has pull of cap. Other end of the barrel (blind cap end) is diagonally cut like Waterman Carene. I tried to write with it. The pen was sitting on display like 50 degree from horizontal position and nib up. It was loaded with blue cartridge. When I touched the paper it started to write immediately and was putting wet even line. Sure that one had medium nib, but line was not overly wide to my liking. I liked it pretty much. The pen itself is pretty light.

I tried to google, checked Cross web page, but could not find good info on that pen.

Anybody knows about that pen?

I would like to buy one, but want it in F or even better XF and of course Staple did not have it. Oh, BTW it is just $30, and feels like reliable pen for everyday usage.

I've seen pictures of them online, but I haven't seen one up close and personal. But, since you say Staples is carrying them, I may have to check them out.

Looks like a nice beater pen. It does like a "cross" between the ATX and Apogee.

You peaked my interest, but the only place I am finding it is on the Cross corporate gift catalog.

http://www.mycrossbiz.com/global-corporate.../Pens.asp?id=25

Which brings up several questions as to whether Staples got a deal on an excess/cancelled order run, or is Cross going to move it into the retail catalog? I will have to drop by the local Staples and see if it showed up out here. Appreciate the heads up on this one.

I think this line will sit in staple for a while.
They have a whole section on their fine pen stand dedicated to this pen line, and they put nice writing like "AVENTURA introducing new pens from Cross".

As for prices elsewhere, I was surprised to find just couple places which sell Aventuras and at prices noticable higher than Staple's.

I've asked our Cross rep what the scoop is on this pen and the Calais. I believe they are either for non-US markets or for the corporate gift / engraving market. When I get an answer, I'll post it.

They are not in the US retail catalog.

Cheers,

Jim Mamoulides
www.PenHero.com

Thanks for the heads up on this model, all. Still enjoyin' my Apogee, but, this Aventura IS a nice pen.

I stopped by the local Staples, but all they were carrying was the Aventura ballpoint. Unfortunately, the local Staples in town sucks as far as their fine pen selection.

Here's an update - the Aventura and Calais are only being distributed to national accounts, which would *not* mean traditional dealers, which explains their appearance in places like Staples. Likewise, Cross does not sell their feature products, like the Apogee through national accounts, leaving them to dealers to sell.

In effect, Cross is using a two-tier marketing system and has products specific to each with no overlap. That's why you can see all the products on mycrossbiz, but your friendly neighborhood Cross dealer does not see them in the catalog.

Cheers,

Jim Mamoulides
www.PenHero.com

It reminds me of a Patric Baudry pen being auctioned by a Belgian ebay seller.

Well, I walked into my local Staples, and there they were sitting on a table by the register. Marked $21.95, so why not?

I bought a black one and took it home to play. I loaded up with the cartridge that came with the pen and tried it out. Decent writer, nib is a true medium, nice wet line, not bad. I put the cap back on the pen and went to dinner with my wife.

When I got home later that evening I picked up the pen and TRIED to uncap it. It took a lot of effort, but it finally came off. The pen still wrote well, so I started looking for the problem with the cap. I didn't find anything suspicious, no ink in the cap, and the inner cap was tight. the cap slipped on easily, but was a bear to take off.

I took it back to Staples the next day for a replacement. The new one was actually WORSE than the first.

It's really too bad, because the pen is a very competant writer. I may try to modify one of my desk bases to fit this pen. It would make a nice desk pen.

Anyone else have a problem with one of these pens?

Larry

After reading this thread, I found myself near a Staples so I stopped in. Two staff people searched for a match to the lone black one on display without luck. Finally, I spotted one in its sealed box on another display of BP's. After another 10 minutes of comparing stock numbers the clerk was confident it was a fountain pen ("whatever that is").

When I got it home and opened the box, I could find neither cartridge nor converter. To me the pen appeared cheap and felt cheap. Like those flimsy giveaway MB lookalikes (without the star). Wiggle it and it "creaked". I set it aside to be examined later.

Yesterday, I found the cart stuck up into the barrel. Doh! I installed it. The pen refused to write. A bit of wiggling on the cart. Now it wrote. As described already, it is a true medium or narrowish medium by modern standards. I played with it a bit and then, uninspired, sat it aside.

This evening I picked it up and it started immediately. I will say the nib, marked only with "Cross" is quite smooth OOTB. The nib appears serviceable but the fit and finish of the pen gives me the impression that it will disintegrate if used much. It does not have the solid feel of its price-mates -- the Lamy Safari and Waterman Phileas. The cap fits onto the barrel by friction but with a very short throw. I've probably capped it about a dozen times and already there is a gouge in the plastic barrel where the cap trim cut it.

I'll assign it as a beater pen...or a loaner. Of course, it probably will turn out to be like the old, ugly, patched together lawn mower you hope will break so you could get a new one...but it keeps on working!

Bill

Bill, thanks for your assessment on the Cross Aventura. I must admit that I'm turned off now that you say it feels flimsy. By what you describe, I get the impression that it's on the very low end of China-made pens. If it doesn't even come close to the fit/finish of a Lamy Safari then it's not worth even considering. I certainly wouldn't spend $20 bucks on a pen that's no better than a Parker Reflex.