Okay, apart from the larger size (and price tag) of the Townsend, what are the main differences of these two pens? The Townsend seems to be fit more often with a true gold nib, but is there any big performance difference to warrant paying almost TWICE the price? I personally think the Century is a better looking pen. To me, the Townsend looks almost swollen ( I can imagine it's a weapon in its own right). Both pens have some very beautiful, conservative finishes. I'm just trying to unravel this price difference.
Thanks!

Robert

I have both the Century II and the Townsend tuxedo model. They are both great writing pens. The Townsend is thicker and therefore more comfortable for me. It's quite a looker too and has a neat looking 18 k two tone nib.
It depends on your budget and taste. I don't think you can go wrong with either pen.


Karin

I love the size of the Century II (I never liked very wide writing instruments any way).
However, I must note that the Century II pen I have has a dis-proportionate cap (when you compare it with the pen main body). I guess there is a limit as to how thin you can make a pen.

I like the fact that the Century II I have looks very similar to the Century I ballpoints I have used for a long time.

The most significant difference in the two lines is size. The Townsend is a very large and heavy all-metal pen. The Century II is also all metal construction, but is more slender and a little lighter.

The basics:

Townsend

2 oz - About the same as the Apogee. About .5 oz heavier than a Pelikan 800 or Sheaffer Legacy Heritage
5 7/8 inches capped
6 3/16 posted
1/2 at widest point (cap lip)

Cross is moving the Townsend line up to more models with solid gold nibs, in order to distinguish them from the rest of the line and more upscale in general. From the Black Laquer models and up ($220 and up in price), the nibs are 18 karat gold, the Titanium down they are stainless steel ($130 and down in price).

Century II

Just over 1 oz
5 3/8 inches capped
6 1/16 posted
7/16 at widest point (cap lip)

The Century II prices similar to the Townsend, but slightly lower, and has the same range of appointments. Cross is positioning the Century II as an upscale, slender pen, rather than a cheaper alternative to the Townsend. From the Sterling Silver Cap / Black Laquer models and up ($190 and up in price), the nibs are 18 karat gold, the Sterling Silver Deep Cut down they are stainless steel ($136 and down in price).

The deciding factor between the Townsend and the Century II sterling for me was the band on the Townsend on the bottom of the cap--I don't like it. I think it does not go well with the otherwise sleek lines of these pens. But I can be picky and quirky about design to the point where it makes no sense to anyone (not even me sometimes ). The things I get stuck on! But the width wasn't an issue; even the Townsend is narrower than so many FPs out there, and I have small hands and can't even dream about large pens.

I enjoy my Townsend but will be honest that it doesn't stay inked very much. I tend to "Choke Up" on my pens when writing with them to get back from the nib and this pen doesn't really have enough width for me on the barrel.

I also have a century fountain pen and cannot write with it for very long at all without going OCD. By the way my hands are fairly small for a mans so the small hands thing really doesn't apply to me. I guess i just got handed to many huge crayons with one flat side as a child.

Mastering

Personally, I like the Townsend especially in this colour(let's see if image comes up): It's referred to as Marble Green lacquer apparently. This one is on ebay UK only, by a seller I contacted about it called panpeers

However, this one is referred to a jade by its ebay seller (as opposed to Marble Green by the other pen I've posted of another potential ebay bid I might make). Does anyone think there's a difference?

Otherwise this Century II in Cobalt blue with gold trim is a nice intermediary. It's from Montgomery Stationery, like the jade Townsend.

choices, choices.

This last pen looks beautifull. They keep improving on the Century II line!

Yes, it's surprising what a differrence colour and trim can make to a particular model. The Century's cap is very nicely shown off in this colour and pose. The Townsend's cap has a softer curve to it which I have found in these pics to be shown off very nicely in the green marble and jade.

Becoming rare pens in the jade from Cross according to Montgomery Stationery.

How much thicker is it, and to what pen does it compare to in terms of thicknes sinthe hand?

PS: As I am working down the Cross forum, I am finding more info regarding this, but if you have an opinion, feel free to express it here

I hope I'm not repeating what others have said too much, but I think of the Townsend as a big pen and I do love its various colours. I have one in sterling and find it a lovely writer, even when writing for a couple of hours at a stretch. It is heavy but, unposted, fits my hand and is well balanced for me. It tends to stay at home in the bureau.

I think of the Century as a normal/small pen and I have an older Century I in silver too. That is an every day writer which I post. The cap fits flush to the barrel and does not have the band at the end of the cap of the Century II. Although noticeably thinner in the barrel anf also the finger grip area, it too is perfectly comfortable.

I recently picked up a Century II in chrome (with a steel nib). I like the screw-in convertor now - better than the push fit for my other two. It writes perfectly well but it is a bread-and-butter chuck-it-in-the-bag pen for me because I don't particulalry like the chrome colour but it was cheap (half-price sale) and I 'needed' a pen for red ink to correct scripts etc.

I would happily buy more Townsends if only I could get over the conscience thing about yet more pens! (Oh, and I'd need the money too I guess)

Chris