Hi All!

I have purchased my first Conway Stewart! When I saw the pictures Kevin Cheng sent around a few months ago of the LE Duro Heritage, I thought this might be the pen to introduce me to the brand. I have been collecting Italian pens for a short while, but I always keep my eyes open for pens of interest.

And this pen interested me! I love black pens, and the gold fittings on this pen are subtle enough that I don't mind them. I love the engraving! I chose the Medium Italic nib, and I like the line it produces. I am also intrigued by the tactile feedback of the nib - very interesting!

The only thing that is less than perfect is that it is a slow starter. Often on the first stroke, it won't start for about the first quarter of an inch, which I then have to go back over. I began by flushing the pen out, and then loaded it with Watermans blue/black, which I find to be a reliable, trouble-free ink. I have even tried soaking the nib and feed in the ink for a few minutes to "prime" the feed, but it still misses that first little bit.

I have only had this pen for a few days. Am I being too impatient with this pen? Will it get better? Does it need tuning? Suggestions are welcome!

Scott.

Hi Scott,

Congratulations on your purchase!

The Duro Heritage is a smart looking pen. I do not know which version I prefer -- the gold trim or silver trim.





You should not be experiencing problems with dry starts. Have you tried using different inks and paper?

I am sure there are many people here who will be happy to offer advice, however if you are still having a problem, please contact me by email: maryburke@conwaystewart.co.uk.

Kind regards,

Mary Burke

Thank you Mary!

If I had known it came in a silver option, I would have chosen it! I even like the masking on the nib better. But for a person who is much more inclined towards silver colored fittings, I have to say that the gold is done very nicely, and is very classy!

I have only used the Watermans ink so far. I will try other inks to see how they do, and I will let you know if it doesn't resolve. I am suffering through a new Stipula that is doing the same thing to me right now.

Could it be the ink? Does anyone have suggestions for ink that might resolve this minor problem?

Thank you!

Scott.

My Conway Stewarts seem to get on well with Diamine inks and my Duro is always filled with PR Shoreline Gold. Personally I've found that my modern pens don't get on particularly well with Conway Stewart ink.

I use Waterman Florida Blue in mine, and it works fine.

I have ordered one of these last week with silver trim after seeing the pictures on this forum. I have found Shaun at Conway Stewart very helpfull, so will let you know how I get on, I'm eagerly awiting delivery at the moment!
My girlfriend has also recently bought a new Dinkie that was on sale at our local pen shop, and is getting on very well with that.
I hope the Duro is as good as the pictures as I'm selling a Montblanc 149 to finance/make room for it.
Scott

I thought I'd check in and let you know how I'm getting on with my Duro Heritage. When I ran the converter out of ink, I unscrewed the converter, and using a small rubber bulb, I flushed water through feed. There is always the possibility of some minute manufacturing debris being left behind on a new pen, and flushing cool water through it can clear it out. It seems to have helped as my ink flow is noticeably better. I filled it with Aurora Black this time, and am using the pen daily. Thanks to all who heard me out on this forum!

Scott, I'm sure you'll enjoy your new Duro! Which nib did you choose?

Scott.

The Duro Heritage LE is a very smart looking pen, but I think the price is a bit over the top. If it were in the low $300's I'd snap one up in a heart beat, but at north of $400 it's not going to join my gaggle soon.

The silver trim Duro looks utterly gorgeous. I am one of those strange people who likes gold pens, but not gold trim on black. However, I do like gold trim on blue!

Well Ive had the Duro Heritage LE a little while now, and I have to say am delighted with it. I went for the silver trim after seeing this post. Sorry Scott! Shaun at conway Stewart was very helpfull throughout. I went for a fine nib, after some deliberation. All of my pens have a medium nib so I was nervous of change, but Shaun offered a nib exchange if I didn't like it so I had nothing to lose. I get on well with the fine nib, so much so I have just ordered an Omas 360 with a fine nib, my first bit of italian!
With regard cold starts this has been flawless, filling the pen through the nib was slow and I havent tried since, Ive just been filling the converter direct.
The pen is lighter than I am used to but that is not a problem either. The finish is lovely, pen looks a million dollars. All in all very pleased, I sold a Montblanc 149 that I didnt use because of its size to 'justify' this to myself and am glad I did.
I have only used Waterman ink in this so far and it has been good.

Mine has worked flawlessly with Waterman, Diamine, Aurora, Sailor, Herbin, and Dupont inks. It's a bit more temperamental with Cartier Blue and Montegrappa Blue. As Scott already mentioned, the pen is light for its size -- so I'm chuffed with mine. Happy to hear that everyone is equally enjoying theirs.

Wow.... you've already had eight different inks in a pen that didn't hit the market until late December 2007??? You've got this pen on the "ink a week" program!

Most people buy inks to match pens. I buy pens to match ink! Since the Duro Heritage is black (mine has gold trim pen), it matches everything. Happy, happy, joy, joy...

I ordered a Duro Heritage LE with the silver trim after seeing some of the pictures and reading some of the reviews. This will be my very first modern Conway Stewart, and I am eagerly awaiting its arrival.

Congrats on your order! The engraved, chasing pattern has a nice feel to it -- and it's reminiscent of a vintage pen. The pattern is not as intricate, but the feel of it reminds me of both the MB Dostoevsky LE and the Graf von Faber Classic in Guilloche Black Chevron (on both these pens the pattern is only on the barrel, though). You won't be disappointed!

I'm hesitating between this pen (in silver trim) and the Duro Sterling Silver pen, which is much heavier, at 65 grams instead of 15 grams.

Would I find 65 grams (about two ounces...) too heavy?

Pierre

65 grams? Featherweight compared to the CS Evolution, which is 113 grams!

I've finally decided in favor of the Heritage LE and have ordered it from Richard's Pens.

Pierre

Dear Scogre,

I'd be interested to know how the ink flow is doing in your Duro now.

I have a Duro (probably my favourite CS) as well as several other (more pricey, which just goes to show) CSs, and have had no significant problems. I mainly use Waterman inks.

One little thing: sometimes flow is disturbed because of inadequate filling of the ink reservoir, rectified by pushing the piston a bit further down the converter. I think this has become less of an issue now that the converters are a screw fit rather than a push fit.

Another possibility could be the way you write. I figure we all have an individual style (probably the main reason we prefer fountain pens), and this affects the way the ink flows to and from our nib with different makes/types of pen. For example, as a youngster I found contemporary Parkers constantly stopped writing mid-flow, Sheaffers (whoa there) ink all over the place, but Watermans worked impeccably, (irrespective of model or price). A while ago a contributor to this forum complained that he experienced a similar inkflow problem to you with all his CS pens, and I suggested this might be a reason, as no other explanation was apparent, but this unfortunately annoyed him, which surprised me. I note this is your first CS, so it's harder to conjecture that your writing style could be a factor. Perhaps you could get the opportunity to try out some similar CSs and see if the problem recurs?

Anyway, I'd like to learn of any progress you've made with your splendid new pen...

Hi Dovidola!

My Duro Heritage has been out of rotation for a while. I recently picked up a couple of new Italian pens and have been working them. I figure I'll be returning to the Duro pretty soon.

I had not resolved the ink flow issue before pulling the pen from rotation. I have conjured up a number of different theories about why this is happening. At least a fair portion of these theories include MY writing style as the culprit! I am right handed, and I have both the pen and the paper rotated a bit to the side when I write, but I also rotate the pen towards me, making me think I should try an oblique sometime. I have had other pens suddenly go dry on the paper when I rotate the pen too far towards me! So I certainly have thought that it might be me rather than the pen.

On the other hand, I have recently come to the opinion that smoothing a nib can improve the ink flow, and I think I will do a bit of smoothing when I fill this pen again. I also want to do a careful dismantle of the nib/feed unit and check to make sure there is no debris messing things up. It doesn't hurt to check things out, anyway!

Lastly, I recently bought some Watermans South Seas Blue and I intend to try it out in my Duro. That, or I might break out my Diamine Umber, for something different. Of course, I would be open to suggestions.

Thanks for asking!

Scott.

I just received my Duro Heritage LE from Richard Binder's Pens and it is beautiful. I choose the pen with sterling silver trim. The only issue I have at this point, it seems to write a little wide and wet for a fine point nib. Maybe that will be fixed at the DC show if I can manage to get anywhere near Richard.

Mike

Mike,

Congrats. That is exactly the pen I want!!

My experience with a fine was just the opposite. Richard probably gave it a generous flow and could ratchet it down.