Kaweco Special

[Rosetta59]

Very nice pen! I like the understated look of the matte aluminum. I will be interested to hear your experiences in terms of how it holds up to use.

 

After a month of intensive use, and four cartridges of ink changed, the pen holds up very well.

The surface does not present scratches (even under a loupe) and the nib performs better than new...

Greetings from Italy !!!

[xwingrox]

Great review. However, for the price I'd go with a Sailor Sapporo Mini, especially given my experience with Kaweco's nail like steel nibs (I have an Al-Sport and a few Classic Sports)

[JimB]

Great review. However, for the price I'd go with a Sailor Sapporo Mini, especially given my experience with Kaweco's nail like steel nibs (I have an Al-Sport and a few Classic Sports)

I like the looks of it, but isn't the Sailor Mini a cartridge-only pen?

[xwingrox]

Great review. However, for the price I'd go with a Sailor Sapporo Mini, especially given my experience with Kaweco's nail like steel nibs (I have an Al-Sport and a few Classic Sports)

I like the looks of it, but isn't the Sailor Mini a cartridge-only pen?

 

Aye, the Mini is cartridge only. But that's okay because Sailor Nano Black/Blue-Black are fantastic, if overpriced, inks. And it's meant to be a pocket pen. You won't be filling up pages and pages of your journal with a Mini. You'll have a 1911M or a Sapporo for that

[strawtarget]

Very nice review, thanks!

 

I would love to see a photo or two of this pen next to a Kaweco Sport, if you have one. I can't quite tell if the grip section is similar in diameter or if it's thinner.

 

How do you feel about the plastic grip and endcaps?

[Brian]

I like it. Nice review and writing sample.

[branodncooley92]

nice review

[Scribble Monboddo]

You can now get a suitably-hued black nib which looks even better on the Special. Here is a writing sample and a quick pic of mine!

[ericthered2004]

You can now get a suitably-hued black nib which looks even better on the Special. Here is a writing sample and a quick pic of mine!

 

That is a nice-looking nib. A further accessory available is a chrome clip. It's narrower than the Sport ones, and I'd prefer it in black, but it works well.

 

Nice review, btw.

 

Regards,

eric.

Edited July 7, 2015 by ericthered2004

[Scribble Monboddo]

Cheers Eric! I did consider the clip, but I felt it spoiled the clean minimalist lines rather. So I carry mine slipped into the pen loop of a Filofax, and it is doing fine service in the office!

[Rosetta59]

Simply a three - year update.

 

The anodized surface seems scratch resistant. No variations in colour are seen after many session of (even heavy use).

Greetings from Italy !!

[Phormula]

My Special has survived one year of abuse. The finish is still intact. I only had to replace the OR on the section that may get damage if you screw the barrel too tight. A two cent repair.

 

Also note that the Special does not accept Waterman long cartridges and some short ones like Montblanc. They get stuck in the barrel when you unscrew it.

[tinta]

I didn't realize that the "Special" has been around since at least March 2012! I thought it was a new Kaweco model, but perhaps only new to me.

 

My first Kaweco Special FP was bought early last year (2018) from Wonderpens in Toronto. I was impressed by this pen's classic design, outwardly resembling the safeties of the early 20th century. The Specials are able to fit two international short carts (back-to-back) or use a Kaweco branded converter.

I just had to have one & soon after, a second one. These pens eventually replaced a trusty pair of Dia2s that I had paid forward.

 

Recently I had Pendleton Brown grind a couple of Kaweco 14c B & M nibs into his signature butter-line-stubs. He also modified their Bock 060 feeds, to flow more freely with dry Pelikan 4001 inks. The Kaweco Specials seen below were fitted with these wonderful gold italics (0.8 & 0.5).