Micarta: Why Discontinued?

[NewPenMan]

Does anyone know?

[1nkulus]

AFAIK, it has been discontinued since 2013-14.

They only made two versions, with V2 correcting issues in V1. There was also a clipless version.

 

Probably discontinued for lack of demand, company policy, other projects/designs etc.

[effrafax]

Well, the demand ws there. The problem was that the micarta material itself was very hard to work, making production unprofitable.

 

Shame. I don't own one but would like to, but used ones never appear on the bay. I have tried one owned by an acquaintance at the local pen club. Very nice pen.

[fountainpen51]

If you want to buy material, but not TWSBI, Lotus has in stock to make new pens.

[NewPenMan]

Well a hard to work material would explain it..sorry it was that way..it looks like a durable pen, and comments from owners are that it feels good in the hand..

[Doug C]

I have one that I'll sell; for 999 dollas.

 

 

Seriously, I think it was just the novelty of it, and the very different aesthetic.

 

I like it a lot but it is no different that most of other TWSBI's other than the rustic look and feel of the body.

Edited April 30, 2019 by Doug C

[Barkingpig]

I have the TWSBI Micarta pen & was very excited last year when I read about Sailor making a Professional Gear pen from Micarta for PEN GALLERY HOGADO.

 

Sadly, after it was released, I saw the price & realised I would only be having the ONE Micarta pen.................

 

 

It is on RAKUTEN site, priced @ $716.52 & a very nice looking pen.

 

(I am sorry I don't know how to "post a link" but if I googled "Sailor fountain pen + Micarta" & just found it, it should work for anyone else interested.)

[NewPenMan]

Two different ideas for how to make a pen from micarta..both very good..

[FOUR X FOUR]

I have both versions. They seem pretty cool at first, but after a while they lose the cool factor

[Algester]

they are ok but its a hard composite to work with and then there's carbon fiber which would be an honest to goodness machining nightmare

[FOUR X FOUR]

I have both versions. They seem pretty cool at first, but after a while they lose the cool factor

[marcelol]

image.jpg

You....uh...wanna part with them?

[langere]

They are cool pens! I love mine and am glad I got it when it was available.

 

Erick

[fountainbel]

TWSBI most probably stopped fabricating the Micarta for financial reasons.

While all their other pens are injection mould, their Micarta is completely machined from fiber filled material which is rather difficult to machine properly. Threading the material is very difficult

Given the higher as expected production & finishing cost, and offering the pens at a sharp price they most probably lost money making these pens .

Just my 2 Euro cents….

Francis

[Joe in Seattle]

I have the clipless in F nib. I love the look, and feel, but it seems I am always using heavier pens. I have a goal to get down from 40+ to 24 pens in the next couple of years. None of my children is interested in the collection.

[Joe in Seattle]

I have the clipless in F nib. I love the look, and feel, but it seems I am always using heavier pens. I have a goal to get down from 40+ to 24 pens in the next couple of years. None of my children is interested in the collection.

[PaganArcher]

I for one am sad that I didn't get into the hobby until well after the Micarta had been discontinued. Many of my the knives that I carry on a daily basis have micarta handles and there's something about the feel in hand that makes me want a pen made from it to carry with me when I spend a week or more in camp.

[anomalogue]

I have an original TWSBI Micarta with the clipless cap. I got Pendleton Brown to grind the M nib to his signature 'Butter Line Stub" and it writes beautifully. 
 

I could be talked into selling it if anyone is interested. 
 

 

[jchch1950]

Micarta is a very nice material but it can get some stains from humidity in the long term. Mine has one spot that is clearly of a different colour that was not there the last time I saw it but it is now that I took it out after rereading this column. My Micarta is the first generation with a clip and it dries after a few days of no use. I wrote to Twsbi about this problem but they told me that nothing can be done and I think that was one of the changes in the second version. Sorry, I can not post photos due to a lack of equipment and knowledge.

[Penguincollector]

Atelier Lusso is making pens out of micarta now, or was recently. A pen club member here brought one to the last meeting.