Jump to content

Kaweco Liliput Review


KrazyIvan

Recommended Posts

Kaweco Liliput With EF Nib Review

 

This review brought to you by Jetpens.com with thanks to Lily for providing this pen. Also, read all the way through for the giveaway. :D

 

I find portable pens cool and practical for when you need to travel light and still want to be able to carry a fountain pen with you. I had seen the Liliput on the Jetpens web site before and contemplated getting one. Jetpens does have a picture of one next to a penny to give you a size reference and you buy the pen knowing that it is going to be small. It is not until you actually get it that you realize how small it actually is. While I don't have extremely large hands, I do have above average sized hands. I must make a note here that I own a Kaweco Classic Sport and the FPN LE Stipula Passaporto. This did not prepare me for the [George Bush Jr.]minusculosity[/George Bush Jr.] of this pen. The Kaweco Classic Sport is bigger. The Passaporto is bigger. I think I might have to start the “This pen is too damn small” political party. That is my first impression of the pen right out of the box.

 

Now that my first impression is out of the way. Let's look at the pen closely. The body is all aluminum. A very nicely machined piece of aluminum. The Kaweco logo is laser engraved on the cap end. Right below that, more laser engraving with the Words “Kaweco” and below that, “Liliput Germany”. My sample has an EF nib. It is fitting with the size of the pen. Maybe a broad does not fit in the cap? (I kid). The nib has the Kaweco logo on it with the typical Kaweco scrolling and it also has the nib size “EF”.

 

When I started with fountain pens, I came from a background of super thin Asian gel pens. The nib on this pen is a perfect crossover pen because of its EF nib. A very nice controlled thin line is perfect for those that like thin line pens. The nib is very smooth for an EF as most Kaweco nibs are. I was using the included Kaweco Blue cartridge for my testing. That brings us back to the barrel and cap. The pen is constructed of aluminum, as already stated. It is available in Silver matte and black aluminum body. This will deter some that may eye the pen for eyedropper conversion. There is no way you are going to fit a mini Monte Verde converter in this pen either. This pen is not meant for that. There is roughly ¼ inch of space left in the barrel once the International Short Cartridge is installed. If you need extra ink, you carry extra cartridges with this pen. A bummer for some. I am indifferent about it because with the EF nib, you are not going to run out of ink that soon.

 

I used this pen over a course of a work week to see how it would handle the day to day mundane duty of task list writer, quick note taker, and just the rigors of day-to-day use. I don't usually post my pens but the Liliput demands posting for my hand. It measures a scant 3.5 inches (89 mm) un-posted and 5 inches (126 mm) posted. Capped, the pen measures 3.75 inches (97 mm). Did I mention it is small? One thing that was apparent very rapidly is that the cap needs 5 twists to take it off. Then there is the issue of using it. The cap posts by screwing onto the end of the barrel. This takes another 5 twists. But wait, there is more! I found that since the cap is almost the same size as the barrel, I had to hunt for the threads to screw the cap in properly. This meant I screwed the cap backwards until I felt the threads drop in the groove then twist as normal (5 times) to secure the cap. By the time I had the whole thing ready to write, I had to ask for information to be repeated because I was not ready. :/ I found myself just holding the cap in place over the nib, so it would not dry out, then quickly post the cap when I needed to write. This made for awkward pen holding so I would be ready to write.

 

The barrel diameter is roughly 5/16 of an inch or about 8 mm. Once posted, I found the pen is actually comfortable to write with and is very usable. The construction of the pen feels very solid. There is no clip though. Transporting the pen in a pocket, I felt it was really easy to lose the pen if I was not careful.

Overall, it is a nice pen in a slightly smaller than expected package. It feels like the little kid that gets to wear the big boy pants now. Long writing sessions were okay. The thinness of the barrel did tax my fingers a little and I found myself stopping to take a break often. At $55 USD, I think it is worth the money purely based on the construction of the pen. While I do not think I would use the pen for day-to-day tasks, I think it is a good alternative for the ultra light packing traveler that needs to pack the most amount of items in the least amount of space. I feel that the pen might benefit from a loop hole or some way to attach the pen to a key chain or similar hook in a back pack. Maybe a short stubby clip like those old Sheaffer military pens might even work with it.

 

Pro's and Con's

 

Pros

 

Small

Lightweight

Nice quality construction

Sleek design

Smooth nib

 

Cons

 

Small

Thin barrel may be uncomfortable for some

No clip or attachment of any kind

IS Cartridges only

Lots of twisting of the cap to get the pen in a writing position

 

Roll the pictures:

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7115/7066257357_22c3da0d3c_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5459/6906566072_257ea95a51_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5451/6906564630_ca061951ef_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5235/7052653429_bb4e185fa7_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8001/6958812550_7e38d0dcd4_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8148/7104879563_af6b044a92_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7086/6958809408_3db78db6b0_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/7104877713_2d0e349381_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8010/6958807424_dc8d464c40_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

I seriously like this pen, but it is too small for me. I want to go ahead and do a giveaway as a thank you. Check out this link for more details.

Edited by KrazyIvan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 16
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • KrazyIvan

    7

  • radellaf

    2

  • sammyl

    2

  • terminal

    1

Sure is a cute lil' thing. My daughter would probably like it. If I had to guess from the sample I'd say it writes pretty smooth, if a little wet, with no line variation at all. Is that pretty accurate/

"One always looking for flaws leaves too little time for construction" ...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice review, Ivan. How well does this pen material handle sweaty hands? is the aluminium coated/anodized?

In case you wish to write to me, pls use ONLY email by clicking here. I do not check PMs. Thank you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sure is a cute lil' thing. My daughter would probably like it. If I had to guess from the sample I'd say it writes pretty smooth, if a little wet, with no line variation at all. Is that pretty accurate/

 

You could probably coax it to flex a little bit but I did not try it. It did not inspire me to try and flex it but I will try it tonight and report back. It is smooth for an EF nib and if you leave it sitting nib down for the weekend, like I did, it will be relatively wet. :D

 

Nice review, Ivan. How well does this pen material handle sweaty hands? is the aluminium coated/anodized?

 

Thank you Hari, I did not note any slipping problems while using it. I am not exacly sure, but I do believe it is anodized.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice review. Too bad you didn't get a AG Spalding mini at the same time. They look very similar

To hold a pen is to be at war. - Voltaire
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sure is a cute lil' thing. My daughter would probably like it. If I had to guess from the sample I'd say it writes pretty smooth, if a little wet, with no line variation at all. Is that pretty accurate/

 

I just got it to flex but it is very stiff. For the purposes of the review, I would say it is not flexible.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have one of these or I'd join the drawing. I find it a very usable pen, a reliable writer, and though it's skinny as a pencil, I can use it for short periods of time. The shortness isn't really a problem when it's posted. (Hey, I'm short myself!) But for longer writing periods of writing the skinniness is. (I'm not skinny!)

 

It's the only pen I have that I feel comfortable throwing in my jeans pocket. So far, so good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since I have the Spalding I'd be hesitant to get this one too, though this one is available in black.

 

I'm trying to get used to pocket carry with a Passaporto but I find myself always putting it on the desk when I can. The clipped Spalding just stays unnoticed in a shirt pocket.

 

And, Spalding is a snap-cap.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The physical size and appearance kind of reminds me of the Fisher Bullet pen which I normally carry in the "Change\Watch Pocket" of my jeans along with half a dozen blank business cards in plastic credit card protector\sleeve in my wallet. It's amazing how handy the two can be for taking a quick notes in the middle of nowhere.

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety

Benjamin Franklin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice review, Ivan - I think you're spot on for the best use of this pen. I've had one for a few months as my everyday carry - it fits a loop in my cell phone case. It's there when I need it, and can be ignored the rest of the time. The nib is great, and it's a surprisingly nice writer. I like to think of posting the cap as a little Zen moment - it makes me feel better while fumbling around and dropping things.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Kaweco Liliput With EF Nib Review

 

This review brought to you by Jetpens.com with thanks to Lily for providing this pen. Also, read all the way through for the giveaway. :D

 

I find portable pens cool and practical for when you need to travel light and still want to be able to carry a fountain pen with you. I had seen the Liliput on the Jetpens web site before and contemplated getting one. Jetpens does have a picture of one next to a penny to give you a size reference and you buy the pen knowing that it is going to be small. It is not until you actually get it that you realize how small it actually is. While I don't have extremely large hands, I do have above average sized hands. I must make a note here that I own a Kaweco Classic Sport and the FPN LE Stipula Passaporto. This did not prepare me for the [George Bush Jr.]minusculosity[/George Bush Jr.] of this pen. The Kaweco Classic Sport is bigger. The Passaporto is bigger. I think I might have to start the “This pen is too damn small” political party. That is my first impression of the pen right out of the box.

 

 

My experience with the Kaweco Liliput:

I had an annoying skipping problem, "M" nib. I tested the pen before purchase in the store where the pen several times refused to write at all. But I took it home anyway, thinking I could fix the problem. The feed is slow and not generous compared to other pens, and the nib is fairly stiff. I unscrewed the feed/nib assembly from the pen. I soaked it in a mix of ordinary kitchen detergent and water overnight. Also gave it a few seconds in the microwave oven. Blew air and water through the feed, in both directions, to clear any loose obstructing material. Filed the nib to adapt it for Italic writing. Works much better now, but still sometimes fails to lay down a line of ink when writing fast letter strokes. I store the pen point down to encourage the ink to fill the feed. The pen nib and feed seem designed for someone who writes with heavier pressure than I do. This is especially a problem with such a small pen. Otherwise the hardware and execution are high quality.

 

Now that my first impression is out of the way. Let's look at the pen closely. The body is all aluminum. A very nicely machined piece of aluminum. The Kaweco logo is laser engraved on the cap end. Right below that, more laser engraving with the Words “Kaweco” and below that, “Liliput Germany”. My sample has an EF nib. It is fitting with the size of the pen. Maybe a broad does not fit in the cap? (I kid). The nib has the Kaweco logo on it with the typical Kaweco scrolling and it also has the nib size “EF”.

 

When I started with fountain pens, I came from a background of super thin Asian gel pens. The nib on this pen is a perfect crossover pen because of its EF nib. A very nice controlled thin line is perfect for those that like thin line pens. The nib is very smooth for an EF as most Kaweco nibs are. I was using the included Kaweco Blue cartridge for my testing. That brings us back to the barrel and cap. The pen is constructed of aluminum, as already stated. It is available in Silver matte and black aluminum body. This will deter some that may eye the pen for eyedropper conversion. There is no way you are going to fit a mini Monte Verde converter in this pen either. This pen is not meant for that. There is roughly ¼ inch of space left in the barrel once the International Short Cartridge is installed. If you need extra ink, you carry extra cartridges with this pen. A bummer for some. I am indifferent about it because with the EF nib, you are not going to run out of ink that soon.

 

I used this pen over a course of a work week to see how it would handle the day to day mundane duty of task list writer, quick note taker, and just the rigors of day-to-day use. I don't usually post my pens but the Liliput demands posting for my hand. It measures a scant 3.5 inches (89 mm) un-posted and 5 inches (126 mm) posted. Capped, the pen measures 3.75 inches (97 mm). Did I mention it is small? One thing that was apparent very rapidly is that the cap needs 5 twists to take it off. Then there is the issue of using it. The cap posts by screwing onto the end of the barrel. This takes another 5 twists. But wait, there is more! I found that since the cap is almost the same size as the barrel, I had to hunt for the threads to screw the cap in properly. This meant I screwed the cap backwards until I felt the threads drop in the groove then twist as normal (5 times) to secure the cap. By the time I had the whole thing ready to write, I had to ask for information to be repeated because I was not ready. :/ I found myself just holding the cap in place over the nib, so it would not dry out, then quickly post the cap when I needed to write. This made for awkward pen holding so I would be ready to write.

 

The barrel diameter is roughly 5/16 of an inch or about 8 mm. Once posted, I found the pen is actually comfortable to write with and is very usable. The construction of the pen feels very solid. There is no clip though. Transporting the pen in a pocket, I felt it was really easy to lose the pen if I was not careful.

Overall, it is a nice pen in a slightly smaller than expected package. It feels like the little kid that gets to wear the big boy pants now. Long writing sessions were okay. The thinness of the barrel did tax my fingers a little and I found myself stopping to take a break often. At $55 USD, I think it is worth the money purely based on the construction of the pen. While I do not think I would use the pen for day-to-day tasks, I think it is a good alternative for the ultra light packing traveler that needs to pack the most amount of items in the least amount of space. I feel that the pen might benefit from a loop hole or some way to attach the pen to a key chain or similar hook in a back pack. Maybe a short stubby clip like those old Sheaffer military pens might even work with it.

 

Pro's and Con's

 

Pros

 

Small

Lightweight

Nice quality construction

Sleek design

Smooth nib

 

Cons

 

Small

Thin barrel may be uncomfortable for some

No clip or attachment of any kind

IS Cartridges only

Lots of twisting of the cap to get the pen in a writing position

 

Roll the pictures:

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7115/7066257357_22c3da0d3c_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5459/6906566072_257ea95a51_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5451/6906564630_ca061951ef_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5235/7052653429_bb4e185fa7_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8001/6958812550_7e38d0dcd4_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8148/7104879563_af6b044a92_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7086/6958809408_3db78db6b0_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/7104877713_2d0e349381_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8010/6958807424_dc8d464c40_z.jpg

Kaweco Liliput Review by IvanRomero, on Flickr

 

I seriously like this pen, but it is too small for me. I want to go ahead and do a giveaway as a thank you. Check out this link for more details.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had a skipping problem with this pen, "M" nib. I tested it before purchase in the store where the pen several times refused to write at all. But I took it home anyway, thinking I could fix the problem. The feed is slow and not generous compared to other pens, and the nib is fairly stiff. I unscrewed the feed/nib assembly from the pen. I soaked it in a mix of ordinary kitchen detergent and water overnight. Also gave it a few seconds in the microwave oven. Blew air and water through the feed, in both directions, to clear any loose obstructing material. Filed the nib to adapt it for Italic writing.

 

Works much better now, but still sometimes fails to lay down a line of ink when writing fast letter strokes. I store the pen point down to encourage the ink to fill the feed. The pen nib and feed seem designed for someone who writes with heavier pressure than I do. This is especially a problem with such a small pen. Otherwise the hardware and execution are high quality.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33494
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26624
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...