Parker Duofold International - review

[goodguy]

Let's start this review in a simple statement.

If you are looking for a light weight, modern, very handsome, large but not to large pen and well priced then look no further.

http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u330/alfa170a/Picture006-13.jpg

This pen cost me 120$ without the box on eBay and its worth every penny!!!

 

Ok now let's start.

The modern Duofold is Parkers modern interpretation to their classic 1920's Duofold.

The Duofold was designed at the 80's of the last century first the bigger Centennial and then the smaller International.

 

I thought the International will be smaller but no!!!

This is not a small pen by any mean.

This is a full size pen.

I may even dare to say a perfect fit both for man and woman.

http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u330/alfa170a/Picture008-13.jpg

I couldn't believe how light weight this pen is. You can hardly feel it in your hand.

Of course it is well balanced and this is simply perfect for long sessions of writing.

 

The section is rather narrow and if you love big fat section like MB Dumas, Delta Dolce Vita then this pen ain't for you.

 

I love the black sleek body with the gold trim.

It makes the pen looks serious and respectful.

This pen would look great in a suit.

 

Just like most modern pens this is a CC filler and all I can wish for is maybe a LE pen that Parker will make with a button filler just like the original 1920's model.

 

The nib is an 18k Fine nib and just as I expected it is butter smooth with nice feedback.

But this is a very fat Fine nib, maybe the fattest fine nibs I own so I wish Parker would be less generous with it.

http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u330/alfa170a/Picture010-13.jpg

Conclusion

 

Well I kind of said it already but I will repeat it.

This pen is not expensive as the Centennial model and I tried the Centennial and let me tell you this I can't feel any different.

The International in the second hand market can go as little as half the Centennial value so I think this is a no brainer.

Its a wonderful writer and I warmly recommend it.

Edited November 14, 2009 by goodguy

[andyk]

Hi,

 

Nice review I have 5 Internationals in various blue colours (am on the lookout for a Centennial, but as you say tend to be expensive). A nice size without being too big.

 

You are right about the nibs they do tend to be rather 'generous' but write very well. I have nib sizes from M down to EF (including a couple of spares) the F and EF are pretty much perfect for everyday writing (although the M isn't too bad just a bit wide sometimes).

 

My favourite nib at the moment is an M that Oxonian 'stubbed' for me which writes very well and I can swap into 2 of my Duofolds (all 5 if I don't mind a silver nib/section trim clashing with the gold trim/clip of the main pen).

 

I feel this pen is often overlooked because it is a C/C rather than having a fancy filling system, but for me that is a bonus, less to go wrong.

 

Andy

Edited November 13, 2009 by andyk

[Ron Sabbagh]

Thanks for another great review, Amir...classic, beautiful pen.

[rokurinpapa]

Thank you for your nice review. I am very happy. I also have international pen of just the

same generarion(but mine has the seal of the President at the top of the cap).

I like the nib design,cap ring etc of that age.

 

rokurinpapa

[Russ]

After having many pens, I bought an International and loved it. The feel in hand is perfect. Weight, balance, action. It's as good as my Townsend. :ph34r:

[RonB]

I like it too, but I find it a little unbalanced with the cap posted. Beautiful pen and almost perfect, otherwise. The quality seems excellent.

[FrankB]

Thanks for a good review.

 

Parker's Duofold series is one of my favorite modern FP series. I prefer the Centennial size, yet I find the International size to be more pocket friendly. I find the International to be sized nearly identically to "standard" Italian pens. For me that size is a bit small, but still very comfortable and useable and somehow very distinctive.

 

I have accumulated a substantial collection of Duofolds over the last 20 years, starting in 1989. I have never had any problems with any of them. They have all written well out of the box and have remained reliable writers. I find the quality of the materials, fit and finish to be excellent. I have a special fondness for the materials that were used in the pre-2000 pens, so I have not bought a lot of the recent production examples. But basic black is always a friendly, comfortable, available option.

Edited November 16, 2009 by FrankB

[mvh]

I've got one of these for years now. I first thouht it was a centennial, but now read that it wasn't. You can see how new I am to collecting FP's. i've been writing with it my whole life howhever and it shows. There are some marks on the body, but the nib is still great. A bit wet, but I like that.

[MCosta77777]

Very interesting review.

My favorite Parkers by far are the Duofolds.

Have both modern and vintage in my collection.

Although I have both sizes in modern duofolds, I seem to use the Internation much more (althought the centenial is a rarer navy pinestripe).

A very confortable pen to use everday, realiable and seems to not get much atention at my work meeting (when I use the Dupont, its a big show because I always gets lots os remarks witch I do not enjoy because I don't like to get atention draw to my pens).

 

I enjoy quality understated pens and the black international duofold is top of the line.

[richardandtracy]

Thanks for your review.

 

I personally think the International size looks better than the Centennial. The diameter is a more pleasing proportion of the length. Having said that, for some reason I think the International is a little too slender in the hand - which is odd as I usually prefer slender pens. Maybe I'll have to save up for one of these too.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Juan in Andalucia]

Good review. I love my Duofolds (an orange international and 2 black -international and centennial). Here are some pics:

 

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7774369@N03/4036801129/

 

Juan

[Joane]

Thanks for the review! My favourite contemporary pen of all--classic pen design. I like both the Centennial and the International, and while I would be happy writing with issue from 1988, 1992, 1996 or later, in looks I do have a preference for the streamlined cap top. The International fits my hand a little better for long periods of writing. Aside from the quality and reliability and the beauty and robustness of the materials, afaik they still have 14 nib sizes to choose from (used to have 24!) and a nib-exchange possibility, which means it's easy to find a nib to suit just about any writing style. I like an oblique medium or a broad for daily use.

[Ed Ronax]

Excellent review, thanks.

[kenneth cooke]

Thank you for your nice review. I am very happy. I also have international pen of just the

same generarion(but mine has the seal of the President at the top of the cap).

I like the nib design,cap ring etc of that age.

 

rokurinpapa

I have just ordered a Platinum Duofold International in Black. I certainly hope that it does not have the seal of the President on mine. If it does it will go back

[jbn10161]

I find the quality of the materials, fit and finish to be excellent. I have a special fondness for the materials that were used in the pre-2000 pens

I have a Duofold International from around 1992 that I am going to sell. I was looking it over, and was/am amazed at the durability of the barrel material. It was a pen I used on a daily basis for a year or two. There's some wear evident on the raised cap ring and on the blind cap (from posting), but there is no desk wear visible anywhere on the barrel! Sort of like, hmmm, a precious resin....

[Brian]

I find the quality of the materials, fit and finish to be excellent. I have a special fondness for the materials that were used in the pre-2000 pens

I have a Duofold International from around 1992 that I am going to sell. I was looking it over, and was/am amazed at the durability of the barrel material. It was a pen I used on a daily basis for a year or two. There's some wear evident on the raised cap ring and on the blind cap (from posting), but there is no desk wear visible anywhere on the barrel! Sort of like, hmmm, a precious resin....

 

I think it is precious resin (not to be confused with that other pr). The material wears extremely well and seems to be fairly resistant to scratches.

[breaker]

nice review on a classic line of parker pens,I have a couple of them regulars and LE's

[yutokicker]

Thank you for the great review. I'm definitely thinking about buying one.

[goodguy]

Thank you for the great review. I'm definitely thinking about buying one.

Glad you enjoyed the review and hope you get one soon

[Larry T]

Great review on a great pen! I have several of the International size pens, including one identical to the test pen, which is in my pocket now. The Duofolds are my favorite modern pens. I have a blue pinstripe Centenial, it's also an excellent writer, but I prefer the International size.

 

Larry