Duelling Rotrings...

[dogpoet]

As I’ve just acquired a NOS Rotring 600, I thought I’d do a review comparing this to my main Rotring, a Copper Newton, which I’m very fond of, and have been using a lot since acquiring it a few months ago. While there have been a few reviews of 600s, I don’t think the Newton has been written up to the same extent, which (given that it’s a lot easier to find a Newton than a 600 at the moment) is a bit of a shame. Let’s start off with mugshots of the suspects:

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/1631621d61c8387500591620a039381f3bcd8735.JPG

(The Newton is obviously better looking.)

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/bd736c1b17e96ea2c2683a16700800cb327f8861.JPG

(Note the plastic stem on the Newton and the slanted barrel angle that some may find unwieldy. The stem is also, and probably more significantly, a bit shorter as well.)

 

To get the obvious out of the way first, the 600 is widely reputed as the sort of nearly indestructible pen that Tony Stark would design for SHIELD agents to beat spies to death with. It does a good job of living up to this reputation. While the Newton is a very solid feeling and looking pen, the 600 is more solid still. It also has a metal, rather than plastic, stem and the lack of any embellishments or adornment beyond a single red band on the top of the cap adds to its general no nonsense feeling. The pen isn’t half as nicely finished as the Newton, which also has other design refinements that leave it looking a lot better, but the 600’s basic badass black looks pretty good in a minimal sort of way, though I suspect its finish is going to wear down to the metal along its edges fairly quickly, unlike the Newton’s slightly fancier plumage. It’s odd that the Newton is more solid than the 600 in even one respect, though I’m sure there are those who’d point out that the less aesthetic clip on the 600 is a lot more solid than the dressier one on the Newton. I don’t think anybody would argue that while the 600 looks and feels a lot more solid, the Newton looks a lot better. (To qualify that, I should point out that while I do have a mint, unused, black Newton, I’ve put that at the back of a drawer as a spare and use the copper one because I find it more aesthetically pleasing. I’m shallow like that.)

 

Another example of aesthetics in these things is getting them open. The 600 has a basic set up where the stem unscrews from the barrel, allowing you to insert a cartridge or refill it. The stem of the Newton is unscrewed by turning the post on the back of the pen. I've not seen this conceit before, and it's an odd one. Hardly worth complaining about, but I have no idea what the point is supposed to be. Just thought I'd mention that.

 

This isn’t the original knurled 600, but I’m unsure which of the two pre Newton versions it is, and how these differ. Obviously, it isn’t the one with the lava finish (I couldn’t get one of those in fine point). However, it must be admitted that it does feel very comfortable in the hand. If anything, it’s slightly better than the Newton on this level. The stem is longer, and the matt finished metal provides a better grip than the slick plastic stem on the Newton. Until such time as you cap it, the balance is also a teensy bit better. Hoever, that goes out of the window the second the pen is capped, so I wouldn’t do that myself. If ever there was a pen that was designed to leave the cap lying on your desktop, it’s this one. The Newton is also rather top heavy capped, but this is slightly worse, though it must be admitted that this probably wouldn’t be noticable if the balance wasn’t a little better than the Newton to begin with. The Newton is slightly longer as a whole, so you’d expect this situation to be the other way around, but for some reason it isn’t. I initially found the angled line dividing the stem from the barrell in the Newton offputting, but it’s something that you quickly adjust your grip to deal with, leaving it feeling perfectly comfortable. (It certainly isn’t even close to being as irritating as the way the rim of a Vector’s barrell can press into the pad of your thumb even before you shift your grip). Both pens are very comfortable to hold, but the 600 is slightly better.

 

A direct writing comparison wouldn’t be fair, as my Newton’s a medium and my 600’s a fine. Suffice to say that the Newton writes a little fatter and a little wetter than any of my Parker mediums (a Vector, a Frontier and a 25), while the 600 lays down a very slightly fatter line than my fine Parker 51, but is thinner than my fine Cross ATX. I suspect it’d be a slightly better pen in medium, but I’d bought a fine nib because, as I say, the line in the medium Newton was a trifle fatter than it should be, and I’ve decided I prefer fat fines and thin mediums. It’s hard to shake the feeling that if what really sells you on a pen is the nib, then you may not go for either of these. Neither has even a hint of flex (I’d much rather a rigid nib, myself, but I know many on here disagree with that), and neither is what you’d call buttery smooth. The Newton is the smoothest of the two, but that’s more likely down to it being a wider nib than the competition. There’s a little scratchiness on the 600, but I’m sure that’s a passing thing that will fade once it’s been thoroughly worn in with a month or two’s scribbling.

 

In terms of packaging, the Newton is again, a little better presented, arriving packed in a very nice metal case, containing a single short international cartridge and a dummy cartridge spacer. The 600, which comes in a simple carboard box scores for including a converter along with a single international cartridge. This is, naturally enough, another utility versus presentation issue, though I have to admit that as the 600 cost three and a half times what the Newton did before I paid import duty on it, I’d have probably been a trifle narked if it hadn’t included a converter. The converter in question is the same sort that’s sold for the art pen, and so is freely available more or less everywhere, but including one is still a nice touch. That said, the converter holds only slightly more ink than a short international cartridge, so I’m using Waterman long cartridges in both pens at the moment. It’s very good to have one included though, and to find a Rotring that’ll use one, unlike my (otherwise excellent) telescoping Esprit. Being able to use something if you fancy the idea is always a pleasant option, regardless of whether or not you ever get around to bothering.

 

At this point in the review, a tirade of abuse at Newell Rubberwear seems appropiate. Please take this as read. I’m sure both of these pens are a lot better than the vile looking Parker pseudo Newtons that have recently appeared in a range of ugly plastic finishes. A plasticy, cheap and nasty version of either of these pens seems a deeply stupid idea.

 

On balance, I’d have to say that the 600 is probably a slightly better pen than the Newton, but as a typical style over substance UK resident, I actually prefer the Newton. Both are excellent, and hard wearing pens. The Newton’s finish is sure to prove a lot more resilient, but the 600 will doubtless ake on a lovely patina over years of use as the paint wears off its many edges. The Newton also scores over the 600 for being a lot cheaper. Obviously, with discontinued pens your milage will vary, and the Newton being the last version before the plug was pulled means that there are going to be more floating about, but I’m not sure that the 600 is quite fifty quid’s worth better than the Newton. It is definitely the better pen of the two, though, and if it came in a metallic copper finish it would be perfect. Let’s say eight and a quarter for the Newton and eight and a half for the 600. The Newton is a lot closer to the 600 than I was expecting, though if I was judging just by solidity, the 600 would be miles, rather than inches, ahead.

 

8.25 (Newton)

8.50 (600)

[jmkeuning]

...

(The Newton is obviously better looking.)

...

 

Not.

[dogpoet]

Well, I prefer it, James.

[jmkeuning]

I am totally in love with the 600. It's a chauvinistic infatuation, actually. I get jealous and defensive.

 

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa9/jmkeuning/2042603696_6b63844c86_b.jpg

[dogpoet]

Fair enough. The lava ones there do look a lot better than the solid matt black one I have to hand, I have to admit.

[youstruckgold]

I have a old silver 600 that I bought new many years ago; and:

 

1. it remains indestructible

2. it won't wear down to the bare metal (as it started there)

3. I love the bevel on the cap that lets me pretend I've changed the nib from F to nirvana (*chanting "OM")

[MYU]

Nice review, DogPoet. I'm a little confused how you arrived at your numbers, but I would agree that overall the 600 is a better value. The Newton is just a little too odd. It's one thing to have a hexagon barrel that requires aligning the cap when closing (with some leeway on clip orientation), but an entirely different matter when the cap must be oriented in one precise way (due to the slanted design). Your F nib should be smooth and not scratchy... you may want to try paper bagging it for a bit.

 

I have an EF 600 in Lava that writes really smooth and a nice lean line. James, that collection is one to envy. FP, RB, 2 BP's, and one Trio? I have the full black Trio and really like it, but I'm tempted to get that Lava version.

[FountainPenAddict]

These look interesting. Would you mind giving us a writing sample please?

[jmkeuning]

FP, RB, BP, MP, Trio.

 

I actually have two MPs, .5mm and .7mm; perhaps it is time for a new photo? I also have three FPs, F, M, and B.

[dogpoet]

Nice review, DogPoet. I'm a little confused how you arrived at your numbers, but I would agree that overall the 600 is a better value. The Newton is just a little too odd. It's one thing to have a hexagon barrel that requires aligning the cap when closing (with some leeway on clip orientation), but an entirely different matter when the cap must be oriented in one precise way (due to the slanted design). Your F nib should be smooth and not scratchy... you may want to try paper bagging it for a bit.

 

I have an EF 600 in Lava that writes really smooth and a nice lean line. James, that collection is one to envy. FP, RB, 2 BP's, and one Trio? I have the full black Trio and really like it, but I'm tempted to get that Lava version.

I think the 600 should probably be a whole number ahead of the Newton, but (as I possibly didn't state clearly enough), I marked it down for being three or four times the price of a Newton at the moment. That's more a reflection on distribution than the pen, and it isn't really fair.

(I might take a shot at paperbagging the 600, though the nib is settling down a bit now, in any case. I think it just needed a little wearing in.)

As for seating the cap, though, with the Newton's only fitting one way, it strikes me as being slightly less fiddly than the 600s.

 

FPA: I'll get onto that. (It didn't occur to me in the first place as one's a fine and one's a medium, so it might not have been a fair comparison.)

[dogpoet]

Writing samples from both. (I apologise for the godawful handwriting.)

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/1d236be41bf86e52c6203c70716607ad3f3c6b4c.JPG

[eilu]

just wanted to say, around here, the 600 was marketed as the "Newton" and the actual Newton was never released. I love the 600- I've got a trusty lava, a silver and a black.

[mbachofen]

I have an older silver 600 with EF nib. I really like it, but cannot write with the cap posted! This drives me a little crazy.

[dogpoet]

just wanted to say, around here, the 600 was marketed as the "Newton" and the actual Newton was never released. I love the 600- I've got a trusty lava, a silver and a black.

That's interesting. There's a few cases of Rotring running the terms together to disguise the switch, I'm told.

 

The cap wobbles, mbachofen, or is it just horribly top heavy?

[Empacherguy]

The only thing I can say is that I rue the day I passed on buying a 600 in lava to go with my two in black. I'd been hunting for an appropriate ballpen for a friend graduating college who needed a totally rugged pen for shipboard use. So he got the lava ball pen; I got myself a 600 in black and an extra one "just in case" I wanted to give it to the right someone. Well, that 2nd one is still in my closet, waiting patiently. (No it's not for sale).

 

Honestly, I don't think I own a single other pen that gets more use than my trusty 600. The thing is amazing! Absolutely smooth, with just enough quintessentially German tooth to let you know where the nib is on the paper; perfect flow with just about any ink I put in (usually Noodlers Aircorps or Navy these days). I don't know what I'd do without it. The Newton looks cool to me! But I'm skittish about the finish.... Not sure why I should be, though, since I've experienced no problems whatsoever with the black on the 600 - even at sea, on ships, sea-salt air, etc. The only thing that does irk me at times with it is that the cap has gotten a little too touchy and pops off pretty easily if not careful. Never goes in my pocket for long; I just carry it.

 

Why on earth they did away with such a fine instrument is beyond me.....

[thibaulthalpern]

Well, I prefer it, James.

 

Maybe the issue James had was the word "obvious". It's not really "obvious" that the Newton is aesthetically better than the 600. Aesthetics is dependent on one's tastes so usually there is nothing "obvious" about it

[dogpoet]

A good point well made. I stand corrected.

[Pippin60]

I love the series one 600's in matte black. So far I have all but the mechanical pencils. They are getting very hard to find. I got a few from ebay, the others I've had for many years. I like that its a nice chunk of brass.

[adamselene]

Can anyone comment on the old style knurled section 600's versus the second generation ones with the click cap?

 

Also, how about nib performance and widths?

 

I have the lava RB and now that I have gotten fountain pen mania I have to get a 600 FP. . .

[dogpoet]

I'd do a quick search, adam: this is something that's been mentioned in a few threads, though not (I don't think) reviews.