Kaweco Aluminium Special

[joeinbristol]

Hi, this is my first post so please go easy on me! This site seems like such a great resource—I would never have guessed such a site existed just to talk about fountain pens!

 

Until recently, when the cap fell off and somehow vanished, I enjoyed using a lamy safari. Using other non-fountain pens since, my writing is getting progressively worse and I miss the pleasure of using a FP.

 

I've considered getting another safari, but now that I know I like FPs and after the cap falling off, I've been thinking of getting something (i) a bit more special and (ii) with a screw cap.

I love the design of the kaweco liliput (and sport, but apparently Peter Behrens used a liliput and that's quite cool), which sounds like it writes well (better than a safari?) and seems quite well priced. But I'd like the ability to use a converter, which seems a bit tricky with the liliput, and I think I'd always be scared of it rolling onto the floor.

 

So. The kaweco site and Cult Pens show an 'aluminium special', which is almost twice the price but seems(?) like it would work better with a converter. It's also octagonal, so isn't going to roll away, and I love the no nonsense look. This will be my only pen (as a student with too many other expensive hobbies) but I could save up for the special if it were worth it and I'd rather just spend once on a pen that'll last.

 

I've been unable to find any reviews of it or mention on here (perhaps it's quite new?), so thought it might be worth asking if anyone has tried/got one?

What is the difference in price likely to bring? Will the nib be much better than the liliput's? According to kaweco it's made by Bock of Heidelberg; is that a well-known name?

Or, as I guess that in the scale of fountain pen prices £40 is not very much, does that difference just pay for more pen?

 

Thank you in advance

[Namru]

I'm guessing the nib and feed units will be the same on both, so you'd be paying more for having other components made of better...Things, I suppose.

 

Regarding Bock, I have a Bock 1.1 stub in my TWSBI and it works great. More than great actually.

[kaissa]

I love the design of the kaweco liliput (and sport, but apparently Peter Behrens used a liliput and that's quite cool), which sounds like it writes well (better than a safari?) and seems quite well priced. But I'd like the ability to use a converter, which seems a bit tricky with the liliput, and I think I'd always be scared of it rolling onto the floor.

 

So. The kaweco site and Cult Pens show an 'aluminium special', which is almost twice the price but seems(?) like it would work better with a converter. It's also octagonal, so isn't going to roll away, and I love the no nonsense look. This will be my only pen (as a student with too many other expensive hobbies) but I could save up for the special if it were worth it and I'd rather just spend once on a pen that'll last.

 

I've been unable to find any reviews of it or mention on here (perhaps it's quite new?), so thought it might be worth asking if anyone has tried/got one?

What is the difference in price likely to bring? Will the nib be much better than the liliput's? According to kaweco it's made by Bock of Heidelberg; is that a well-known name?

Or, as I guess that in the scale of fountain pen prices £40 is not very much, does that difference just pay for more pen?

 

Thank you in advance

 

Bock is a very famous nib manufacturer so no worries there. I have a Sport and the nib is very smooth; very good price to performance ratio. I am not sure 100% but I think all of Kaweco's nibs are the same (except for line width and whether gold plated or not ). I have never used a Safari so cannot compare the two.

 

Although I have several small pens, Kaweco is one of the best performing pen among but it also has the worst plastic feel to its look. You might want to see your Kaweco in person if you plan to keep it for long.

 

Regards,

[Uncle Red]

So, the Special comes as a FP too. I'd only seen the mechanical pencil. This is a longer pen than the Sport series that everyone here has seen. The new US distributor did not realize how much demand there was for more the than just the Classic Sport with an M nib (that's all they brought in at first). The reviews I've read of other Kaweco pens have generally been good. If you can try one in a store first do so but sometimes you've got to jump in feet first.

Edited March 5, 2012 by Uncle Red

[William D. Lester]

I find the Sport AL to be slippery to hold and the cap is difficult to keep posted. I have since purchased the Sport Luxe and I can't say enough good about it. It looks good, feels good and the cap stays firmly in place. The nibs are user replaceable as well. I use a broad nib in mine.

[WayTooManyHobbies]

I love the design of the kaweco liliput (and sport, but apparently Peter Behrens used a liliput and that's quite cool), which sounds like it writes well (better than a safari?) and seems quite well priced. But I'd like the ability to use a converter, which seems a bit tricky with the liliput, and I think I'd always be scared of it rolling onto the floor.

 

Welcome to FPN!

 

I love my Liliput. It's a very smooth writer, even in EF. However, it does take that extra second to screw the cap on when posting - kind of a Zen moment, but bothersome if you're in a hurry. Mine lives in my cell phone case as an everyday carry pen, so it always gets put back in immediately after being used - but I still worry about losing the tiny little thing.

 

I've tried to find a converter for it - no luck. I plan to make one at some point, but it will have to be really tiny.

[nicholasyeo]

I love all the Kaweco designs, the Al-Sport included. However it just hard to find over here

in Singapore and there are hardly any converters available, which makes me apprehensive.

I have heard of using certain universal converters, but I am not sure how good those are.

On that note, I was thinking of getting a Passaporto Demo, but that is pretty expensive!!!!

[encremental]

On the Kaweco site, it does say that the Special is for 'cartridge and converter' so you should be OK. I had never seen them before, so thanks - I may have to invest. Great nibs too, although I find that they perhaps run finer than most European nibs.

 

John

[Joe in Seattle]

Just my two cents: I liked my AlSport, and love my Kaweco ice sport, but these are not pens I'd consider using regularly as my only pen. I'd prefer something longer and easier on the hand. Mind you, they write wonderfully and would be a good carry in a jeans pocket with an extra cartridge.

[encremental]

Joe, the Special , when posted, is huge! 16.8cm, which is longer than an MB 149!!

[joeinbristol]

Thanks all for the helpful replies.

 

excremental: hmmm, that hadn't really occurred to me—I suppose it might make it better or worse to write with, but maybe also look a bit silly! I do wish I could get hold of one in person before shelling out. I might give cult pens or the UK distributor a call in the morning...

Oh, and if you do decide to invest, I'd love to read your thoughts.

 

Thanks also to those who commented on kaweco/bock nib quality. If the special's is the same as the liliput's, I'll have to decide whether better converter compatability and maybe some extra comfort is worth the £40 and neatness trade-off. At this time, as a student ... probably not if I'm honest! But I'll see.

[xwingrox]

I'd be wary of using an aluminum bodied pen. I have difficulty using my Kaweco Al-Sport because I can't get used to a hard and unfeeling material...