Stipula Speed Fountain Pen (Ivory Resin)

[Notgatherox]

Hello all! This is a pen I haven't seen a review on so here's my little take on it!

 

Presenting to you a Stipula! This is a Stipula Speed! It was very popular as a ballpoint, and so Stipula has introduced it as a fountain pen!

 

There are four colours to this: black, red, ivory and orange, and this is the ivory one.

 

 

Without further ado, into the review proper!

 

 

Appearance and Design: 8/10

 

A elliptical pen with a magnetic clip, so you'll never worry about the clip coming off! There are lines carved into the grip, which resembles the straw that Stipula was named after (Stipula is Latin for "straw" or "small stick", and a small stick was what the Romans used to split in acceptance of a commitment more than 2000 years ago. Classical good taste combined with the traditional artistic skills and craftmanship of Florence: this is the Stipula's commitment.) [Taken from Stipula's warranty and use guide] Feels good in the hand! It doesn't post, but I'm not particular to that.

 

 

 

 

 

Construction and Quality: 8/10

 

Solid pen, not too heavy in the hand. Still, don't drop it on the floor, or you'll dirty the ivory! Or even hurt the nib! ><

 

 

 

 

Weight and Dimensions: 8/10

 

This feels like slightly heavier than the Pilot Custom 74 (22g), so my guess would be about 25-30g? But it is of a comfortable weight to me. It is 145mm/14.5cm long and is comfortable unposted (my hands measure 6 inches/15cm from the wrist to the tip of my middle finger).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nib and Performance: 8.5/10

 

My first official italic nib! This has a stainless steel 0.9mm italic nib on it. Still learning the ropes though, but I like the line variation that it can produce. This is a rounded italic nib and not a crisp one, which is good since I'm just starting out with italics. Smooth OOTB! Look at the writing sample! Pardon the handwriting though, not the most beautiful one out there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filling System and Maintenance: 8.5/10

 

This is a piston filler! Smooth piston, but sadly no ink window or whatsoever for me to determine the level of ink left, so that's 0.5 marks deducted. Heck, the only time I know it's time to refill would be when it doesn't write anymore XD

 

 

 

Cost and Value: 10/10!

 

Because I got it in a lucky draw. Need I say more?

 

 

 

 

Conclusion: 8.5/10

 

Overall, this is one great pen! Opened my eyes to the world of Italian made pens, and to italic nibs too! I may explore italic nibs more thanks to this little beauty! Great little pen!

 

 

 

~Epic

 

 

[Sheri Chander]

A quite different looking pen. Please share some pics of the nib. How much flex does the nib have?

[jameswatts]

Glad you Stipula Speed works for you. Mine, with a fine nib, has been one of the more frustrating pens I've ever used. I've had similar problems with other Stipula pens, but not the extreme of the Speed.

[Notgatherox]

A quite different looking pen. Please share some pics of the nib. How much flex does the nib have?

 

I'll attempt to do so, but my pictures aren't the greatest!

 

 

 

 

Here's a close up of the nib, not the most clear ><

 

 

 

The line with the darker ink is the flexed width, the line with the lighter ink is normal pressure. You can flex it a little I guess...

 

 

 

~Epic

[sjones581]

If you took the pen apart (I don't recommend it) I think you would be surprised. It's really a "captive converter" not a piston filler. That's semantics really now that I think about it.

[GHigley]

I just received a matte black and silver Speed on a half-price deal though Massdrop, also with the 0.9 mm stub. I'd not tried a Stipula, so for 50 bucks I thought I'd give it a go.

 

Here are my first impressions: The ribbed plastic section isn't easily cleaned with just a wipe so I gave it a quick rinse with a small stream under the tap. I'm not fond of the captive converter as I'm not sure if the pen is user serviceable. Does anyone know if the pen can be taken apart past unscrewing the nib unit? The design is different and attractive, but I don't find the section comfortable for longer writing sessions. The stub nib is decent but nothing special. I like the magnetic cap closure. The plastic feels cheap and the pen doesn't seem well made.

Edited August 2, 2015 by GHigley