Clavijo Pens From Spain

[Calamus plasticus]

Today I want to show you this pen, handmade in Spain by a very gifted crafter, Gabriel Clavijo.

Gabriel lives and works in La Rioja, that northern region of Spain well known because of It's wonderful wine.

As far as I know, he is not a full time pen maker, so he does these pens in his free time. But he works on something related to machining and lathes, so he has the habilites for this.

Well, the pen under review is an ebonite pen in a very Classic style that resembles Waterman, Wahls and Sheaffer pens from the golden era: a tube with a Classic golden clip not attached on top of the cap but towards the center. I asked for a c/c filler as I wanted this pen to be a dayly user, but the option of a piston filler was also available.

The pen is fitted with a #8 18 k JoWo nib in fine size. I must say that I was a little surprised at the nib dimensions: Its lenght is about that of a #6 nib but wider at the shoulders and with a 8 mm thread. I was expecting a longer nib, like a #9 Bock nib. It's a nice nib, anyway: an athletical version of a #6 :-)

The offer for handmade pens in Spain has been growing in the last years. Romillo pens are well known, but there are also other good pen makers that work on other price ranges. Of course they use standard nibs, not handmade nibs made by them as Romillo does. Amount them one should consider Gimena, who makes wood pens of high quality, Clavijo, and as a recent development, Antigua's.

What I like most about this pen is the dimensions: I don't like fat pens, and this one has a #8 nib but it is not fat: just enough to accommodate the nib. It is very confortable to use as a dayly pen.

It measures 14,3 cm capped; 13,3 cm uncapped (including nib); 17,3 cm posted (I almost never post my pens); 1,1 cm diameter at the culotte; 1 cm at the section. Very light in weight, as there is no metal trims other than the nib.

I attach some pics.

You can see Clavijo's logo, that is a Compostelan cross preserved at Clavijo castle in La Rioja, a place that was in the pilgrim road to Santiago (scroll down here and you can see the cross: https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clavijo)

In one of them you can compare a #6 JoWo nib (mounted on other Clavijo pen), the JoWo #8 and a #9 Bock mounted on a Goldfink pen. There is also a pic of other pens I have from Clavijo: two tubular clipless pens fitted with MB and Parker nibs by myself, and the pen Clavijo made for a Spanish forum of pen aficionados, Relojes Especiales (before that, he made the pen for estilograficas.mforos, the other forum for pens in Spain, too) They're all ebonite pens.

You can also see two very nice pen pillows I commissioned from the same ebonite :-)

Here you can see other pen models by Clavijo: http://estilograficasclavijo.com

No affiliation, just a happy costumer, etc. etc. I payed for the pen under review.

I Hope you like it!

 

 

Edited December 8, 2015 by Calamus plasticus

[Calamus plasticus]

Here are the missing pics: if a mod can add them to the first message, I will be grateful :-)

[Azuniga]

I am glad Calamus plasticus made this review... I was tempted but did not have time to do it.

 

I have own a Celia without clip for some time now and never stop using it... I am a customer only, not related, but I could meet this bright young men while at the Madrid pen show and it was really an honor, could not believe how shy he is.

I am sure many people here would love to visit his site...

 

Good luck to Gabriel

[inkstainedruth]

That ebonite pen is really attractive. So is the blue one, BTW. Thanks for posting.

Of course, now you have given me yet *another* reason to want to win the lottery so I can go walk the pilgrimage route....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Wahl]

Gabriel Clavijo is a very gifted artisan, and a really nice guy.

 

I have seen several of his pens, and they are of superb quality.

[columela]

Interesting pens!

 

Any idea about the price range. There are no prices in the website.

[Calamus plasticus]

It depends on the materials and the degree of customisation you ask for.

My pen is a C/C with a #8 18 k nib and it is in the 300-350 Euro range...

Contact Gabriel directly if you want a quote.

 

Interesting pens!

 

Any idea about the price range. There are no prices in the website.

[idazle]

I've got two Clavijo pens from a very early production. The tireless Gabriel Clavijo has acquired a lot of experience and invested in better tools ever since. However mi blue mosaic Clavijo is one of my workhorses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Calamus plasticus]

Hey, that's a nice pen! It has a Bock #6 nib, isn't it?

[idazle]

Hey, that's a nice pen! It has a Bock #6 nib, isn't it?

 

Yes it has. I think Gabriel Clavijo does not use them any longer though.

[visvamitra]

Nice ones.

[zaddick]

Thanks for the review CP. That's a great looking pen! I enjoyed the pictures.