Wood Pens And Cracking Question. Montegrappa Heartwood.

[sub_bluesy]

I just picked up a new Montegrappa Fortuna Heartwood in teak the other day from an authorized dealer. I received the pen and it looked fine on the initial inspection but after looking at the body under mild magnification, I can see several cracks, about 3, in the pen body lengthwise starting at the metal insert where the cap threads too. These look to be all the way through the body. After seeing the cracks location under magnification, I can spot them easily without magnification now. Is this acceptable for a new pen? I have 2 Omas rosewood pens without cracks and also another Montegrappa Fortuna Heartwood in pear wood with absolutely no cracking. I've had the Omas pens for a year or so and they're perfect. The pear wood Montegrappa for a couple months. Am I being unreasonable in expecting there to be no cracks in the wood? Please see the pic attached of one of the cracks in the teak pen. The seller is telling me this is normal and called "checking" but this doesn't fit with my other experience. Thanks for your help FPN!

[owend]

I wouldn't accept it: I have a F-C Ambition pearwood and no cracks after a good bit of use. I don't know the Montegrappa, but it's probably a thin wood sleeve on a brass or steel barrel, with the metal taking the strain; being thin wood, I would guess that it was cracked when it was mated with the metal barrel.

 

If you can live with the appearance it's unlikely to get worse. But it doesn't look too good from your photo.

[Uncial]

It might be a seam if it's a curved veneer.

[corgicoupe]

It's also possible that the wood was not properly seasoned before manufacture. It is "checking", but I would not accept it. I have made wood pens in a number of woodo and haven't had any crack. Mine were drilled and epoxies to a brass inner sleeve.

[Driften]

I agree of all the wood pens I have made only snakewood has cracked like that. Yes its "checking" but that does not mean it should have done it. I agree to sending it back. The fix for a maker would be to fill the crack with glue and refinish, but for an end user that is not right.

[Mech-for-i]

send it back. it shouldn't even had such a fault, PERIOD ...

[sidthecat]

There is no material impervious to time and wear. Wood cracks, plastic decays, metal deforms and erodes.

That said, you want it to start out in one piece, thank you. Tell them to send you another and have someone have a good look at it before they drop it in the mail.