Opinion on Conklin All American - Courage

[InkedPT]

I am relatively new to fountain pens and have a series of “low end“ pens  (pilot metros, Lamy AS, Noodlers Ahab). I’m considering Conklin All American Courage, 1.1 stub nib, for my “next level“ pen. I’ve looked at various reviews (Goulet, Goldspot...etc) but I was hoping real users might offer opinions if this would be a good option. Looking for pros/cons. 

 

The Courage series appeals to me because I’m a front line healthcare worker. 

[MSA]

Hello:

 

I just ordered a Conklin All American Wood in a limited edition from Pen Chalet about two weeks ago.

 

The service was good. The pen though beautiful had a dry feed/nib issue. It would dry up after every use. I tried flushing, tried changing inks and paper...nothing worked. I did some belated research on internet. It turns out that the All American's JoWo nib and feed are problematic. Pen Chalet was courteous and agreed to take it back. I sent it out today for a refund

 

It was a very disappointing experience. The nib ....when it wrote...laid down a juicy wet bold line. I ordered a medium but it kind of wrote like a bold nib. The grip and the weight was very nice. The pen was nicely finished and beautifully engraved. Really sad to send it back.  It was just too frustrating to deal with the drying up issue.

 

Please do some more research on the nib and the feed. Some users recommended to change the nib altogether.

 

Best of Luck.

[A Smug Dill]

8 hours ago, MSA said:

It would dry up after every use.

 

That has scarce little to do with the feed.

 

The cap doesn't prevent ink evaporation effectively, so by capping the pen, you're only marginally better off than leaving the pen uncapped between writing sessions. That's the nub of the problem.

 

See:

 

[MSA]

Thank you for solving the mystery.

[InkedPT]

Thanks for your input!

[Mr Bill]

Hi Ho InkedPT, I purchased and use the Conklin Courage edition

fountain pen, I chose the graphite with rose gold w/1.1 stub nib.

The pen comes with a bottle of Conklin ink, however I have not

opened the bottle yet. Also is included is a lapel pin? of the 

Medical symbol Rod of Asclepius  mine was rose gold it matches 

the pen, I haven't opened it either, as I am not in the medical field.

It's packaged in a somewhat large box 3"x3"x8"(75x75x200mm). 

 

The pens appearance is black with a swirly silvery gray white 

floating about, still looks pretty good. Rose gold for the clip and

cap band which wears the word Courage and heart rate moniter

heartbeat, the clip(best of any)wears the Rod of Asclepius.

The Barrel is engraved  Conklin All American Toledo Ohio,

limited edition 0632/1898 is my number. You can barely see it

as it is pretty tiny so it doesn't detract in any way. This pen is

144mm long so its  big pen, very similar to a montblanc 146.

 

Inside the nib is black and the converter which is included is a 

screw in conklin. The section is the same material as the cap

and barrel, slightly concave,  and 10.5mm at the small diameter.

 

As for writing experience very nice and buttery smooth with the

1.1 stub nib. I have used over a dozen inks in the pen and it likes

to drink the ink. Yes it is true that sometimes after the pen sits

for awhile I have to give it a touch to me tongue to get it to go. 

 

My only gripe the nib and barrel are engraved Toledo, Ohio USA

which implies they were made here which they were not, seems

like borderline fraud.

 

Bottom line I like the pen but not the implication that it's US made.

[InkedPT]

@Mr Bill Thanks!

[langere]

I do not recommend that you get a modern Conklin.  As you can see in other discussions, the new Conklins have serious issues with QC and with the quality of the parts.  I recommend you look into other brands that are more reliable.

 

Erick

[collectorofmanythings]

I have one in red! In the 1.1 mm stub as well! There was the tiniest bit of a burr on the nib but just a minute of brown-paper bagging it made it wonderfully smooth. I have a review for it here: 

 

To sum it up, it’s great and I highly recommend it. And if you don’t like the nib you could always swap it out with a Goulet nib. But I don’t think you’ll need one!

[collectorofmanythings]

On 4/1/2021 at 8:33 PM, langere said:

I do not recommend that you get a modern Conklin.  As you can see in other discussions, the new Conklins have serious issues with QC and with the quality of the parts.  I recommend you look into other brands that are more reliable.

 

Erick

I don’t agree with you. Since they switched to JoWo they have had wonderful consistent nibs. They have beautiful pens that are quite underpriced for how well they’re built. If you don’t like the nib, just spend and extra few bucks for a better one. But the JoWo ones are great.

[collectorofmanythings]

On 3/15/2021 at 3:40 PM, Mr Bill said:

Hi Ho InkedPT, I purchased and use the Conklin Courage edition

fountain pen, I chose the graphite with rose gold w/1.1 stub nib.

The pen comes with a bottle of Conklin ink, however I have not

opened the bottle yet. Also is included is a lapel pin? of the 

Medical symbol Rod of Asclepius  mine was rose gold it matches 

the pen, I haven't opened it either, as I am not in the medical field.

It's packaged in a somewhat large box 3"x3"x8"(75x75x200mm). 

 

The pens appearance is black with a swirly silvery gray white 

floating about, still looks pretty good. Rose gold for the clip and

cap band which wears the word Courage and heart rate moniter

heartbeat, the clip(best of any)wears the Rod of Asclepius.

The Barrel is engraved  Conklin All American Toledo Ohio,

limited edition 0632/1898 is my number. You can barely see it

as it is pretty tiny so it doesn't detract in any way. This pen is

144mm long so its  big pen, very similar to a montblanc 146.

 

Inside the nib is black and the converter which is included is a 

screw in conklin. The section is the same material as the cap

and barrel, slightly concave,  and 10.5mm at the small diameter.

 

As for writing experience very nice and buttery smooth with the

1.1 stub nib. I have used over a dozen inks in the pen and it likes

to drink the ink. Yes it is true that sometimes after the pen sits

for awhile I have to give it a touch to me tongue to get it to go. 

 

My only gripe the nib and barrel are engraved Toledo, Ohio USA

which implies they were made here which they were not, seems

like borderline fraud.

 

Bottom line I like the pen but not the implication that it's US made.

I completely agree! It is a little misleading, but it’s a great pen.