Review:Conklin Coronet

[handlebar]

I have not purchased a new fountain pen in over a year.And with a couple needed for work,i decided to try out a Conklin Coronet.

These can be had for a decent price right now as they are discontinued.So why not?

 

Size: This pen fits my smaller hand perfectly!! I used to own the same colour in the Durograph model by Conklin and that was a huge pen.This size is perfect!

It measures 5-3/4" capped,5-1/4" uncapped and 6-3/4" posted.

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/DSC_0006.jpg

 

 

Nib: A standard steel nib that was surprisingly smooth compared to my last Conklin. So far,after 2 weeks,it has not skipped a beat. I had a choice of M or F and opted for the latter.

 

Filling system: Standard CC.No frills here.

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/DSC_0005.jpg

 

Colour/Design: As i mentioned above,i owned this same colour in a Durograph.Nice brown and cream coloured swirls.Acrylic bodied with a metal cap in chrome.

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/DSC_0003-1.jpg

 

 

Price: I have seen quite a few of these for under $50,a few under $40.Well worth the price and especially so as a work pen that can take a beating.

 

Overall: Conklin have been producing some decent pens at prices that make them desirable. I have heard some complain about their nibs but only owned one with a skipping issue.And that was years ago.. A good pen.

 

Jim

 

 

[jonro]

Thanks for the review, Jim. Is the fine nib a true fine, or does it run wide?

[rroossinck]

Aren't those steel Conklin nibs great, Jim? Kara's got one in her pink Mark Twain (a medium), and it's a spectacular nib!

[Ghost Plane]

Anyone have both a steel and a 14k who can compare? I adore the 14k LEs I've lucked into, but have been hesitant to go for steel after using the Duragraph [modern] I was given, since it feels scratchy next to the 14k. Been wondering if it was a one off, or I needed to shy away given my prediliction for floaty wet ones.

[rroossinck]

GP, it's been my experience that the steel nibs are often better (need less tweakage) than their 14K counterparts. Blasphemous, I know, but I've owned or worked on 6 or so steelies, and 10 or more 14K. YMMV, though...want to give one a test drive? Drop me a b/c note.

[MYU]

Thanks for the review, Jim. Regarding the cap, what do you suspect it is made of? How is the weight? Does it post well to the pen?

 

~Gary

[handlebar]

Thanks for the review, Jim. Is the fine nib a true fine, or does it run wide?

 

 

It is most definitely a true fine.I'm using it today at work in fact.

 

Jim

[handlebar]

Thanks for the review, Jim. Regarding the cap, what do you suspect it is made of? How is the weight? Does it post well to the pen?

 

~Gary

 

Hi Gary,

 

It feels to me like plastic with a coating of light chrome.The inside is white plastic as well. The heaviness says light chrome though.I can see it possibly rubbing off like my other Conklin.The clips tend to do that fast in my opinion.

 

Jim

[Ghost Plane]

GP, it's been my experience that the steel nibs are often better (need less tweakage) than their 14K counterparts. Blasphemous, I know, but I've owned or worked on 6 or so steelies, and 10 or more 14K. YMMV, though...want to give one a test drive? Drop me a b/c note.

Appreciate it. I'm still waiting on an LE to come home from a nib swap, so better drive the one I've got before I start playing with any more. :embarrassed_smile:

[R.ticle One]

Hi handlebar - can you recall if the section on this pen is about the same width as it was on the Duragraph you used to have? Thanks!

 

R.

[handlebar]

Hi handlebar - can you recall if the section on this pen is about the same width as it was on the Duragraph you used to have? Thanks!

 

R.

 

Actually the Coronet is thinner by about a quarter.The Durograph is a thick bodied pen.So this thinner body sure fits the hand better for those with a smaller grasp.

 

Jim

 

[RevAaron]

This is not quite review-helpful material... but, I think this pen makes a great alternative to buying a Bock nib for a kit pen. You can find these for $50-60, where the Bock kit nib goes for $90-some.

 

Also, the section on the Coronet unscrews in a useful because you can easily disassembly it into the section cylinder, the metal bushings, and the screw in nib/feed unit- like you might if you had made a kit pen. Nothing wrong with that, in fact it's something good- it's a great way to put a gold nib in a kit pen for cheap, or to make a pen around it.

 

Just a thought!

 

I bought a Coronet for $30 from the Marketplace recently- I don't like the metalish cap in general, or that the plating/paint is rubbing off- but I do like the nib. I've heard so-so things about Conkin's gold nibs, though the steel ones seem to be good. I like the medium though, very smooth.