My Kaweco Al Sport
When I first got my Kaweco Al Sport with medium nib, not the stonewashed version, it was awful at actually putting ink on the page. It would not start without a good press of the nib which was most annoying.
I have since 'flexed' the nib to open it up a little, but the biggest different came when I polished a new surface onto the nib with my Gatco Triceps knife sharpener (yes really). This has proved an absolutely fantastic tool for sorting out the nib (standard steel - can't justify the gold for a pocket pen). The surface of the Gatco Triceps sharpener is really smooth, you could rub your finger on it all day long and still have no marks on your finger, and yet it sharpens blades really well.
I flattened the nib surface a little at my writing angle, then rounded off the edges that I created at the side. You only need very light pressure to do this if you want the nib to still be there afterwards. Now the medium nib is more like what I would expect, as standard the medium I though was more like a fine.
I now find my Kaweco Al Sport to be a fantastic pocketable pen that I carry all the time now. I did order the clip for the lid, but that came off within the hour as a realised the pen just sits so nicely in your pocket. The weight of the pen is good, and I write with it capped as I do all my pens.
If you look closely you will see that the pen is getting nicely aged by the coins and keys in my pocket (no wonder my pockets wear out!).
I'm using Diamine Saphire Blue cartridges at the moment, I'd prefer to use a converter so will get one soon as I'm nearly out of cartridges and will keep them as a travelling backup.
Love the pen now, looking forward to many years use from it.
One had the own for over one year now. After the initial fettling of the nib the pen has written smoothly with no scratching.
ReplyDeleteThe Kaweco Al-Sport has stayed leak free on multiple flights as well which is another plus for this pen.
I've looked at getting the gold nib for it a few times but having read a number of reviews of didn't sound as though it would be much softer than the standard steel nib.
So very pleased with the pen after a years use. Would recommend to anyone that wants a fountain pen that can be kept in your pocket, even in a trouser pocket without fear of breaking it or having it leak.