What someone already commented, yes the finial on the top can be removed which exposes the nib in the cap. I added a little silicone oil to the threads as a precaution against the pen drying out (which hasn't happened yet). There is a plastic insert in the cap the actually touches the blind cap when posting. While the cap is posted you can unscrew the blind cap with the cap and it will remain captured in the cap for when you need to operate the piston and not have to worry about losing the blind cap. You just have to remember that's where you left it. When done, just screw the cap on for the blind cap to seat then pull the cap off instead of trying to unscrew it off the pen when you want to cap the pen. The Bronze sport is substantially heaver and the Ebonite sport was much more expensive, and I have both of those pens as well.
In the land where ink flows free, Where nibs and tines in harmony Dance on pages pure and white, A man named Brown brings pens to light. With passion deep and wisdom rare, He shares his craft with utmost care. Each video, a gift profound, A treasure trove where knowledge's found. From vintage gems to modern might, He guides us through the inky night. His voice, a calm and steady stream, Makes fountain pens a waking dream. O S.B.R.E., in your domain, You've turned our curious minds to gain. With humor, grace, and thoughtful ease, You teach us all, our minds to please. May your channels ever grow, And may your joy forever flow. For in the realm of ink and pen, You are a sage, a guide, a friend.
I like the new piston sport a lot. I've had a v16 sport (14k bbb/stub) for a long time, and was very excited when this pen was announced. The ink capacity is great for a small pen(mich better than the vintage sports), the piston is smooth and the blind cap arrangement allows for a filler with very little backlash. The ink window is very useable, displays a little less than half the total ink reservoir. The anodizing on the pen is thick and has been very durable so far, have had the pen for about two months and it goes to work with me in a machine shop and still looks new. I got a double broad and the nib writes extremely well out of the box. It is juicy but fairly well behaved. Looks like the one you've got has similar inkflow. I think kaweco did a great job with this pen. One minor note: the pen's section has two internal o-rings where the nib/feed housing screws in. One of them is down in a gland near the ink reservoir. It is extremely difficult to cajole back into place if you manage to unseat it (like if you are going to grease the piston through the section) It is pretty difficult to see it down there. Just an FYI for damage prevention as well as greasing any new nib housing you get. It isn't a cheap pen, but it isn't really an expensive one either. I think it is well worth the price. I'm hoping they will make one in stainless steel.
Glad to see you review this. Thanks! I have only one Sport, the Bronze, which I love, for the bronze, and since I can put it in pockets which might break or otherwise mess with a pen. I'm pretty sure denim jeans pockets will find a way to turn a piston-filler's nob. So, yes, a clip for a shirt pocket. Yes, a piston filler pocket pen. I am content to refill cartridges with a syringe, but, yes. And, kudos to Kaweco for the system and the ink window. Would I pay for this? Not now that I have the Bronze Sport, and scads of mighty fine pocket pens (e.g. Pilot Elite) and, well, lots. Once again, thanks for an excellent review.
I like the one I bought so much that I bought another one and now I can't tell them apart. One was a fine that I needed to read tune the nib the other one was an extra fine that I also needed to be tuned. 😊 I was able to get some line variation on my fine nip almost making it a fine metallic and it writes very well. Right now the pen is stuck in my jeans pocket the larger one wedged in the corner and I can sit and walk and do everything go about my day and the pen just sits there in my pocket It's a pocket pen in my pocket!
Thank you for a great and fair review. Boy did you nail this! My plastic turquoise sport is MUCH loved, but having to always use a standard short is SO limiting. And yes, I also have had challenges in trying out various converters. Unfortunately, I’m one of the users who likes to keep my pens pristine, so any scratching due to posting would drive me nuts. And your other con around price point is SPOT ON. Considering what the basic “Sport” costs, this one could be a little more reasonably priced. Thanks again Stephen for a job WELL DONE!
I really love the concept of German pre-war vest pens. That said, I fear the market hasn't really been conditioned enough to even understand what these are. And for those that do, there's a myriad of really nice vintage Germans like the Montblanc 234 1/2 and the Matador Gnom that offer the exact same concept within the same 120-200€ range, but all with nice flexible 14k nibs, which means the Kaweko can realistically only really target the super new people without the knowledge, or ones that prefer dyed aluminum over celluloid and ebonite for some reason.
Thanks. Good review. Bought the bronze 1.1 stub a couple of months ago, and recently acquired the Terrazzo with a fine nib. I’m impressed with both nibs. Becoming a fan of these pens. This looks great. It might be time to keep my wallet in a secure place. Best to you.
I don't buy expensive pens because I'm a cheapskate. This one was worth it. I'm extremely happy with mine. The posted cap seems to engage the edge of the blind cap, not the sides of the barrel. My guess is the only wear will be on the edge of the blind cap. Time will tell.
I'll have a review for this pen soon, too, and you were luckier than I was. My original nib wouldn't write and it kept drying out on me. I've overcome those issues now, but it was an annoying week or so when I got it.
I picked mine up today. Medium nib,look forward to getting a double broad. Good not to have to worry about cartridges or teenie weenie converters. A Con 70 model Kaweco?
Since I'm some kind of Kaweco fanboy I had to get one. I've got one with F nib and also ordered EF. Changing nibs to EF was no problem. Inked it with Kaweco Midnight Blue. EF nib is great; not scratchy at all. If you post the pen it is possible to unscrew that end cap (that hides the piston knob) with the posted cap. So it *might* get stuck in the cap ? So far there's nothing else to 'complain'. Well...maybe the price. And I can't use my Kaweco 60 nibs (got at least one in every size for my Sports / Students / Specials / Liliputs etc). Summary: would buy again. I want a brass or bronze model.
In the beginning, I was absolutely not interested in this pen. I've since had occasion to write with two or three of them and it's slowly winning me over.
Kaweco quality control is rather questionable as I received mine and when I inked it up and tried to write it was a no go. Upon closer inspection I found that the nib was one solid piece, there was no slit from breather hole to tip, thus no ink flow. I contacted customer service in Germany and after many back and forth messages with pictures they have finally agreed to send me a replacement nib. We shall see how long it takes for replacement to arrive. In the meantime I ordered a replacement nib from online and have already received and installed it. Pen works great!
As always, nice review, three comments: I think the packaging says that the ink capacity is similar to that of a small cartridge, so there is no advantage in this sense and there is a disadvantage of the price. Secondly, you don't mention the blind cap that covers the piston knob. Do you have any opinion on this? I think that, while it prevents the piston from being activated by having the pen posted, it is easy to lose it. Lastly, although the clip is not designed to be removed, you can unscrew the finial and remove it (with a small gap)
@@TheRacerRich There is mild criticism the posted cap can unscrew the blind cap, trapping it in the main cap. I don't think that's a big deal. The tiniest bit of clockwise torque when unposting the cap will leave the blind cap secure, and the blind cap can be screwed back onto the pen if it does come off in the cap. Just post the cap and thread the blind cap back on.
The capacity of the piston is rated 1.25ml, and I think the international shorts are about .7ml. Subjectively, it seems to me the piston holds a LOT more ink than my other Sport with a cartridge.
The modern piston sport holds close to 1.5 mL of ink if you purge air and superfill it. I've had my piston sport for about two months now. It writes on the behaved side of wet, and the ink capacity is good for at least a week of casual use. A medium or fine would accentuate this extra capacity even more. I should note that the modern piston sport holds substantially more ink than the v12 and v16 sports (kaweco piston fillers from the '60s and '70s). In regards to the blind cap: the finial of the pen can be screwed off. The rest of the cap is an open ended cylinder, so you can push anything that gets stuck in there out if screwing the blind cap back on using the cap somehow isn't an option.
Please excuse the punctuation or lack thereof I'm driving in a rainstorm going north on 93 in Boston..! I can say! And Google put the exclamation point. Works good.
The first sport was indeed a safety pen, it is exceedingly rare in today’s market but can occasionally be found thru European collectors and pen shows. Eric who works for Anderson Pens was lucky enough to procure one when he was in Europe. He showcased this pen on one of the Anderson Pens Sunday episodes quite a while back.
@@HistoricGentleman I actually live close to Heidelberg and there is a small museum founded by the son of a worker at Kaweco at around the time they introduced the Sport. I'm just a little confused because he never mentioned that. They are actually showcasing a safety filler, but it is a much older model long before Kaweco introduced the Sport. That's why I'm a little confused to hear there even had been Sport Safety Fillers...
When people saw me writing with 149 in those school days, the expression was ohh it was from father's, Nope not really MINE, I bought it. While in the Uni abroad, ohh! 149 ya perhaps a foreigner so it's not bad, lucky me nice pen, always kept a Biro for others while ppl often ask for my pen to write with. Yepp just take it DROP it opps No worries it's a biro. Meisterstuck 149 oblique Nib M is just for me to write with. People bought in those early days Nintenro or Sega so I bought the Meisterstuck 149 fountain two tone Nib with that money even less in 90's. Nowdays ppl throw away their Nitendro and Sega; ohh yaaa but Mine Meisterstuck 149 fpuntain oblique M nib still shines as new as it was, so who wins the race...Meisterstuck 149.
Best channel in world on fountain pens. Professor is so humble😊
What someone already commented, yes the finial on the top can be removed which exposes the nib in the cap. I added a little silicone oil to the threads as a precaution against the pen drying out (which hasn't happened yet). There is a plastic insert in the cap the actually touches the blind cap when posting. While the cap is posted you can unscrew the blind cap with the cap and it will remain captured in the cap for when you need to operate the piston and not have to worry about losing the blind cap. You just have to remember that's where you left it. When done, just screw the cap on for the blind cap to seat then pull the cap off instead of trying to unscrew it off the pen when you want to cap the pen. The Bronze sport is substantially heaver and the Ebonite sport was much more expensive, and I have both of those pens as well.
In the land where ink flows free,
Where nibs and tines in harmony
Dance on pages pure and white,
A man named Brown brings pens to light.
With passion deep and wisdom rare,
He shares his craft with utmost care.
Each video, a gift profound,
A treasure trove where knowledge's found.
From vintage gems to modern might,
He guides us through the inky night.
His voice, a calm and steady stream,
Makes fountain pens a waking dream.
O S.B.R.E., in your domain,
You've turned our curious minds to gain.
With humor, grace, and thoughtful ease,
You teach us all, our minds to please.
May your channels ever grow,
And may your joy forever flow.
For in the realm of ink and pen,
You are a sage, a guide, a friend.
I feel honoured by this!
Thank you for another great review Stephen!🙏
I like the new piston sport a lot. I've had a v16 sport (14k bbb/stub) for a long time, and was very excited when this pen was announced.
The ink capacity is great for a small pen(mich better than the vintage sports), the piston is smooth and the blind cap arrangement allows for a filler with very little backlash. The ink window is very useable, displays a little less than half the total ink reservoir.
The anodizing on the pen is thick and has been very durable so far, have had the pen for about two months and it goes to work with me in a machine shop and still looks new.
I got a double broad and the nib writes extremely well out of the box. It is juicy but fairly well behaved. Looks like the one you've got has similar inkflow.
I think kaweco did a great job with this pen.
One minor note: the pen's section has two internal o-rings where the nib/feed housing screws in. One of them is down in a gland near the ink reservoir. It is extremely difficult to cajole back into place if you manage to unseat it (like if you are going to grease the piston through the section) It is pretty difficult to see it down there. Just an FYI for damage prevention as well as greasing any new nib housing you get.
It isn't a cheap pen, but it isn't really an expensive one either. I think it is well worth the price.
I'm hoping they will make one in stainless steel.
They really knocked this one out of the park. Looks great
Glad to see you review this. Thanks! I have only one Sport, the Bronze, which I love, for the bronze, and since I can put it in pockets which might break or otherwise mess with a pen. I'm pretty sure denim jeans pockets will find a way to turn a piston-filler's nob. So, yes, a clip for a shirt pocket. Yes, a piston filler pocket pen. I am content to refill cartridges with a syringe, but, yes. And, kudos to Kaweco for the system and the ink window. Would I pay for this? Not now that I have the Bronze Sport, and scads of mighty fine pocket pens (e.g. Pilot Elite) and, well, lots. Once again, thanks for an excellent review.
I like the one I bought so much that I bought another one and now I can't tell them apart. One was a fine that I needed to read tune the nib the other one was an extra fine that I also needed to be tuned. 😊 I was able to get some line variation on my fine nip almost making it a fine metallic and it writes very well. Right now the pen is stuck in my jeans pocket the larger one wedged in the corner and I can sit and walk and do everything go about my day and the pen just sits there in my pocket It's a pocket pen in my pocket!
Thank you for a great and fair review. Boy did you nail this! My plastic turquoise sport is MUCH loved, but having to always use a standard short is SO limiting. And yes, I also have had challenges in trying out various converters.
Unfortunately, I’m one of the users who likes to keep my pens pristine, so any scratching due to posting would drive me nuts.
And your other con around price point is SPOT ON. Considering what the basic “Sport” costs, this one could be a little more reasonably priced.
Thanks again Stephen for a job WELL DONE!
I really love the concept of German pre-war vest pens. That said, I fear the market hasn't really been conditioned enough to even understand what these are. And for those that do, there's a myriad of really nice vintage Germans like the Montblanc 234 1/2 and the Matador Gnom that offer the exact same concept within the same 120-200€ range, but all with nice flexible 14k nibs, which means the Kaweko can realistically only really target the super new people without the knowledge, or ones that prefer dyed aluminum over celluloid and ebonite for some reason.
Thanks. Good review. Bought the bronze 1.1 stub a couple of months ago, and recently acquired the Terrazzo with a fine nib. I’m impressed with both nibs. Becoming a fan of these pens. This looks great. It might be time to keep my wallet in a secure place. Best to you.
I don't buy expensive pens because I'm a cheapskate. This one was worth it. I'm extremely happy with mine.
The posted cap seems to engage the edge of the blind cap, not the sides of the barrel. My guess is the only wear will be on the edge of the blind cap. Time will tell.
I'll have a review for this pen soon, too, and you were luckier than I was. My original nib wouldn't write and it kept drying out on me. I've overcome those issues now, but it was an annoying week or so when I got it.
I picked mine up today. Medium nib,look forward to getting a double broad. Good not to have to worry about cartridges or teenie weenie converters.
A Con 70 model Kaweco?
I wonder how the piston mechanism of this pen is disassembled?
Since I'm some kind of Kaweco fanboy I had to get one.
I've got one with F nib and also ordered EF. Changing nibs to EF was no problem. Inked it with Kaweco Midnight Blue. EF nib is great; not scratchy at all.
If you post the pen it is possible to unscrew that end cap (that hides the piston knob) with the posted cap. So it *might* get stuck in the cap ? So far there's nothing else to 'complain'. Well...maybe the price. And I can't use my Kaweco 60 nibs (got at least one in every size for my Sports / Students / Specials / Liliputs etc).
Summary: would buy again. I want a brass or bronze model.
Are the nibs screw ins with the piston as well?
Steve - Is the nib a different design or same steel nib you get with regular plastic sport models??
In the beginning, I was absolutely not interested in this pen. I've since had occasion to write with two or three of them and it's slowly winning me over.
Does the pen have a plastic interior to avoid corrosion?
A fountain pen hasn't launched until the good doctor has spoken.
Kaweco quality control is rather questionable as I received mine and when I inked it up and tried to write it was a no go. Upon closer inspection I found that the nib was one solid piece, there was no slit from breather hole to tip, thus no ink flow. I contacted customer service in Germany and after many back and forth messages with pictures they have finally agreed to send me a replacement nib. We shall see how long it takes for replacement to arrive. In the meantime I ordered a replacement nib from online and have already received and installed it. Pen works great!
Funny, I have a Sport that has the same defect, solid unslit nib. I kept it as a curiosity. Apparently, that’s a common thing.
Can you readily unscrew the nibs as you xan with the KW co Sport?
I would like to use this oen with my Kaweco Calligraphy nibs.
Sadly they are their own kind of nib unit. Hopefully they’ll make calligraphy nib units for the piston sport if the demand is there.
If you want to remove the clip simply unscrew the top finial take the clip off and screw it back on
Probably would've been good to demonstrate that it has a blind cap instead of an exposed piston knob.
As always, nice review, three comments:
I think the packaging says that the ink capacity is similar to that of a small cartridge, so there is no advantage in this sense and there is a disadvantage of the price.
Secondly, you don't mention the blind cap that covers the piston knob. Do you have any opinion on this? I think that, while it prevents the piston from being activated by having the pen posted, it is easy to lose it.
Lastly, although the clip is not designed to be removed, you can unscrew the finial and remove it (with a small gap)
I think it would be quite unlikely that you would lose the blind cap, because you would be putting it back on only seconds after taking it off.
@@TheRacerRich There is mild criticism the posted cap can unscrew the blind cap, trapping it in the main cap. I don't think that's a big deal. The tiniest bit of clockwise torque when unposting the cap will leave the blind cap secure, and the blind cap can be screwed back onto the pen if it does come off in the cap. Just post the cap and thread the blind cap back on.
@@johnnyragadoo2414 There is a case to be made that this is a feature not a bug. However blind caps as a rule are stupid.
The capacity of the piston is rated 1.25ml, and I think the international shorts are about .7ml. Subjectively, it seems to me the piston holds a LOT more ink than my other Sport with a cartridge.
The modern piston sport holds close to 1.5 mL of ink if you purge air and superfill it.
I've had my piston sport for about two months now. It writes on the behaved side of wet, and the ink capacity is good for at least a week of casual use. A medium or fine would accentuate this extra capacity even more.
I should note that the modern piston sport holds substantially more ink than the v12 and v16 sports (kaweco piston fillers from the '60s and '70s).
In regards to the blind cap: the finial of the pen can be screwed off. The rest of the cap is an open ended cylinder, so you can push anything that gets stuck in there out if screwing the blind cap back on using the cap somehow isn't an option.
Please excuse the punctuation or lack thereof I'm driving in a rainstorm going north on 93 in Boston..! I can say! And Google put the exclamation point. Works good.
Yes, this pen is too expensive..., and especially too short if it is posted... It is shorter than the regular Kaweco Sport... It's scandalous…:)
The original Kaweco Sport was never a safety filler to my knowledge. It was always a piston filler.
The first sport was indeed a safety pen, it is exceedingly rare in today’s market but can occasionally be found thru European collectors and pen shows. Eric who works for Anderson Pens was lucky enough to procure one when he was in Europe. He showcased this pen on one of the Anderson Pens Sunday episodes quite a while back.
@@HistoricGentleman I actually live close to Heidelberg and there is a small museum founded by the son of a worker at Kaweco at around the time they introduced the Sport. I'm just a little confused because he never mentioned that. They are actually showcasing a safety filler, but it is a much older model long before Kaweco introduced the Sport. That's why I'm a little confused to hear there even had been Sport Safety Fillers...
Something about that tin seems vintage east Asian to me, an effect aided by the fact that at first I thought it said "triad and trusted"
rip appelboom pennen 😢😂
When people saw me writing with 149 in those school days, the expression was ohh it was from father's, Nope not really MINE, I bought it. While in the Uni abroad, ohh! 149 ya perhaps a foreigner so it's not bad, lucky me nice pen, always kept a Biro for others while ppl often ask for my pen to write with. Yepp just take it DROP it opps No worries it's a biro. Meisterstuck 149 oblique Nib M is just for me to write with. People bought in those early days Nintenro or Sega so I bought the Meisterstuck 149 fountain two tone Nib with that money even less in 90's. Nowdays ppl throw away their Nitendro and Sega; ohh yaaa but Mine Meisterstuck 149 fpuntain oblique M nib still shines as new as it was, so who wins the race...Meisterstuck 149.