Koh-I-Noor Fountain Pen Review

[rochester21]

This fountain pen was another cheap addition to my yet small collection. After i received it, i was struck by the similarities in design and dimensions with the rotring i reviewed recently. I have absolutely no clue related to the name of the model or date of manufacture, but i suspect this is another 1990s production unit. As you probably know by now, Koh-i-Noor Hardtmuth is a czech company specialised in writing equipment and related items. They have a relatevely long history and they survived the communist regime. And now, to the actual review.

 

1. Design and construction. 4/5. This is actualy the first fountain pen from this company that i ever encounter. It has a straight body and clip, and a chequered pattern. As seen from the pictures, the pen is goldish- i don`t believe it is gold platte, though. The built quality is good; the cap clicks securely and tightly into place, and posts just as well. The section has a deep pattern that allows for a better grip(i wish more pens were like that). Metal construction, so nothing to complain about here, although i would have liked to see more curves on his pen.

 

2. Size and weight. 4/5. This pen has a medium weight, 12 cm long closed and about 1 cm in diameter. I find it confortable to hold without posting the cap, but i suspect some people might prefer a thicker pen. As i said before, the gripping section is a pleaseant addition.

 

3. Nib and writing experience. 3.5/5. I am a little dissapointed in the nib of this Koh-i-Noor, firstly because it is a generic “iridium point Germany” nib, which i suspect is actually made somewhere in China(i had at one point a Montblanc replica which had a nib similar to this, but with a different shape). The nib is stiff, and lacks the springiness that quality steel nibs have when pushing harder on the nib. It has a hint of tooth, and lays down a fine line, not too dry, not too wet. It actually writes o.k., but nothing special.

 

3. Filling system and final thoughts. This pen takes international-type cartridges, and i`m happy with that. All-in-all, i think this pen is decent. Koh-i-Noor usually produces affordable items, and this pen certanly doesn`t feel like a high-end pen. Still, the build quality is good, and i suspect that the original price for it wasn`t much higher than what i paid for it, which is about 8 usd for a used one. It can be a good starting pen, and i don`t regret buying it simply because i never saw one like it in the shops or during my searches on google. It`s also shiny

[Montblanc owner and lover]

not bad for the pen,but effectively for 8us$ i think it's not gold.The most important is that you are happy with it...so enjoy!

[terminal]

Wow the nib and grip section are a dead ringer for a pen I hatefully reviewed a while back...

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/220468-aw-faber-castell-hologram-pen-1980s/page__p__2331844__fromsearch__1#entry2331844

[Uncle Red]

My Pelikano Jr has a similar nib too.