Fp Review: Kaweco Classic Chess Sport

[Chrissy]

Kaweco Chess Sport Black FP Review

History (reproduced from the Kaweco web-site)

Kaweco - In 1883 the manufacturer of high-quality writing instruments was founded in Heidelberg Germany. Kaweco has been producing a wide range of fine writing pens and has been setting a great value on classy design and high standard manufacturing.

The first Kaweco Sport was founded in 1912 as a pocket fountain pen for ladies, officers and sportsmen. In 1930 the brands and models of Kaweco and Aurumia fused and the Ka We Co three part circle emerged. This circle is still used today on nearly all of it’s pens.

Even Sepp Herberger already appreciated these characteristics. It was with a Kaweco Sport that the former coach of the German national soccer team wrote on a piece of paper his winning tactics which brought the Germans to the world cup in 1954.

In 1993 H & M Gutberlet GmbH made it’s first prototypes for a relaunch of the Kaweco Sport under the name Trekking, but gained and registered the rights to rename as Kaweco in 1994.

The Kaweco Sport was newly produced as a cartridge holder in 1995, but the design remained the same as the 1935 model.

In 2000 the first Limited Sport edition was produced in green celluloid, and the AL Sport as well as the Art Sport were launched in 2003.

Kaweco's product range is perfectly described by the keywords "tradition" and “innovation"

Appearance and Design

The Kaweco Classic Sport starts off as a small and compact pen until you remove it’s cap, and replace it on the end of the barrel to make a decent sized fountain pen in your hand.

The Classic Sport range differs from the Skyline range in having gold plated accents. The Chess Sport additionally has a chess board design on the faceted cap. I like this very attractive feature on the pen. I also like the very attractive milled edge on the end of the barrel.

Kaweco supply a standard 23kt gold plated steel nib unit with this pen, that matches it’s Kaweco gold plated metal cap emblem as well as the gold coloured ‘Kaweco Sport’ script on the barrel.

It comes in black or blue plastic finishes.

Construction and quality

Although this pen is made from plastic, it feels well made and quite substantial in your hand and performs as well as many full sized pens. It’s lightweight, but not at all flimsy, and it has a nice size, well shaped grip. The cap is intended to be posted on the barrel for Sport pens and the pen feels nicely balanced in your hand when the cap is posted on the barrel.

As always with Kaweco Sport pens, the cap and the barrel screw together very well for a close fit, on smoothly machined screw threads.

Weight and Dimensions

Weight: 10grams. Measurements: Closed; 107mm, Posted; 135mm, Nib; 17mm.

Nib and Performance

The 23kt gold plated steel nib units for this pen come as a complete section, as opposed to the screw in nib and feed units that Kaweco make for metal Sport pens. So you can swap any complete nib unit into this pen.

I found this nib wrote straight out of the box as soon as I fitted a cartridge. I was really impressed with the smoothness of the nib, that needed no adjustment at all. It gave me a smooth writing experience that rivalled that of some gold nibs in more expensive pens.

There is no flex with these steel nibs, but I don’t mind that.

Filling system and Maintenance

As I’m reviewing some Kaweco pens and inks, I selected a Pearl Black cartridge for the Chess Sport. The cartridges are International Short cartridge size. I also tried a Kaweco Sport press type converter that I filled with Pearl Black bottled ink

If you’re looking for a pen with a sophisticated piston filling system, or even a classic type of twist converter, then you might be disappointed with this pocket-sized pen. The compact converter that Kaweco make for this pen is just like a cartridge except that you squeeze it to draw up ink out of the bottle. It’s less easy, and contains less ink, than using a twist action converter, but the Kaweco twist converter doesn’t fit this pen.

It isn’t a difficult pen to clean out. I just used an ear bulb and pushed some lukewarm water through it to clean out the ink after I had used it.

Cost and Value

I found this pen for sale at Hamilton Pen Company for £19.95 in the UK including free delivery.

I think thats a reasonable price to pay for this pen. It’s not much more than the standard Classic Sport, and the chess pattern lifts it from the ordinary especially if you have more than one black Sport pen.

Overall Opinion

Kaweco Sport pens have a really good screw cap that prevents their cartridges from drying out, and I have always liked that in these pens. I also like the way they are compact pocket sized pens that extend into good size pens that are easy to write with.

If you want a clip or a converter they are available separately, but I find it as easy to refill cartridges from bottled ink with a syringe, as using the squeezy converter that is made to fit this pen.

All in all, I really like this pen and I would recommend it.

Kaweco loaned me this pen to review, and I really appreciate that. Thank you Kaweco.

[akustyk]

Thank you for a great review! I have never come across this model, so it was a really interesting read. I have one Sport in black, but I have been thinking of getting another, perhaps the "stone washed" aluminum model.

[Chrissy]

You're welcome.

 

I reviewed the AL Stonewashed on here, not long ago.

[latetotheparty]

Nice review, thanks!

[whych]

Thank you for a great review! I have never come across this model, so it was a really interesting read. I have one Sport in black, but I have been thinking of getting another, perhaps the "stone washed" aluminum model.

All the sport models give a similar writing experience.

The only nib that I have had a problem with skipping is the broad nib, but that could just be a one-off.

I buy the odd modern Kaweco if it is really cheap, but have more vintage Kawecos than modern.

[whych]

Thank you for a great review! I have never come across this model, so it was a really interesting read. I have one Sport in black, but I have been thinking of getting another, perhaps the "stone washed" aluminum model.

All the sport models write equally well and the choice of pen depends on your taste in pens: if you like metal pens, then the Al Sport is a good choice.

The nib used in the Al Sport is the same as the nib used in the other models.

The only modern Sport nib that has given problems is the broad nib.

 

What Chrissy fails to mention is that with all sports, as long as the cap is screwed down, you can give the pen all manner of abuse (drop it, shake it, whatever) and it never leaks ink.

I have one that travelled from UK to Canada by air, back to UK by sea and then to Australia and back with the same ink cart and never leaked.

There aren't many pens that can do that.

 

(Apologies for the semi duplicate post, but FPN was slow and the first reply never showed up when I wanted to add to it.)

Edited December 20, 2015 by whych

[wastelanded]

Lovely review. I can't imagine not owning a Sport, such great little pens. My favourite nib is the BB.

 

I like the Sport for testing inks, as one can pull the nib and feed, clean, dry and be ready for another ink in five minutes.

[Chrissy]

Nice review, thanks!

 

Lovely review. I can't imagine not owning a Sport, such great little pens. My favourite nib is the BB.

 

I like the Sport for testing inks, as one can pull the nib and feed, clean, dry and be ready for another ink in five minutes.

 

You're both very welcome.

 

I can't imagine not owning a Kaweco Sport either. They are great little pens.