Review: Franklin-Christoph Model 27 With Hpsteel M-Italic Musuyama Nib

[Vikhalla]

This one has been a while coming. I got my first fountain pen back at the beginning of April (TWSBI 580 F-nib) and have been on the hunt for my next pen ever since.

 

After almost blind-buying a Waterman Da Vinci from an antique dealer, for more than I was comfortable with, I decided that I wasn't going to impulse buy pens. Every purchase has to have a specific reason and I have to genuinely want it. (I've fallen down the financial rabbit hole with other hobbies and I want to keep writing as the focus of my FP hobby, not just collecting more pens...I know myself, that can happen very easily.)

 

After looking around FPN I saw that F-C pens typically get very high marks in the quality-for-value department - as well as stellar customer service. Then the Pen Addict posted a review of the FC pocket - singing the praises of cursive-italic nibs...I had to try one. The Radiant Red model 27 caught my eye immediately. Here is what I think of it after having it as my main writer for the past 48 hours:

 

First, here's the package that arrives:

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/53CEA390-C6F3-4BAD-BBE9-150943B1E867_zps7dt0dvvu.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/366D36E0-F032-4B97-8451-3E5F771A7A00_zps0naov0ve.jpg

 

It's a very striking pen - I like that it manages to be elegant while still not being too traditional looking (I like some spectacle in my fine writing.)

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/953AB9D8-25C8-42D7-83D9-AE3A074FCE8F_zpswuxcyver.jpg

 

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/3F5E91AB-5173-4808-B5C8-D7FA11F95BCD_zpskysmk6hh.jpg

 

The converter came already situated in the pen:

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/3B175BA0-BEA8-45FD-BABE-2E1A165F2654_zpstnyn9yt6.jpg

 

It's a decent sized pen, which is good as I have fairly large hands. My TWSBI 580 is just about the perfect size for me, in comparison - the model 27 is as long as the TWSBI but a little more narrow. I have to choke up on the section more than I would like, but not so much that it's uncomfortable. Despite being smaller, the metal construction makes it the perfect weight. I don't write with anything posted - not even a Bic - but I will say that it is quite awkward trying to write while posting it; the whole thing becomes back-heavy and long enough to be unwieldy. Again, I don't write posted - so that's fine, but I know that's a dealbreaker for some.

 

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/B091A196-4A6C-4750-B8FB-914BBFA65D8A_zpsubjwgcdy.jpg

 

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/25E5BE10-5639-4FBF-9F61-8875F1221360_zpsmdyq6pwb.jpg

 

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/4A73515B-79BA-492A-9435-701A12476ED8_zpsm6bbs3jp.jpg

 

 

The writing experience thus far has been a very mixed bag. This is the medium-italic, Musuyama ground HPSteel nib. I opened the package, flushed the nib, and inked up with Private Reserve Black Cherry. I went to town on my daily entry in the Clairefontaine journal that I carry. It was GLASS SMOOTH and wonderful...for about half of a page. Then it started to skip and it was very difficult to get started. I tried a different ink (Waterman Harmonious Green) and a new nib flush - no luck. I flushed again and switched to one of the cartridges that came with it, "Maybe their own ink will work!" That's when I noticed that the nib was kind of lopsided on the feed. Having never modified a pen before, I clenched my teeth and nudged the nib over the feed evenly. Things got better immediately.

 

I still have an issue with hard-starting - bad enough that I'm considering trying out the customer service. However, I also have ready that CI nibs can be temperamental in regard to writing angle and I am getting better, but still...I want to be sure. Either way, the smoothness that I had in the start is back and the nib really makes my handwriting pop with the line variation. Because, hard starts aside, it writes so well I'm really just going to give it the benefit of the doubt. It really does look and write great when it gets going.

 

For now, I'll say that this is an 8/10 experience, if I can get the hard-starting problem taken care of I can easily see it going up to a 9.5 and becoming my workhorse/favorite.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/05E7788C-2765-405F-9F78-88D83A96F490_zpsf36fk2ds.jpg

 

 

BONUS: I I bought one of Franklin-Christoph's Firma-Flex Journal Notebooks along with the new pen. (Pics in the spoiler to save space)

 

 

 

I got the A5 Medium with Dot ruling. Oh boy, it is luxurious! I love the beveled corners and that Celtic-Knot logo - I would love to see that as the emblem that they use on their pen caps in the future.

 

The paper is 90gsm, sugar cane extract based. I actually haven't written on it yet - I want to fill the Clairefontaine first and then use the F-C as my next volume. This is a massive feat of willpower.

 

I don't know how well my camera shows it, but the pages have a slight lilac tint to them...a really nice touch.

 

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/e0fd21a3-8eeb-4687-aff2-309f7308ce5a_zps4408802f.jpg

 

Size references and a comparison to my Clairefontaine jounal:

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/3137f317-be51-4f1d-b228-76f1d7c39f29_zps2dc605fa.jpg

 

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/CBA21FCB-50B3-4134-8B3A-DF1D6EB786BE_zpsp6fiurzi.jpg

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/823F5840-9F9E-424F-9427-DC8C3CF3EA88_zpsrp0m6vn7.jpg

 

The dots are darker, almost red, at the top and bottom - with gray (40% black according to the website) for the rest of them.

 

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w403/caseyjune/CE23CC61-C83C-4EA6-AFCC-E426C0AAFBC9_zpsmcmc7vcq.jpg

 

 

 

 

Edited May 22, 2014 by Vikhalla

[hot cocoa]

Good review! FC pens are a lot of bang for the buck as FC offers a lifetime warranty (and unique models to boot).

 

One pen I bought from them wasn't a hard starter...it was a non starter! Contacted them and they fixed the problem right away.

There's no reason you should endure a hard starting nib - FC is great at fixing issues quickly.

 

Enjoy the pen!

[sshailessh]

I have a model 02 in the smoke and ice configuration with the same medium italic nib.

 

This is quite simply a great writer and easily matches the writing experience that my Aurora Optima with a Binder's italifine nib provides. No issues at all with hard starting or drying up of ink. Added bonus - I have the pen set up as an eye dropper and it is quite a spectacle.

 

Overall I am very pleased with this pen and am certain that a medium stub is somewhere in the near future :-)

[Blue_Moon]

It's been a few days. Have you contacted FC yet? If not, and you're still having the same issues, do so. You can't beat their customer service. They'll make it right!

[Vikhalla]

It's been almost a week and the problem hasn't improved, so I contacted the company today and received instructions for returning it within about 20minutes.

[Blue_Moon]

Are you having it replaced with another?

[Vikhalla]

I'm sending it back for them to take a look at - possibly smoothing and rounding the nib more to expand the sweet spot.

 

I'm might see if I can pay the difference and upgrade to the 29 as I'm finding the 27 too slim.

Edited May 28, 2014 by Vikhalla

[Blue_Moon]

The Bellus (29) is a great pen, but be warned - it's heavy - even for me, and I like heavier pens. I've got the 19 and the 66 and love them both. Next in my sites are the 02 and 03.

[Vikhalla]

An update - I've returned the pen and have decided to just go all-in. I've worked with their amazing customer service and am going to use the m27 as an exchange toward a m03 in smoke with a 18K Masuyama M-Stub nib.

 

They're backordered on the nib until next week, so I'm making the order official after I get paid tomorrow.

Edited June 5, 2014 by Vikhalla

[Blue_Moon]

An update - I've returned the pen and have decided to just go all-in. I've worked with their amazing customer service and am going to use the m27 as an exchange toward a m03 in smoke with a 18K Masuyama M-Stub nib.

 

They're backordered on the nib until next week, so I'm making the order official after I get paid tomorrow.

 

Good choice, the 03. Give us another update when you get it, and let us know how you like it.

[Gloucesterman]

I have a blue one with a silver cap and a fine nib. I writes very smoothly. The only thing I don't like is that posted it becomes very top heavy. I may end up selling it for something else.

 

Anyone interested? :lol:

[lzykramer]

FC have the best customer service, I was amaze by it, they got me an exchange for a pen pouch for free and free shipping and I am in the UK