Kaweco Sport (Plastic) Carried With Keys...pix Wanted

[hotrodz]

I am in the market for an every day carry pocket fountain pen to be carried in the pants pocket with keys. I read a quote many years ago in Popular Photography magazine something to the effect of: "What is the best camera?....the one you have with you." In that same spirit, I don't always have my work bag, pen case, or desk with me. I want a pen to keep on my person at all times without worries. After researching, the Kaweco Sport seems to be what I am looking for. I LOVE the look of the aluminum AL Sports (especially after earning pocket-worn status), but I cant justify the triple price over the plastic version, at least not yet since I've never owned a Kaweco. I'm just curious how the plastic versions in various colors earn a patina over time when carried with keys, etc. Also curious if anyone has attempted a satin finish on a plastic sport using sandpaper, scotchbrite pad, etc.? Pictures of your beater pens please!

If anyone has a well used Sport they want to part with, I'm in the market...prefer manly colors, chrome trims, and extrafine nibs.

[j.a.j.]

I have both AL and sport. I would not carry sport with keys. The price difference is much smaller than the price of new trousers..

[dneal]

I don't know if I would call it a patina. It'll get scratched up, but otherwise it won't hurt it. If you don't want the scratches, get a Kaweco leather slip case.

[flipper_gv]

how about you get the Kaweco aluminium distressed finish?

[hotrodz]

flipper---the distress finish aluminum IS what I want, but having trouble spending the money for it. A Pilot Vanishing Point is also on my wish list and the VP seems like much more pen for the money...just my perception having never owned either. Trying to budget my funds, and thus "trying" to limit myself to the plastic Sport as a compromise.

 

dneal---I wouldn't try to avoid scratches...I want a 'no worries' pen, so I would embrace scratches. I am just curious what it would look like after a year or so. I have seen somewhere on FPN a picture of what I assume started life as a Bordeaux plastic sport. It looks very cool with a faded look and black wearing through on the peaks of the cap facets. It looks a little pinkish though (could just be the lighting), so I was wondering how other colors 'weather' over time. I'm also curious why the black is showing through...Is the plastic color 'painted on' and not solid all the way through the thickness of the plastic? I copied and pasted a post by Nihonto from another thread to explain what I'm referring to...hope they don't mind

 

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Posted 09 July 2013 - 22:25

My everyday breast pocket carry, showing a few years of wear:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/nihontochicken/IMG_0227_zps9e468b85.jpg

 

After the next mega-destruction asteroid hit, I believe the only human artifacts that will be found by the succeeding intelligent race will be Kaweco Sport pens and Twinkies.

 

Nihonto

[The Blue Knight]

I was looking for a pen that had an interesting design this Christmas and I was close to buying the AlSport. However I went for a Diplomat Balance for the reason I think the Kaweco is overpriced. Essentially it commands a mid tier price tag with too many compromises. Such as the clip is an added extra which sets you back £6 however in my opinion it should come free with the Alsport. Also the pen is cartridge only where as it wouldn't have been too difficult to have placed a captured converter inside the pen. I think there are too many comprises when a Pelikan M200, Parker Sonnet or Waterman Expert cost about the same,

Edited January 25, 2015 by The Blue Knight

[dneal]

I have a black and a bordeaux plastic sport. The bordeaux is the same color all the way through. Both are a little scuffed, nicked and dinged; but there's no "patina" like above. I don't think that's a plastic one in the picture though.

 

Get one, and you can let us know what it looks like in a year...

[hotrodz]

_{Your right, it doesnt really have a plastic looking patina (could it be a black plastic model that was fogged with metallic spray paint??? interesting). I just assumed it was plastic due to the "knurl" at the end of the barrel. The aluminum models have a smooth end. By the way, what is the purpose of the knurl? To grip the cap when posted?}

[dneal]

It's just a nod to the old piston fillers. Google 'Kaweco 112' and you will get the idea.

[Nihontochicken]

Yes, regarding Post #5 above, my Kaweco Sport is red metallic paint over a black plastic that is showing through due to wear on the high points. I suspect all similar Sports are made so. There are other Sports with colorful swirls that are likely solid without a surface coating. Even so, for the metallic surface coated pens, if it wears or scratches off, so what? It's a knock-around pen. I agree that the plastic Sport is a cost-effective solution to the pocket carry question, the Al Sport, not so much.

[MajesticPens]

What about an aluminum lilliput?

[hotrodz]

Nihonto---Thanks for clarifying the finish on your pen...I love the worn look. I don't see any metallic finish Sports, so maybe that was a temporary run?

 

Majestic---I think the grip diameter of the Lilliput would be too small for my hands. I'm not sure I would like threading the cap on to post it also. It would certainly be small in the pocket though... Thanks for the suggestion

 

I cant believe no one has a beat up standard Sport to show. Guess I'll put a 'want ad' in the classifieds and see if I can get a test pen to run through the gauntlet.

[benbot517]

I have the AL sport in the raw aluminum finish. I can say that for me the extra money was worth it. From what I hear, although the plastic sports are pretty durable they can feel a bit cheap. The AL is a tank. I can't even tell you the number of times I've dropped in on unfriendly surfaces, and it just doesn't care. It may get a dent or two, but that just adds to the patina of dings and scratches. I love it. Kaweco does make a converter for the sport series. It's a small squeeze type, and it works, at least for me.

[FOUR X FOUR]

It seams like you want a metal Kaweco over the plastic. You just don't want the higher price tag. Makes perfect sense. However, I think the AL is nice enough that I didn't mind the extra cost

[wastelanded]

I didn't think the AL Sport was worth it either, til I tried one. It feels like a precision instrument, a proper tool for writing.

[benbot517]

Here are some pictures of the finish after 6-7 months of use. The raw aluminum picks up scratches nicely.