My Review Of The Asa Swan

[Tresconik]

The ASA Swan was my first acrylic pen made by ASA, and is set to become the pen I use in my

exams. Here's a review of the pen, first handwritten and then typed out for those who do not

wish to decipher my handwriting

 

http://i61.tinypic.com/256slef.jpg

 

http://i62.tinypic.com/1z9737.jpg

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/2z6dsll.jpg

 

The ASA Swan

It may be important to know that I'm on a never ending quest to find the perfect pen for my exams.
So when I heard that ASA were selling a handmade pen for just Rs 950, I had to get it.

I received the pen a couple of days back and it just blew me away.

My exams require me to write over thirty sides over a period of three hours (Which is what lead me

to fountain pens in the first place). Therefore I needed a pen that could handle being written with at

quick pace on inexpensive paper. The section must be of sufficient girth so as to allow me to write

for three hours with a nib that is dry and smooth enough, that I may write quickly with no feathering

or bleedthrough. The barrel must have the balancing point (centre of gravity) between my perlicue

and the point at which my fingers meet, on the section.

The Swan satisfies all the criteria.

The fact that it takes standard international cartridges gives it a huge advantage over the Lamy Safari.

The acrylic it is made from is stroong and thick, which ensures there will be no cracking. The

omission of moving parts inside the pen means it is unlikely that the pen will need to ever be repaired.

The chrome clip resembles the beak of a bird with which many of the fountain pen community are

familiar. It goes very well with the white acrylic.

The steel nib coupled with the flat ended barrel gives the pen a very dignified look.

It is often said that the best pen is one which you do not notice while writing, and I just realised while

writing this review, that it is the Swan for me.

http://i59.tinypic.com/ae43mo.jpg

The Swan, in all it's glory.

http://i59.tinypic.com/jqglt4.jpg

A close up view of the Schmidt nib.

http://i57.tinypic.com/f1crdc.jpg

Height and length comparison with a Lamy Safari and Pilot MR

 

 

http://i59.tinypic.com/261ki2x.jpg

Uncapped comparison with a Lamy Safari and Pilot MR

 

White pens are beautiful, and this is an example of a beautiful white pen.


PS: In the written review, I tested the ability of the feed to keep up with my speed as if I were writing

an exam, and I found that the nib and feed wrote a consistent line with no skipping or decrease in
flow.

Edited July 8, 2015 by Tresconik

[pgd84]

Great Review! Nicely done....

[fly_us]

a bit too dry for my taste, but it could be done easily.

 

Order few days ago and waiting impatiently now.

[Scribblesoften]

Thank you for the very nice review. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Swan as well.

[hari317]

Your Swan looks lovely, well done.

[manp]

Nice Review and the white color of the pen with chrome trims looks good.

 

From the photo, I find the ratio of the cap length to that of the exposed portion of the barrel to be on the higher side. ( My opinion of course). The length of the barrel+nib is almost at par with the Lamy and the Pilot. But the cap is quite long as well the cap threads are probably way up.

 

Just wondering why has it been made like this - intentional with some reasons or whether this ratio is aesthetically pleasing

[sannidh]

Thank you for the nice handwritten review

[mhguda]

The flat Swan looks very similar to the Asa Genius, except maybe for the size of the nib? Of course the Genius is black ebonite...

[Tresconik]

Great Review! Nicely done....

Thank you

 

a bit too dry for my taste, but it could be done easily.

 

Order few days ago and waiting impatiently now.

Aye, I used Pelikan black (A dry ink), and made it dry, so it won't feather or bleed through on my exam paper.

 

Thank you for the very nice review. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Swan as well.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I found the section to be of a very comfortable shape!

 

Your Swan looks lovely, well done.

Thank you Hari, it means a lot coming from you

 

Nice Review and the white color of the pen with chrome trims looks good.

 

From the photo, I find the ratio of the cap length to that of the exposed portion of the barrel to be on the higher side. ( My opinion of course). The length of the barrel+nib is almost at par with the Lamy and the Pilot. But the cap is quite long as well the cap threads are probably way up.

 

Just wondering why has it been made like this - intentional with some reasons or whether this ratio is aesthetically pleasing

Thank you very much

I believe it was a copy of the ASA Genius. I'm not sure why the threads are so high. Maybe so that the cap lip doesn't crack. I think it resembles a Kaweco a little, with the length of the cap covering the body.

 

Thank you for the nice handwritten review

Thank you for the kind words

 

The flat Swan looks very similar to the Asa Genius, except maybe for the size of the nib? Of course the Genius is black ebonite...

I believe it to be the same as a Genius but in white acrylic.

[M@rtin]

Very nice review and beautiful pen, I hope you enjoy it. I wonder if it is possible to convert the pen into an "eyedropper"...

Edited July 8, 2015 by M@rtin

[Tresconik]

Very nice review and beautiful pen, I hope you enjoy it. I wonder if it is possible to convert the pen into an "eyedropper"...

Thanks. And yes, it is. I don't want to do it because I don't wish to risk staining the white barrel

[Scribblesoften]

My Swan arrived today. It has a 1.4mm italic. It is a very nice pen. I have been writing with it most of the morning. Unlike the Schmidt medium in your photo, the 1.4 has a breather hole. I meant to use this pen as a desk pen, because of the color, but the size and shape demand that it be carried. The nib writes smoother and wetter, with Sailor Jentle ink, than I dared hope when I ordered it. I might add a couple of photos later. Thanks again for posting this great review.

[manp]

After some looking around, I can guess that the cap threads are placed farther from the lip to aid in posting. Threads, when closure to cap lip, can cause friction with the barrel tail inviting scratches and ungainly experience. I do not have a swan so can't really confirm.

[Tresconik]

After some looking around, I can guess that the cap threads are placed farther from the lip to aid in posting. Threads, when closure to cap lip, can cause friction with the barrel tail inviting scratches and ungainly experience. I do not have a swan so can't really confirm.

You're absolutely right. I had meant to post it a while back (pun unintended), but forgot, sorry.

[fly_us]

Day 14 and still no pen. What's wrong with Indian post? I received abother pen i ordered the same day with the Swan 2 days ago, even when the German post is on strike..

 

The waiting is killing me..

Edited July 15, 2015 by fly_us

[touzeen]

I used a ASA Athlete to write my M.S General Surgery Exam. Can fully recommend it.

[Tresconik]

Day 14 and still no pen. What's wrong with Indian post? I received abother pen i ordered the same day with the Swan 2 days ago, even when the German post is on strike..

 

The waiting is killing me..

 

That's what makes it extra special

I used a ASA Athlete to write my M.S General Surgery Exam. Can fully recommend it.

Which ink did you use?

[mhguda]

In my experience the mail from India can take three weeks or more.

[fly_us]

In my experience the mail from India can take three weeks or more.

Oh my.. This is torture. I thought VN post is the slowest snail already.

 

At least Asa ship out very fast.

[touzeen]

 

Which ink did you use?

 

Used Noodlers Heart of Darkness for the exam. That is permanent ink,but Pelikan Brilliant Black works fine with exam paper too...

Edited July 16, 2015 by touzeen