What Kaweco Sport Model?

[RJRM]

(Someone's likely raised this before for comment but I couldn't find it)

 

I'm looking for recommendations as to which Kaweco Sport model to purchase. It's my first pocket pen and the goal is everyday carry as I have other pens at my desk. Classic or Skyline (plastic), Aluminum, Brass, or Carbon Fibre. Price ascends in this list but does the joy? Where's the sweetspot? Yes, I like heavy pens and light pens - that's what makes this hard! Durability will count.

 

(I own lots of carbon fibre in non-writing applications. Warp, weft, bias, fibre weight fractions, nanotubes, Toray,... I'm picking up what you're laying down)

[wascallyrabbit]

generally metal is more durable than plastic. that said i have both the aluminum carbon fiber red one and the purple plastic one. both work well for me as pocket back up pens. the a/c one is convertor only as they tell me the ink may react with the metal and possible cause problems. the plastic one was converted to an eyedropper and holds considerably more ink. i like the brass one but won't be buying it as there are just to many other pens out there that i like better, besides i already have two kaweco sports so that spot is filled.

[mmg122]

I have the red aluminum and carbon fibre one and love it! It's a gorgeous pen.

[Joe in Seattle]

I've had Aluminum, Brass, Plastic.

 

For me Brass or the stonewashed.

[grainweevil]

I've got plastic and aluminium; the plastic is, well, really plasticky (duh) - the aluminium is a considerable step up and feels like a quality pen. Much the better buy, to my mind, although usually I prefer plastic over metal.

Only thing to mention is that there've been some reports of the aluminium on aluminium threads seizing up and basically welding themselves together (it's a thing aluminium can do, apparently), so if you go that route, worth putting a little grease or wax on the section-to-barrel threads and save a possible headache. Here's the thread about it.

[tinto]

I have only one sport -an orange ice sport. It was a nice pocket pen until it unscrew once. I don't know if it can be different with a metallic one.

 

I don't think this plastic pen will suffer in a pocket, anyway.

[RJRM]

Thanks for everone's input. The galling propensity of Al is something I knew about in general but I would have though was adressed by the maunfacturer in terms of coating. Apparently not so brass it shall be and I'll leave the carbon fibre for my bike!

[Tweel]

Only thing to mention is that there've been some reports of the aluminium on aluminium threads seizing up and basically welding themselves together (it's a thing aluminium can do, apparently), so if you go that route, worth putting a little grease or wax on the section-to-barrel threads and save a possible headache. Here's the thread about it.

 

Good point about the potential of aluminum seizing up, although in the thread you linked to, the problem seemed to be caused by corrosion due to ink leaks (which makes aluminum rough and swollen), not galling (which is one Al part sort of welding to the other). Also, the pens mentioned (first and last post) were both "Raw" AL Sports. The usual AL Sports get a good anodizing.

 

I've had one of the Raw ones for a couple of years, and the barrel turns freely on the section. But I noticed that the threads for the screw-in point unit, which are exposed to ink, were getting rough, so I gave them a light coat of silicone grease. The point sleeve turns freely now too.

 

One thing I would not do, at least with the Raw version, would be to clean the pen with ammonia solution, as that will cause corrosion.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Tweel

[umbalaxx]

I would go with the AL version as the plastic version feels very 'plasticky' and looks cheap. It should be noted that my Kaweco has a small sweet spot, and sometimes false-starts. Also, it is not as smooth as I would like it to be. It is a wet writer when hitting the sweet spot, but it is too wet sometimes. The line is not that consistent. If I were to compare with another pen, I would vote for Sailor all the way.

[ENewton]

I would go with the AL version as the plastic version feels very 'plasticky' and looks cheap. It should be noted that my Kaweco has a small sweet spot, and sometimes false-starts. Also, it is not as smooth as I would like it to be. It is a wet writer when hitting the sweet spot, but it is too wet sometimes. The line is not that consistent. If I were to compare with another pen, I would vote for Sailor all the way.

 

I agree. I really like the shape of the Kaweco Classic Sport, but both the plastic and the nib are distinctly those of a "budget" pen. There are other pens of higher quality available for less money--notably the Pilot Metropolitan, which cost about half as much as the Kaweco the last time I looked. This being said, I have found it convenient to use the Kaweco when I travel. It is small and uses cartridges, and I wouldn't be heartbroken if it were lost or broken.

 

I imagine that the aluminum or brass Sport would look and feel much nicer, but the nib would be the same. Kaweco has a gold nib available, but I understand that the quality is about the same as that of the metal nib. I read a Facebook post recently in which someone had successfully swapped in a better nib, but I don't remember what nib it was.

[wastelanded]

Drop your line in German eBay, and wait for a vintage Sport. Piston fill, gold nib, beautiful build quality. Martini Auctions is an even better place to look, easy to find one for less than the cost of the modern AL Sport.

[tinto]

It should be noted that my Kaweco has a small sweet spot, and sometimes false-starts. Also, it is not as smooth as I would like it to be. It is a wet writer when hitting the sweet spot, but it is too wet sometimes. The line is not that consistent.

It was what happened to me, too. An easy adjustment was needed. I just aligned the tines and flossed the nib with a brass sheet and I have a very nice utility pen now.

[Uncial]

I have the carbolyx model; at least I think that's what it's called. It's brushed aluminium with straps of carbon fibre inserts. It's very nice and a good weight and balance. If I'm out and about on the bike and need a pen that's the one I take because I know it's tough enough to be bashed about in a backpack. It looks pretty cool too.