Scribo Feel

[como]

 

 

So glad you like it :-)

 

I'm also cautious about flexing it too far, but find it gives a really nice flair to my everyday handwriting!

 

Take care,

 

Ralf

 

 

Dear Ralf,

 

For daily writing, I still prefer a stub, aka lazy men/women's flex. But I do find the Flex an endless source of meditation, especially in pointless meetings. By the way, I noticed that the color of that doggie's hat on your profile is almost identical to the SCRIBO grey/blue Feel. Perhaps it was meant to be!

 

Best,

 

Como

[TheDutchGuy]

I tried a discounted Feel with 18k F nib the other day, and it was a spectacularly pleasant nib. I don’t think I’ve ever written with a nib that good. I’m deeply impressed with it. Sadly, the pen is too big for me.

[como]

I agree that it’s a big pen, in the same size category as MB149, a tiny bit longer and not as girthy. The stepped-down section is actually slightly thinner than the old style Omas Paragon, and the pen is very well balanced. Surprisingly a very comfortable pen to hold. My EF 14k Flex was tuned by Oxonian and a real joy to use.

 

I tried a discounted Feel with 18k F nib the other day, and it was a spectacularly pleasant nib. I don’t think I’ve ever written with a nib that good. I’m deeply impressed with it. Sadly, the pen is too big for me.

[binbean]

Thank you for an amazing review! The exterior design does not appeal to me but they are good pens in deed.

[uticarose]

Far from providing a comprehensive review of the Scribo Feel, Ill share a few responses that might be useful. I didnt look much into what Scribo had to offer but was curious bought one in blue-black. My initial impression was that it was just another nondescript, resin pen and overpriced at that.

Ive totally changed my mind as I took note of various desirable features that gave rise to my now seeing the Scribo as a much valued addition to my collection well worth the price. Among these features are the twelve-sided/faceted barrel and cap, the way it tapers from the top to the bottom of the cap and from the base to the top of the barrel, a sturdy piston fill system, one of the best flex nibs in its price range, and, for a large pen, its unassuming presence and overall simplicity of style.

[pensmarht]

I was interested in MB 149 Calligraphy and a review of that pen first brought the Feel to attention. It's nice to have your thorough review. With the advent of the 149 Calligraphy and now the Feel, it appears that flexible nibs have finally appeared on modern pen makers' radar (beyond the Japanese softs & FAs, which I think a few here might not consider to be flex at all).

[Calabria]

The Scribo seems definitely interesting!

 

I have a question: what is the resin like? Is it softer and a bit elastic like OMAS cotton resin or is it hard like a Montblanc?

 

The design does look like a caffettiera designed by Alessi - but maybe thats a good thing? Being somewhat more up to date?

 

Are there any factory visit videos out there? Do they make all parts in house?

[gmax]

I find that the Scribo pens have the same "hand feel" and tactile quality as the old Omas pens.

 

I don't know whether all parts are made in-house, but I can say that the standard of fit and finish is excellent

 

[sansenri]

I agree that it’s a big pen, in the same size category as MB149, a tiny bit longer and not as girthy. The stepped-down section is actually slightly thinner than the old style Omas Paragon, and the pen is very well balanced. Surprisingly a very comfortable pen to hold. My EF 14k Flex was tuned by Oxonian and a real joy to use.

 

I was re-reading this thread and your statement that despite the step down the pen is comfortable to hold, stirs interest.

I'm still sort of put off by the look of it, so nice when closed but sort of ugly once uncapped...

The fact Scribo is using the Omas machines to do their nibs, sounds very interesting too, and a reason to try one out, but I'm still not totally convinced by the design and sort of hoping they'd come out with a more classic straight design (but not convinced that will happen any time soon).

[sansenri]

The Scribo seems definitely interesting!

 

I have a question: what is the resin like? Is it softer and a bit elastic like OMAS cotton resin or is it hard like a Montblanc?

 

The design does look like a caffettiera designed by Alessi - but maybe thats a good thing? Being somewhat more up to date?

 

Are there any factory visit videos out there? Do they make all parts in house?

ahah, I think you're spot on with the statement on the caffettiera!

[ralfstc]

That's so odd. We bought a home expresso maker (because we are fancy. No not really. We can't afford Starbucks all the time) and every time I use it I think of my Scribo!

[como]

sansenri: You would really have to try it in person to see if this pen works for you. The build quality and the nib for me justify the price, but it's not a pen that I would just buy online and see if I like it or not. The comfort of the grip section is really dependent on how you normally hold the pen. It feels solid in hand but not heavy.

I was re-reading this thread and your statement that despite the step down the pen is comfortable to hold, stirs interest.

I'm still sort of put off by the look of it, so nice when closed but sort of ugly once uncapped...

The fact Scribo is using the Omas machines to do their nibs, sounds very interesting too, and a reason to try one out, but I'm still not totally convinced by the design and sort of hoping they'd come out with a more classic straight design (but not convinced that will happen any time soon).

[Paul-in-SF]

sansenri: You would really have to try it in person to see if this pen works for you. The build quality and the nib for me justify the price, but it's not a pen that I would just buy online and see if I like it or not. The comfort of the grip section is really dependent on how you normally hold the pen. It feels solid in hand but not heavy.

 

From looking at it, I think you're probably right. I wonder if they are likely to appear at US pen shows (once we start having them again)? Or would I have to wait for someone in the local pen club to buy one and bring it to a meeting (once we start having them again)?

[Calabria]

In a way, the idiosyncratic design (and blue-grey color) make this pen more rather than less attractive to me.

[langere]

If Scribo had some interesting celluloid or something like that, I might be interested. Gray or Blue at such a price? Blah...

 

Hope they do get better colors!

 

Erick

[dapprman]

If it's just the original two colours that put you off then keep your eye open for their next release - they regularly produce limited editions in different colours, two at a time.

[MoriartyR]

I have re-read this thread many times. After initially not being enamoured of the shape of the Scribo Feel it started to grow on me and in the end I came to like the looks enough to want one. It’s distinctive, has a level of design integrity, and I appreciate the boldness of the Feel now much more than I would if it was more conventional. Why do we need another pen that looks just like the rest? Anyway, I’m glad that Scribo stuck with their vision for the pen and haven’t changed it. It just required time to grow accustomed to it, for me at least.

 

So I bought one. I got the blue-black model with the extra-fine 14k flex nib.

 

My experience with the pen is much the same as several of you in this thread. The pen has high build quality and feels very solid, is comfortable to hold and write with, light and easy to control, feels smaller than it is, and it has such a wonderful nib. In addition to the flex I have in one nib the best characteristics of all my favourite nibs combined - the precision and true extra-fine line of a Sailor nib; the slender, long tines of an Aurora; the delightful softness of my Montblanc 1912; the impeccable flow and wetness of my Namiki Yukari Royale. It is also notably smooth for such a fine point, but has the right amount of feel.

 

I write with a light hand and only occasionally apply a touch of weight to add expression - I’m not generally looking for flex but it’s easy to get it with just a gesture and without stressing the nib at all. I have no problem getting a consistent line in regular writing.

 

I am really very impressed. Even without the special nib I think the pen would be good value with the piston, high ink capacity, ebonite feed, quality feel of the materials, curved and faceted body. But with this uniquely satisfying nib I think it’s very well priced compared to other pens.

 

I know nothing about Omas and have no history with their pens or feeling about the brand. My view of the Scribo Feel is based entirely on the pen Scribo produced. If Omas nibs were as good as this then clearly I missed out.

I am using this pen a hell of a lot. So I’ve ordered another - this time the new Foglio colour, but still with the EF 14k flex nib. It shipped today.

 

I must say thanks to the original reviewer and those who added to this thread with both their plaudits and reservations. It all helped lead me to this unique pen which I am very happy with.

 

 

 

[Uncial]

Interesting pens and certainly a company to keep watching but the aesthetics don't hit my buttons. I don't like the styling of it at all and the two big cons for me are that huge step and the fact it doesn't post. That said, I will certainly be keeping an eye on what they produce in the future.

 

I wrote the above right at the beginning of this thread and I quote it here as an example of just how much opinion can change once you get something in your hand. At a couple of pen meets I kept being introduced to this pen and a few things struck me. It is very large. It was extremely comfortable to use. There is a huge step, but the pen is crafted cleverly to the shape of the hand and nestles perfectly between the thumb and forefinger, resting in a very natural way when writing and the girth of the section is not as thin as I had expected it to be. The quality of the materials really appealed and I could see in the writing there was definitely something of the spirit of Omas about these pens. Pictures don't really capture how these pens look or feel and for the most part I'd been judging them on online pictures alone. Now, I really love the Doric column design in the flesh; there's really nothing else like it, but what was a pleasant surprise was in its use. These pens were carefully designed for both looks and use. The designers have pulled off something quite difficult to achieve: something that looks different and beautiful and is also a true writers pen. I suspect it might cause a problem for those with very small hands, but really, this is a pen you need to have in your hand and write with to really appreciate.

 

The thing that really put me off was that it didn't post. I like to post the cap, but a third pen meet and a third time of trying one out had me thinking it was really big enough without posting. Still, I dithered on it. It's hard for a serial poster to change his ways. I wasn't very fond of the 'asthma inhaler blue' and the dark blue was nice, but just not tempting enough. I tend to get a little irritated when pen companies produce different colours in limited number at a higher premium. I always feel like I'm buying into a swizz. So I didn't think about it much and then.......one pops up on the bay for a sumgai price. Cherry version bought. I got it a few months ago and it's been inked three times already.

 

The moral of the take? Get it in your hand and it will likely strip out your wallet.

[TheDutchGuy]

1 hour ago, Uncial said:

I wrote the above right at the beginning of this thread and I quote it here as an example of just how much opinion can change once you get something in your hand.

 

Very true. That's why I tend towards long-term reviews. First impressions tend to morph into something else.

[Uncial]

Even having had it in my hand the first time I still had fears about the grip section. The pen is so large that it made the grip feel a bit small. I didn't have the opportunity to write with it at that point. It wasn't until later that I had the chance to use it extensively and the whole design really started to make sense in terms of long writing sessions.