Opus 88 Flow (Gray)

[chalkdust]

I like to take a fountain pen with me when I travel so I can enjoy journaling and keep some memories that way. Opus 88 fountain pens are good travel pens because they are light, hold a lot of ink, and they can seal off the feed from the reservoir to prevent ink catastrophe. Sadly, I Iost my Opus 88 Koloro last fall. So recently I used some birthday money to replace that Koloro. Opus makes a model that I think is relatively new (summer 2020) called the Flow. It come with a steel #6 nib (my old Koloro used a #5, and I prefer the larger #6). The barrel is round but the cap and end knob are gently octagonal. The clip is straighter and squared off more that the Koloro clip. The gray is colorless translucent with swirls of gray and white. I put green ink in the Flow just because I like green.

 

 

Here is it next to a Visconti Silver Dust Opera Master which also has swirls and also seals off the feed from the reservoir to prevent leaks when traveling. I would prefer not to misplace the Visconti due to its cost.

 

 

 

 

The octagonal cap and knob are described somewhere as being able to prevent rolling. The cap does well in that regard though the clip alone prevents rolling. The knob will not prevent rolling when the pen is uncapped. The cap does not post.

 

I find the length and girth to be very comfortable for writing. I decided on a EF nib as I think that will be best for travel journals. I in specter the nib under a loupe before inking it and found this nib to be beautifully adjusted. The writing experience confirms it.

 

All in all an attractive, well made and useful new pen from Opus 88 in my opinion. I am enjoying it!

[boulderchips]

Thanks for the review. I like the gray color, and these look like nice pens. I love my Opus 88 Omar.

[jchch1950]

Has the filling system of the Opus pens proved to be reliable? Any problems with it or with the ink flow?

[Honeybadgers]

I really don't like the swirled acrylic or flat clip, and I kinda wish they'd do a little more like the Koloro and use more ebonite - ebonite cap and knob, and (unlike the koloro) an ebonite seciton.

 

If they did that, even with the cheap looking flat clip, I'd buy the heck out of one.

[Honeybadgers]

Has the filling system of the Opus pens proved to be reliable? Any problems with it or with the ink flow?

 

my picnic has been perfect. I have heard zero complaints about a single one of their models.

 

The japanese eyedropper (eyedropper with a shut off valve) has been proven reliable for over a century. It's still used on the very highest end namiki emperor line as well. If it's good enough for a $25,000 pen, it's good enough for this!

Edited May 27, 2020 by Honeybadgers

[chalkdust]

Has the filling system of the Opus pens proved to be reliable? Any problems with it or with the ink flow?

I am reading this as a question about the pen's sealing system, not the filling system, which requires a reasonably steady head and good aim. I have never encountered any problems with leaks from my old Opus 88 or this one. In fact, the ability to shut off ink flow to the feed is a feature that is useful in several circumstances.

 

 

I really don't like the swirled acrylic or flat clip, and I kinda wish they'd do a little more like the Koloro and use more ebonite - ebonite cap and knob, and (unlike the koloro) an ebonite seciton.

 

If they did that, even with the cheap looking flat clip, I'd buy the heck out of one.

 

None of the Opus 88 clips thrill me. But I think they chose the shape well to go with the straight lines of the octagonal cap. Roundish shapes would look out of place. I also prefer ebonite, but I find nothing unpleasant about the materials they used for the cap and section and knob. In fact the feel of the materials is quite nice. I think I would have used a black cap and knob if I were making this pen. But the gray is growing on me. It allows this pen to have some individuality among my pens.

[sansenri]

Thank you for showing the pen, it looks nice.

Would you say that it's comfortable to hold?

I can see the section tapers nicely, which I like, is the step after the threads sharp under your fingers?

The pen is an eyedropper! (I had to look it up, sorry for being ignorant on the Opus 88...)

And the nib is Bock on the Flow (or so I read).

it looks interesting, I searched a bit and of the Opus 88s, I think I might like the Bela's shape and colour, although the black clip does not convince me

Edited May 27, 2020 by sansenri

[chalkdust]

I find it very comfortable to hold. It is not narrow, but has girth that I like. The material is comfortable. The shape of the section works well with my grip. Only my thumb can sense the step-down and threads of the barrel and they are not at all uncomfortable to me. I prefer some heft or weight in my pens for a feeling of quality. My mind knows that weight and quality are utterly different things, but my hand seems to think otherwise. This pen is not heavy but feels like quality. Writing with it is easy, reliable and enjoyable.

 

I think many of my comments would apply to other Opus 88 pens. I have owned 2 different models of Opus 88. But I am not an expert. They are similarly priced pens that come in several shapes and colors. I prefer the ones that have #6 nibs. Choose a color and shape you like and I think you will will not be disappointed.