Kilk Epigram Veritas Model Fountain Pen

[Aysedasi]

To the best of my recollection I've never posted a review of a pen.  I've read and enjoyed many, some have even prompted me into making a purchase, but I received a pen a few days ago which I don't believe has been reviewed here yet, and deserves a review.  This is a brief review after only writing a few lines with the pen, not an in-depth review that other pens have received from members more used to this process than I.  

 

I first read about the Kilk Epigram in this thread - 

and I was immediately interested.  Such a beautiful looking pen.  I made contact with Oruc from Kilk and registered my interest.  In due course I made a purchase and was able to to have one made in the original colour material.  This looked like a reddish-brown and black swirl but my pen is more of a chocolate brown black swirl (as opposed to the lighter toffee brown black which is one of the three colours that are offered on the website).  The photos below do make it look rather more red than chocolate brown.  The pen arrived a couple of days ago.  It really is a beautiful pen, one of the best looking pens (to my eye) that I've purchased in a fair while.  The pen was quickly delivered by DHL and arrived in a nice box, with a polishing cloth, some fridge magnets and some leaflets.  A converter was already fitted.  

 

The pen is a nice 'cigar' shape with a silver barrel band inscribed “Vincit Omnia Veritas” which apparently means “The Truth Conquers All.”  I gather that custom inscriptions can be added instead.  As I'm hopeless at measurements, I've photographed it alongside another recent acquisition, a cocoa Parker 51 from which you can see that it is only slightly longer but significantly larger in girth, a size that particularly suits me.  The first thing you notice is that when capped, the cap is not flush with the barrel, there is a step between the end of the cap and the barrel, which of course means that when it is uncapped, the section and barrel are flush, no step.   I find the overall look of the pen extremely attractive.  The cap does post, however I don't think I'll be using it posted.  The cap is also clipless, which has become a penchant of mine over the years - smooth and symmetrical lines, unbroken by a clip or (to me) a hideous roll-stopper.  

 

I ordered the pen with the broad nib choice.  The nib is marked with the Kilk logo and writes a smooth true wet broad line with Eclat de Saphir.  I did flush it first as we're told that's always a good thing to do! 

 

Hopefully the photos give you a good idea of the pen.  Throughout the ordering process I stayed in contact with Oruc who was a pleasure to deal with.  The only dilemma that this pen now creates for me is that I want the other colours now too!  I suspect the blue or green with a BB nib will be next on my list.  I'm not giving the pen marks out of 10, either overall or in any particular regard, but I loved it when I first saw it pictured in FPN and equally so now I have it 'in the flesh' so to speak.  As things stand, one of the best buys I've made for quite a while and at a price which for me, makes it a significantly better prospect than, say, a new Parker 51!  

[mizgeorge]

Excellent review - thank you  

 

It's especially useful to see 'real' pictures, and the comparison with the 51 is ideal. 

 

I see one of these (the light brown) in my very near future! 

[txomsy]

Wow, that surely look beautiful. Congratulations. And nice review by the way.

[Aysedasi]

Thanks very much.  I wish I'd wiped off some of the dust before taking the pictures   It is a lovely pen.  And is sitting alongside the glorious Ranga 9B Giant that arrived on the same day!   

[Jamerelbe]

That's a really lovely looking pen - managed to track it down at https://www.kilk.ist/product/epigram-fountain-pen/.  Might be a bit outside my budget for the moment though...   Do you know if it has a removable nib assembly to allow easy exchange of nibs?  That's one of the things I love about my Rangas: for most of them I can swap in any JoWo-compatible #6 nib, including Ranga's own nibs which now come in a JoWo-style assembly.  [Another thing of course is the amazing value for money, compared to European or Japanese-made pens!]

 

Actually, on that topic, are you finding yourself more drawn to the Kilk or the Ranga 9B - or is that like asking you to choose a favourite child...?

 

 

[Aysedasi]

I'm pretty sure it is a 'standard' screw out nib section, however the nib is so nice I've no desire to change it.  Likewise the Ranga, I normally put a Knox OB or OBB in but I've none left and can't get any more, but again, the broad nib on the Ranga is very nice too.  For what it is, the price of the Epigram is phenomenal, a gorgeous pen, made with care, that writes beautifully, I think you'd struggle to get anything much better for £115.  I consider it a real bargain and I'm fairly sure I'm going to go back for another one pretty soon.  

 

As to which I prefer, I'm not going to distinguish between my two adopted 'children'......  They're both wonderful to look at and both write just how I'd want them to.  I'm just pleased to have them both.  (And, having just put an OB (possibly OBB) nib into the cocoa P51, things are looking very good indeed for me, pen-wise right now!  :0).  

[doriath19]

Thanks for your review! It was a good read!

 

Enjoy your beautiful pen!

[Aysedasi]

Thank you! 

[Gloucesterman]

Really enjoyed your review. It covered all the pertinent information well.

 

I did check out the site and may end up buying one myself.

 

Thank you.

[bbs]

Thanks for reviewing this - what a beautiful pen! Going on the want list ....

[Aysedasi]

I'm still using mine pretty much daily, alternating with the Ranga 9B Giant I bought at much the same time.  I really love this pen and the urge to buy another colour is sure to beat me sooner rather than later.....

[Bill P]

What is the original color material called.?

[sansenri]

Thank you for the review and nice pictures.

I did spot this too in the first thread about it, but have so far not made purchase, but it's very tempting.

Besides the fact that it's probably using an ordinary screw in nib, from either Jowo or Bock (btw can you show us the feed? it helps to recognize the maker, if it's one of those two), which isn't a bad thing, as Jamerelbe says, as you can swap in the nib of choice, I really do like the lack of steps, and the silver ring is nice, kind of reminds me of some of Delta's nicer pens.

 

Did you buy from Oruc directly? any import taxes?...

[sansenri]

btw, I just found a couple of pictures/videos of the pen showing the converter, I'm 100% sure it is NOT Jowo, and very convinced it's Bock.

[Aysedasi]

I confess I haven't had any cause to check the feed.  I ordered with a broad nib which is really sweet and I've had no need to change it.  I bought it direct from the site but was in dialogue with Oruc throughout as I wanted the original material (or as near as he could get to it).  I don't know if the colour has a name, if it does, I've never been told what it is.  There  are no markings on the converter.  No taxes paid....

[BlueJ]

The feed on this nib unit is definitely not the standard Jowo type. I don't have a Bock unit for comparison, unfortunately.

[ethernautrix]

Wow, that is a beauty! 

 

The color of it in your photos is more appealing than the color in Kilk's photos (but also appealing).

 

Use it in good health!

[Aether]

According to a YTube video by Fontoplumo the nib is Bock.

[Aysedasi]

If it is a Bock, I'm mildly surprised as I've never liked them that much.  

 

The colour of the pen is lovely, not quite as red as in the original (and my) photos, more a deep chocolate brown.  But I don't think that colour is now available, unless Oruc will make you one in it for special order.  I'm up for a green or blue next.  The pen is a stunner.  Beats me why Oruc isn't sold out of them.  One of the nicest pens I've ever bought.  

[sansenri]

the feed looks Bock

 

Bock on the left, Jowo on the right

 

I actually tend to prefer Bock, they are slightly less rigid