Intro
I have recently started getting into Flex pens and actually bought my first 4 flex pens. Ranging from semi-flex, flex, super-flex, and wet noodle. I will write a review on all of them but this is the only one I have on me as of right now. Flex nibs have definitely given me something to just sit down, relax, and write. It is fun to learn new things to do with them and they don't make bad everyday writers as I write very lightly (probably out of fear of damaging the pen when I first started using FPs)
Construction and Quality
I cannot complain about the construction or quality too much. The latest date on the pen is August 4th, 1903 (see pictures below). This pen is atleast or around 100 years old and it writes pretty great. It is made of Black Chased Hard Rubber. Unfortunately the Black has turned to Brown on all of the pen except the grip. Personally I cannot rate this very high as I believe brown and black should never, under any circumstance go together. And altogether I just really hate brown. But, I bought this pen for the nib, not the look. And I can deal with it. You can probably also see there see there is electric tape around the cap. There are a few holes, 3 that I think are just there from manufacturing and 2 from the missing clip. I put tape around it because I started to have some starting problems which didn't make sense. Since I put the tape covering all the holes I haven't had a problem since.
Nib Performance
The reason I bought this pen. The seller characterized this pen as a super-flex. And compared to my wet noodle I would agree, it flexes very nicely and easily, but not quite as easily as my wet noodle. However, this pen is hard to railroad, very hard. It only seems to railroad when you do a lot of very wide writing (flexing it to near it's max) and/or with a dry ink. Since I put the Montblanc Royal Blue in it, I don't think I have railroaded once (knock on wood). The nib is smooth. Not the smoothest I have written with but not scratchy hardly at all. When un-flexed it feels like a nice XF feels. It will flex up to BBB but that is a little above where I like to write with it, this pen has lasted 100 years and I want it to last a lot more. My wet noodle is out to get fixed, so when it comes back it may supersede this nib. But for right now this is my favorite nib I own. It writes wet, but I like wet. It is very suited to my liking.
Filling System and Maintenance
The filling system uses a lever filler. It works well, but I don't like cleaning them out. After the first clean out I got a lot of the color the previous owner used and had to clean it with water and JBs again. It takes in a decent amount of ink. I haven't measured it yet. Works but not my favorite method
Cost and Value
I really don't know if I paid a fair market price for the pen. I paid $150 which seems fair to me. It writes well, is in decent condition, and has a 14k nib that flexes beautifully. May not be for everyone but I am not regretting it.
Conclusion
Wonderful pen, I really enjoy writing with it. I have run it try three times now and I have only had it 2 days. Writing with fountain pens in general is awesome. Learning to write with a flex is extremely awesome in my book.
forgot to cross the "t"...
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