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Schon DSGN Classic Machined pen review

REVIEW – In today’s world of our nonstop keyboard clicking, the written note is definitely the anomaly versus the standard anymore. Even our signatures are digital these days, involving a smart-chip, fingerprint, special code, etc. But the ballpoint pen endures…I would guess most of those reading this review have a nice writing instrument in their EDC bag right now. I am always looking to improve my EDC gear, tweaking it and trying new items in my quest for tech-Zen. In this case, Schon DSGN sent me one of their Classic Machined Pens, in brass to review. Let’s see if it is worthy enough to make it into my EDC lineup.

The Schon DSGN Classic Machined pen began as a Kickstarter project back in 2017. It was successfully launched by 741 backers who ultimately pledged $58,548 to bring this project to life. Schon DSGN was founded by Ian Schon with “the idea of creating objects without compromises”.

What is it?

The Schon DSGN Classic pen is a small compact ballpoint pen machined from a single piece of metal. Each pen is turned from solid barstock and finished to give each specific material a distinct look.  SchonDSGN pens are 100% made in the USA.

Design and features

Schon DSGN writing instruments are simple, dependable, high quality ball point pens. Each pen comes with a matching screw-on cap with threads on both sides of the pen, hopefully making the cap less losable. The machining and finish are excellent. Overall, the pen feels very substantial, great to hold and write with.

Specifications:

The Classic Machined pen is ½ an inch in diameter and 4” long when capped.

The threads are well done and the cap screws on and off the pen easily. Though once screwed onto either end, the cap stays attached and in place.

When the cap is screwed on the back, the pen is 5-3/4” long giving it a nice grippable length for writing.

The Classic Machined pen has a set screw on its tail end for accessing/changing the ink cartridge.

The clip is made from stainless steel and is robust yet not too thick. The length of the clip is optimized for a visually balanced look while also being able to hold a 1″ length of material inside of it.

Each pen comes with a PR4 Medium Black Fisher Space pen ink cartridge, easily replaced through the set screw in the back of the pen.

The Schon DSGN Classic Pen travels extremely well in the coin pocket of your jeans or pants. The stainless steel clip is strong and does a great job keeping the Schon DSGN pen securely in place. I have been using this pen for about a month and typically keep/carry it just like you see in this picture…where I do not always have my Navigator bag with me but still want a writing instrument by my side.

What I like

  • Excellent material and build quality
  • Smooth writing
  • Nice weight and feel
  • Cap screws onto each end
  • Made from a variety of metals
  • Available in multiple weights

What needs to be improved

  • None

The Classic Machined pen is available in a multitude of metals from titanium to copper, each with its individual weights and characteristics.

Black Anodized Aluminum ($80) – 1oz – 1.1oz (w/clip)
Polished Aluminum Pen ($78)- 1oz – 1.1oz (w/clip)
Polished Titanium ($188) -1.8oz – 1.9oz (w/clip)
Tumbled Stainless ($108) – 2.8oz – 2.9oz (w/clip)
Polished Copper ($158) – 3.2oz -3.3oz (w/clip)
Polished Brass Pen ($138) – 3 oz -3.1oz (w/clip)

As I mentioned above, all Schon DSGN pens are 100% made in the USA, specifically Massachusetts.

According to his website, Ian has…

always had a fascination with heirloom objects or objects built so solidly that they could potentially outlast the user. I hope you enjoy this pen, forever.

As an interesting (@least for the watch-guy I am) side note, Ian also creates handmade watches @Schon Horology, a new division of Schon DSGN.

Final thoughts

I initially considered the stainless steel and titanium options but ultimately requested the brass version of the Classic Machine pen. And I am glad I did…I love the hefty weight and feel the pen has. I have many aluminum and titanium pens but none are this substantial. Add in the fact, the brass has already started to patina nicely and will continue to do so as it ages. I totally envision myself continuing to carry this pen with me in my coin pocket. The build, material, and design quality is meant to last a lifetime and agree this pen could easily be passed on when you’re gone 😉 .

Price: Brass – $138 ($70 – $288)
Where to buy: The Classic Machine Pen is available at Schon DSGN.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Schon DSGN.

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Schon DSGN Classic Machined pen review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 17, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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REFYNE – EP1: The Essential EDC Titanium Bolt-Action Pen – Notable crowdfunding campaign

CROWDFUNDING NEWS – Of late, there has been a surge in really cool-looking crowdfunded pen campaigns on Kickstarter.  Here’s another one: the REFYNE – EP1.  Its a minimalist bolt-action pen made from either stainless steel or titanium that looks like it would fit in with your EDC as well as become your favorite desk pen.  Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The REFYNE – EP1: The Essential EDC Titanium Bolt-Action Pen’s name nearly says it all!

Why do I like it?

In general prefer pens that are minimalist and sleek, and I’ve always thought that bolt-action deployment mechanisms look like they would be really fun to use, but I’ve not yet actually tried one.  The REFYNE – EP1 pen combines both of these features.  Made from either black PVD-coated stainless steel or polished titanium, it comes the Schmidt easyFLOW 9000 refill for smooth writing, but will accept any Parker-style refill.  The bolt-action mechanism slides up and down into a sort of “v channel” with a quick finger flick, and copper has been used for the internal sliding component to give a subtle bit of design flair.  Each pen includes a pocket clip that can be removed with a standard Torx T6 bit, so you can go even more minimalist if you prefer.

Where can I find more info?

REFYNE – EP1: The Essential EDC Titanium Bolt-Action Pen campaign ends on April 11, 2019 and they have already met their funding goal of $12,000. Pledge packages start at $39 for a black PVD-coated Stainless Steel pen and increase from there depending on the options selected.  After the end of the campaign period, rewards are expected to start shipping in June 2019. Visit the REFYNE – EP1.  It’s a Titanium Bolt-Action Pen campaign site for more information or to become a backer.

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REFYNE – EP1: The Essential EDC Titanium Bolt-Action Pen – Notable crowdfunding campaign originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 13, 2019 at 11:29 am.

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22pen mini multi-pen review

CROWDFUNDING REVIEW – Pens with multiple ink colors are handy but they can be bulky. The 22pen from Mario Shimodaira is different. It’s a Kickstarter project for a pen that is small and thin enough to become part of your EDC and everyone who sees it will ask where you got it.

What is it?

The 22pen is a unique Japanese designed pen that holds two different inks/pens in one very compact package that clips in your favorite notebook like a bookmark.

Design and features

First of all, I’ve never seen a pen like this one. The design has a unique eye-catching look that makes me think of one of my favorite sci-fi TV series Firefly and begs me to pick it up and write with it. Which I was able to do because they sent me a pre-production sample.

The body of the pen is made of what feels like a lightweight plastic, but it’s really Italian cellulose acetate which is a premium material that is also used to make designer eyeglass frames. The 22pen sample that was sent to me has a cool tortoise shell vibe if a tortoise shell can be blue and brown.

The 22pen has the ability to use a variety of pen refills that include: Zebra 4C Ballpoint Pen Refill, Mitsubishi uni SE-7, Mitsubishi uni SXR-7 Jetstream Ballpoint Pen Refill, Pilot, and Cross-Mini-Ballpoint-Pen-Refill. Just pull out the refill and insert a new one whenever you like.

The pen is only about 4 inches long and is flat, so it feels kind of weird to write with it when you first pick it up. As long as you pay attention to how you’re holding the pen so that only one pen tip is touching the paper, it works great and it even works fine if you draw with both tips touching the paper at once.

The 22pen isn’t going to replace my everyday favorite pen, but it’s handy for people who like to keep a bullet journal or carry other small notebooks. I like it because I can write my todos with one color and then cross them off with the other color without having to carry two pens or a larger multi-pen.

Sure, you can do that with any multi-pen, but when I’m finished writing, the 22pen’s built-in gold plated clip lets me store the pen right inside my journal. And since the pen is so thin, I can still close the notebook cover as I normally would.

What I like

  • Unique design
  • 2 pens in 1
  • Stores in your notebook

What needs to be improved

  • Maybe make it a little longer

Final thoughts

If you’re a pen person, you will want a 22pen in your collection. At almost $60, it can be considered a bit on the expensive side. But it’s unique, interesting, can use a variety of refills, and small enough to clip to your notebook. As it stands, it’s the best mini pen I’ve used.

How can I buy it?

The 22pen campaign ends on 3/30/19 and they have already passed their funding goal of $4,499. You can pre-order a 22pen starting at $58. After the 22pen campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in June/July 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Mario Shimodaira.

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22pen mini multi-pen review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 13, 2019 at 7:13 am.

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KRMA Titanium Pen – Notable crowdfunding campaign

CROWDFUNDING NEWS – Minimalism is in.  Titanium as a material is in.  And pens are useful and can also be cool.  Combine all of those things together and you might end up with the KRMA Titanium Pen.

What is it?

The KRMA Titanium Pen is a sleek writing instrument that is machined from Titanium with a twist action mechanism.

Why do I like it?

I’ve gotten into pens quite a bit lately, and I appreciate a design that is sleek and minimalist but made from durable materials that can last a long time.  The KRMA Titanium Pen caught my eye for all of these reasons.  Externally, it is virtually devoid of features save its beefy pocket clip.  Inside, it uses a twist mechanism to deploy its Fisher Space Pen ink cartridge.  It is available in standard Silver, Black, Gold, Blue, Green and Pink anodized colors and with each of these you can choose between machined or bead blasted finish.  The KRMA Titanium Pen also includes a Refill Extender Kit in Small, Medium and Large sizes to accommodate other ink refills.

Where can I find more info?

The KRMA Titanium Pen campaign ends on March 15, 2019. To date, over 200 backers have already pledged nearly $12,000 toward the $7,777 funding goal. Pledge packages start at $45 for a single pen and increase from there depending on the options and add-ons selected.  After the end of the campaign period, rewards are expected to start shipping in May 2019. Visit the KRMA Titanium Pen campaign site for more information or to become a backer.

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KRMA Titanium Pen – Notable crowdfunding campaign originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 9, 2019 at 10:30 am.

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Field Pen Twist – Notable crowdfunding campaign

CROWDFUNDED – A good pen is a treasure, especially one with a cool style that is durable and writes well.  Machine Era has some very respectable experience in these matters, and their latest Kickstarter campaign—the Field Pen | Twist—looks more than promising, it looks like a big hit.  Let’s check it out!

What is it?

The Machine Era Field Pen | Twist is a compact pen that “fits Parker style refills, has a machined body, tactile details, smooth ‘lock in’ action, and [is] an effortless gel writer from Itoya.”

Why do I like it?

As I’ve stated previously, we like pens here at The Gadgeteer.  Personally, I favor pens that are compact, durable, and have a cool look.  Plus, one of my two current favorite pens is a twist-style.  So when I stumbled upon the Field Twist pen from Machine Era, it immediately caught my eye, particularly the version pictured above.  For starters, it is machined from stainless steel with a Schmidt Easy Glide twist mechanism, an Itoya Aquaroller 0.7mm acid free gel ink cartridge (Parker sized), and a clip made in a New England from spring steel.   It also has subtle tactile grip details, and a balanced center of mass.  Three versions are available: stainless steel in black with Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC), a type of PVD coating,  solid brass, and stainless steel.  If all that isn’t enough, the folks from Machine Era’s have experience with pen campaigns on Kickstarter, having successfully delivered two of them previously.

Where can I find more info?

The Machine Era Field Pen | Twist campaign ends on March 31, 2019. To date, over 300 backers have already pledged over $20,000 toward the $6,500 funding goal. Pledge packages start at $65 for a single pen of any of the style, or $195 for a set of all three. After the end of the campaign period, rewards are expected to start shipping in May 2019. Visit the Field Pen | Twist campaign site for more information or to become a backer.

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Field Pen Twist – Notable crowdfunding campaign originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 7, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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