Designer Luxury Fountain Pen - 100% Handcrafted Maplewood Pen Set with Case- Perfect for Gifts - Calligraphy Pen

I'm by no means a fountain pen expert, but I own quite a few ranging from fairly inexpensive to waaaaay too much now that I have children. I've been out of the fountain pen game for a couple of years now, but recently started playing around with some of my pens again when I came across this one on Amazon. For the price I figured what the heck.I have to say, the pictures of this pen are really impressive. It's not that it's not a nice pen in person, it's just that the "feel" of the pen doesn't quite match the look you get from the photos. I'm not sure I would go so far as to say that it feels cheap, but I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed in it when I first picked it up even at this price point.So, my expectations were pretty low when I finally inked it up. Let me tell you, I was completely blown away by how smoothly this thing writes. I'm not exaggerating when I say that IMO this pen writes as well as some pens that I own which cost a couple of hundred dollars. Now, to be fair, the build quality on those pens is much better. I will hopefully be able to share those pens with my kids when they get older. I'm fairly certain that this one won't make it that long, but who knows. Regardless, its a really pleasurable pen to write with and it totally changed my opinion of it once I started writing with it. I was so impressed with it that I immediately had my wife take it for a test drive (she's also into FPs) and she confirmed what I was feeling.I'm not likely to be spending a lot of money on FPs anytime soon, so it's good to know that you can still get a great writer at this price point. I also find it liberating to think that I can leave this on my desk at the office without worrying that it's going to be lost, damaged, or borrowed like I would be with a more expensive pen. So, all in all a terrific writer for a great price even if the overall build quality of the pen feels a little cheap.

The pen looks great... The bamboo with brass fittings make for a sharp look, for sure. The plastic barrel feels pretty cheap. I filled the pen with some blue Parker Quink, and had zero problems doing so. In my collection are a fancy Cross pen ($50 range) and I've had a couple Pilot Metropolitan series pens for everyday use. I must say that even though they're a few dollars cheaper, the Pilot pens write a lot better than this one. Most pens seem to have issues for the first few minutes after a change in cartidge before they smooth out. This pen went for 30 minutes, and repeatedly skipped. If you're looking for an affordable fountain pen, I strongly recommend looking to Pilot over the Golden State Ink pen.

Let me start off this review with me saying how beautiful this pen is. The rosewood goes very well with the gold accents. It has a very balanced weight and a simple design. They’re the reasons I got this item in the first place and because I love fountain pens. Now, I’m giving it a 2/5 stars because the pen came to me with a split in the wooden barrel (shown in photo). Had this pen come without any problems, it would have been easily a 4-5 stars pen.Notice: I have yet to put any ink in the piston that it comes with so I have no idea how it writes.Update: I received a defective pen from a scammer. I contacted Golden State Ink and true to their word, their customer service is remarkable. They got back immediately to me and compensated for the defective pen that was sent. I received the pens today and they are beautiful and the quality is vastly different than the defective I received in the beginning. Overall great customer service and beautiful pens.

Nothing quite beats writing with a fountain pen; it’s simply divine to feel the nib drag against the paper and leave beautiful inked words in its wake. This pen delivers that feeling and more! The construction of the pen is nice and weighty, not at all like the plastic ones one usually finds available. My brother works with wood and vouches for the quality of the workmanship. The rosewood is stained beautifully to really bring out the grain. The mechanism is easy to operate and fills well if you prime it a couple times first. In all I’m more than pleased with the pen I received and will be sure to enjoy its use for ears to come.

Imagine, if you will, reaching into your jacket pocket, mind fixed on recording a bit of vital information, only to have your fingertips greeted by inky wetness. Entirely forgetting what it was your had planned on writing down, your mind is now wholly consumed with discovering how much damage the ink from your newly acquired pen has done to your jacket and shirt. Such, was my experience this very morning as is.Within a week of purchasing this rather pretty pen, the nib and entire upper collar snapped off inside the lid, threads and all. Leaving my jacket, and I might add, leather phone case irreparably stained. I suppose you do get what you pay for after all.This pen looks gorgeous, but that’s all. Leave it on your desk and look at it fondly, admiring its old fashioned aesthetic. I dare say it would indeed make a great prop for all those old style Instagram photographs you have planned; But don’t try to use the poor pen, it is far too fragile for that. In fact, the box it comes in has more craftsmanship than the pen. It seems I will have to continue the search for a pen of worthy quality.Till then I shall remain: your most humble of reviewers.