on saleMonteverde Axis Fountain Pen - Matte Blue

I love the design and the nib is incredible. The writing experience is smooth and clean, rivaling pens that are 10x the price. I highly recommend this pen.

I wanted a pocket fountain pen (I also carry a pocket inkball) and saw the announcement video where Brian couldn't stop smiling as he messed around with the magnetic cap and then the magnets in a cluster of these pens. I have a rule in life - if you're shopping reviews buy the choice that made the reviewer giggle.

It worked! The pen writes smoothly and a bit wet although could be the ink. I have the medium nib, filled the pen converter with my sample of Diamine Blue Velvet to match the pen, and it is a lovely combination. Minor ghosting on 52gsm Tomoe, more than minor in other journals I have. It is a small (diameter) nib, befitting the pocket pen mode, but it really puts down ink. I'm usually a broad nib guy but after a couple days of writing and doodling I think this medium is perfect for me.

I like the way it feels in-hand, many pocket pens are skinny and make my hand cramp if writing a long time (like my pocket inkball does), but the fat midsection on this is perfect and the flats make it comfortable for long writing sessions. I don't usually post caps on full size pens but do on this one because it's just so short otherwise. Think crayola crayon or new pastel chalk for the length unposted. And thank you Brian, I love the clicky magnet sounds! It makes me smile and it gives me something to fiddle with.

One flaw for me. You can't see how much ink is in the tiny converter, it sits in so deeply. I'm suffering the pen version of "fear of running out" that afflicts some electric car critics. I can't speak to if you use a cartridge. I just started filling cartridges with ink, and I think that's the future for this pen.

Now I need to get another one so that I can play with the magnets of both of them together! For this I blame Brian. Probably orange, to fill with JHerbin Orange Indien, going all matchy-matchy. I will probably get the medium nib, which is an unusual choice for me.

I took a leap and bought this pen after seeing it featured on one of Brian's videos, and I must say that I'm very favorably impressed. The blue metal is simply gorgeous, and the weight feels solid and comfortable. I do have small hands, which make the pen a terrific fit. Such a smooth writer. It's my new favorite EDC, and I hope it will be a success so that they come up with more colors. If a red or purple version should show up, I would have to pounce.

I like the aesthetics of this pen. It's solid metal, and the cap clicks nicely. The nib is smooth. It's a lot of fun to hold and use.

The barrel is FAT. It is difficult (for me, anyway) to grip it below the ridged portion near the nib. That ridged portion is about the width of the largest portion of the Kaweco Sport and that's were my thumb rests. The design ergonomics are not a strong point. It's actually pretty comfortable for me, but it's probably not for everyone.