The Retractable Ensso Bolt

[@brettsmith1655]

I am supporting this one. I supported the Italia when it was a Kickstarter project. It had the usual delays but it did happen and I was happy with the product. Can't wait to get my Bolt.

[@PalashBackup]

The absence of seams and the bolt action is designed very nicely with this one. The price point is also very tempting. If the long term experience is good, it will definitely be a best-seller. Thanks David for bringing this pen to our notice.

[@johnhubbard8058]

The Kickstarter price is definitely competitive, but I noticed on the Kickstarter page that they are anticipating a retail price in the $140 range. If that is with the same steel nib, then it won't compete well with the Pilot VP for a similar price.

[@NatiiixLP]

Wow, this may finally be a contender to the Capless! I have both the Dialog 3 and the Curidas, but neither of them feel quite as good. It's amazing what Ensso have been putting out lately!

[@Swiss_Army_Knife1780]

Special alloy ✒️ in the Capless 🖋️, though, is really unbeatable.

[@NatiiixLP]

@@Swiss_Army_Knife1780 Oh yes, much like the special ~plastic~ "precious resin" in Montblanc pens, haha. I agree, it feels good, but I personally love the feel of titanium in the very few titanium products that I've accumulated over the years. I don't understand why it's so unpopular, but I suspect the difficulty of manufacturing and processing is likely a significant contributor.

[@Swiss_Army_Knife1780]

@@NatiiixLP So titanium is a great material, whether with 🖋️ or ⌚, but the design of this Ensso 🖋️ is utter RUBBISH. I have the 🇯🇵 ebonite pocket 🖋️ from Ensso and love it. This titanium 🖋️, though, is a WASTE OF TIME. No clip. As long as a fresh No. 2 ✏️. A silicon seal that will rip invariably with SHORT-TERM use. The special alloy ✒️ is NOTHING like the trash shaft from Montblanc made of anything but "precious" resin. Along with Noodler's Bulletproof Black ink, the special alloy ✒️ is hands down infallible on cheap office paper, whether copy paper or carbon forms. If people wish to buy this 🖋️, then God Bless them. I have ZERO use for this toy.

[@jacobpedersen8661]

My VP is one of my favorite pens, and this seems right up my alley. Thank you for bringing this one to attention!

[@user3086]

VP is 🐐

[@EnCwoisant]

Really cool that you can change the orientation of the nib

[@retro51fan]

Thanks for another excellent, concise review, David! 👏I backed Ensso on this Kickstarter and am looking forward to this interesting fountain pen!

[@gregcooper8466]

Interesting pen system. I wonder if the silicone seal is replaceable. It seems like it may wear out after prolonged use.

[@spiderwrangler4457]

He mentioned they are planning on including replacements with the pens, just in case.

[@JannyHaak]

That's a unique and very cool looking pen! 😍

[@bryanmarsh9886]

Ensso make great pens. I already have 4, I guess now I'll have to make it 5! They do well with their Kickstarters, I've done 2 with them and no problems.😊

[@hetshah7470]

I have the Oaso K016. It has similar sealing mechanism. Has been working quite good so far.

[@Surtak]

Gotta say, not a fan of the silicone seal solution. Seems like it will build up a mess and wear out over time. I heard they tested it for a year, but it will wear out eventually you'd think. Silicone doesn't stay perfect forever. A Vanishing point will be much longer lasting without any fuss or repairs.

[@huangyboy]

Agreed, though Ensso seems to have taken that into account by making the seals easily replaceable. It's definitely a quick n' dirty solution, but it appears to work

[@justindesrosiers3145]

Fair point, but what actually worries me is the ink touching the silicone seal and spreading on the titanium nib section. I have a Curidas, and my nib actually touches the trapdoor. It also dosen’t seal very well but I probably just got a lemon... But my nib touches the door. Which causes the inner barrel and the metal section to get ink all over. The ink then dries into the inner barrel and prevents the click mechanism to work properly. In worst cases, the push button even got stuck and wouldn’t go down at all. I have to clean the inner barrel with a wet cotton swap to remove the dried ink. And I’m not a scientist at all, I don’t know if Titanium can oxydize. But if it does, having dried ink inside the inner barrel is no good…

[@Will-jd2br]

My vanishing point cap wore out after ~3 years and stopped sealing correctly. It’s going to be an issue no matter what design is picked.

[@sailcat9]

I’m supporting this one. I have seven ensso pens and they’re all excellent. The Bolt looks like it will be a winner, too. I can hardly wait!

[@julierak343]

I'm supporting. I have an Ensso ebonite pen that I like a lot, with a titanium nib. I agree that it's unique. I have never wanted the Pilot retractable because the clip would get in the way. This is a great solution. Thanks for the review!

[@TheMagicalSock]

You’ve got to be talking about Hippo Noto when you mention four year old Kickstarters. That is the most confusing situation. I ordered notebooks from them literally years ago and received them with almost no wait, but folks who pledged for the INITIAL Kickstarter campaign still haven’t received their notebooks. Truly puzzling.

[@Hey_its_CeeTee]

Yeah, still waiting… or pay an extra ridiculous high price for them to ship now.

[@dalaljamshed]

This is a jinhao hooded nib and converter modified to fit this pen

[@ashishbhateja]

How did you assess that? That's a much cheaper setup for this price

[@crouserm]

Well! A bolt-action muzzleloader! I wondered when someone would come out with a bolt-action fountain pen. Good for ensso! At the price and with the materials, the price is not unreasonable. I do have another ensso, the Italia Copper with titanium nib, which I have enjoyed a great deal. For my needs at work, the "click" type of retractable point is far more functional; but a collector would love this for its distictiveness. Thanks for a fine review!

[@osirisgolad]

It's always nice to see something novel(that also works properly). I would also have made it at a little bit thicker like you said, and maybe I'd have changed the shape of the bolt track so it automatically engages and disengages when you push it down, without having to push it to the side. I'm curious to see how well the silicone seal will work for people over the next year, it's one of those designs that is so stupidly simple that it may actually be brilliant.

[@fossilimprint2954]

Fascinating design.

[@pensbycasey]

That’s neat! I’ll definitely get one.

[@markcollins2876]

It is a very interesting pen. The price is fine. Not really what I like, but I am glad a company is working on new pens.

[@Braves2251]

Very cool pen, very unique

[@paulmchugh1430]

Have you noticed the nib rotating after extending it multiple times?

[@uihcmoht]

Always wanted a bolt action pen. I am so excited about this finally coming to fountain pens. The nib and feed appears to be from a hooded WingSung. I am actually ok with that, because that means I can easily find a quality 14K or Nag grind replacement. On second sight, I think this whole nib assembly is from the titanium hero 100 which usually runs on the drier side, having the silicone rub the nib might actually help.

[@hw7504]

I love the Guitar Taisho Roman High Colour Inks!!

[@MIAthe305]

Would have liked to se let compared to the Pilot VP, Lamy Dialog/CC, and any other retracting nib pens, also compared to other bolt action pens from Tactile Turn and others you may have in your collection

[@spiderwrangler4457]

I think that there's a chance rotating it could cause wear/damage to the silicone, but suppose it's not going to be getting done all that often.

[@paulmchugh1430]

There are not many examples of retractable fountain pens. This is more than a novelty. Worth looking into. Will a titanium nib be offered?

[@FigbootonPens]

Currently, no. I would highly doubt one will be offered in the future.

[@spiderwrangler4457]

In response to comments on the kickstarter, they did say "At the moment, we are only offering steel, but will consider other metals in the future." Perhaps a slightly higher chance of a titanium nib being considered given the composition of the rest of the pen.

[@spiderwrangler4457]

They've confirmed plans on making gold and titanium available in the future. "We won't be offering gold or titanium nibs for the campaign, but will make them available later. These nib units will be compatible with the pen and sold separetley (sic)."

[@KF7UCK]

My nib falls off every time I retract it. I hope to figure out a solution that doesn’t break it.

[@Yoruichi__Shihouin]

Does the nib rotate when you extend it? I hear for some the nib does not stay with the same orientation and will rotate.

[@jacobus57]

I just signed in to support this too. The Kickstarter price is very reasonable with a deep discount over the anticipated retail. Thank you David!

[@arliemoses4272]

Ordered!!

[@justindesrosiers3145]

You know what this pen reminds me of? The Bastion Bolt action ballpoint. I’ve never been a fan of the « EDC » designs like the Bastion but I actually quite like this one, even if I can spot some potential flaws in the design... And Mr Ensso dosen’t seem to sell guns accessories along with his pens lol. My comment might sound judgemental and harsh, but that wasn’t the goal sorry… I’m really curious how this project will turn out and I might snatch one for myself!

[@AL-hs3zl]

This is cool as heck!

[@raviykrishna]

Nice design and Price. This one is my wishlist.

[@jorge23483]

Very cool looking, the nib I think is similar or same connical type of nib many Parker 51 derivative fountain pens I've seen, and I think it's already been use in some retractable chinese pens. Wich is not a bad thing, because is already a proven nib and the concept of this pen looks very well though and refined. I hope the pen will be a success and a fantastic new addition to the slew of retractable fountainpens. Thank you for the video.

[@ichirofakename]

That's a nice-looking pen. Amazing that it is priced similarly to the Curidas, sounds like a bargain. Perhaps the price is discounted during the Kickstarter. That silicone sealer, however is too hard for me to believe in. Thanks for the show.

[@AtilioEscobar]

Ingenious!

[@TatyanaHallMusic]

Does this pen dry up if it's inked up for a while? The silicone solution seems like it wouldn't seal well if the pen wasn't touched for a couple of weeks.

[@yellowzen1]

It would be nice if they actually offered this for sale....

[@13noman1]

A serious temptation! I've backed a number of ensso's kickstarter campaigns and never been disappointed in their timeliness, communication and execution which only adds to the temptation. As you noted, sometimes some projects are less...forthcoming. My worst experience (maker shall remain nameless) seemed good -- an established small maker looking to expand with a reputation for good pens-- but the target date slipped and slipped with sporadic updates that spoke more about going on walks etc (absolutely necessary, agree!) but little about the project. As more and more backers asked for updates, replies back became snarky -- at one point basically telling backers to chill as he had regular customers who took priority (using the equipment us backers helped purchase); even simple update requests (like 350 backers, now producing 50 a month so maybe 7 months for final fulfillment) were treated as egregious. I did finally get the pen some 15 months or so late. It was/is nice but the experience was not.

[@FigbootonPens]

I recall that project. I believe I reviewed the pen as it launched. The pen was decent, but I was disappointed in how the maker handled the adversities. No project will be perfect...there will always be hiccups...but it's all how the issues are handled.

[@13noman1]

@@FigbootonPens Couldn't agree more -- on all counts. You did review it which is what drew my attention to it but no blame on you. As I noted, my ensso experienes have been much, much better.

[@michealjaymurphy]

damn this is tempting

[@hexagondun]

Glad to hear it's light but solid. The VP is too heavy for my taste. I'll back this for sure.

[@Cortesevasive]

try decimo, its lighter and I like the design of it more.

[@hexagondun]

@@Cortesevasive good suggestion-- I've heard this elsewhere. If it came in matte black like the vp, I'd have already gotten one long ago. I'll probably snag one in the future. What else about the decimo's design do you prefer?

[@engineering_guy]

Just backed! I hope its good. I've been frustrated with decimos drying out and never starting. Also they are too expensive. I don't use any other pens because the convenience is something I cannot give up.

[@leann848]

Have you tried the original Vanishing Points? I have several and have never had a hard start

[@TheMagicalSock]

@@leann848the vanishing points I’ve used have all sealed poorly. I’m sure a wetter ink would help, though.

[@McAmeron089III]

I haven't tried it yet, but have heard good things about Monteverde Olivine green ink. Some say itlooks almost black in fine-nibbed pens. It is formulated to prevent or radically slow down drying of the ink in the pen,I'm told. $12/30ml at Andersons. New to me. Oh,maybe all of Monteverde inks help prevent dry-outs? I should do more research before posting. Please forgive me if this is not helpful. OK,I see now it's the Gemstone collection of Monteverde inks that have the "ITF" Technology to improve flow and help to keep the nib wet longer.

[@ruthfeiertag]

Ingenious design, but not (as Sir Lancelot says) right for my idiom. I do wish ensso great success with it, though. Even when a pen is not calling to me, I like learning about it. Thank you!

[@spiderwrangler4457]

Does look like they are limiting quantity, the single pen backing level is about half gone, still more room for people planning on getting 2+ pens.

[@spiderwrangler4457]

They've since upped the 1 pen level from 300 to 500, so may plan on bumping it as it fills up.

[@thycatalyst]

Doesn’t allow purchasing on their site. Product has been removed.

[@retro51fan]

It was launched on Kickstarter and they just started mailing them out last month (July 2024). I got mine a few days ago, and it’s great!👍

[@slo_carry]

Time to spend more money at Ensso

[@theredbar-cross8515]

The key question is the air seal. The Pilot Capless dries out in a few weeks.

[@rsinger2597]

OK fine I'll buy it. But only because it looks like the spike from the X-files that is used to kill alien super soldiers by stabbing them in the back of the neck.

[@jamesgoodloejr2909]

Ensso ripped the mechanism from the Oaso K016, period. I hope we get equal parts outrage when the "theft" is coming from outside Mainland China. Then again, those silent manufacturing agreements do speak volumes.

[@user-gl5ld9vm7i]

Wow. I've never seen a bolt action fountain pen. Will Hodges should have done this a decade ago. Instead, he chose to make silly edc pens.

[@tayterlik]

So any critical comment is getting deleted? Nice.

[@FigbootonPens]

What makes you say that? I have not deleted a single comment.

[@tayterlik]

@@FigbootonPens Two times posted, two times disappeared. Auto-filter on words by youtube? I have seen such thing on Amazon, but here it seems to be new thing.

[@FigbootonPens]

@@tayterlik No comments on this video have been deleted, and there are no comments showing up as being filtered by KZbin due to certain magic words.

[@tayterlik]

@@FigbootonPens Third time posted, third time vaporized. Screenshot sent to you by email.

[@retro51fan]

@@tayterlik I had that happen with another pen-related YT channel (a much smaller one) and my comment was complimentary so I have zero idea why it kept happening. I'm wondering if that other channel had comment moderation in place... .

[@Swiss_Army_Knife1780]

No clip and as long as a pencil. No utility for me.

[@casanova9227]

wtf when i add the cart there is payment from card so i can pay i wanna buy it is there any solotion guys help

[@FigbootonPens]

I would suggest reaching out to Ensso via the "Contact Us" link on their site.