Kaweco Original 250 Black Fountain Pen Review

[@RosarioDiRubbo]

I have just talked to Kaweco directly on the phone this morning about these pens and they told me the O rings are not a problem, even if they break the pen will be still functional and the cap will have no issues when it closes. They also told me that what a lot of people find not pretty, like the barrel not aligning with the branded side and the clip, or the logo on the cap not appearing the same way as other Kaweco series, is not an issue but an exception and only on the 250 and the 060 model. Hop you find this information satisfying, SBREBROWN. Cheers from Belgium, man!

[@steven821130]

Thanks for the information! So if that O ring doesn’t matter, maybe we could simply remove it?

[@RobertMaguire67]

Feels like forever since I sat and watched Dr. Brown. Thanks for the new Kaweco review.

[@amydebuitleir]

I love the tins too! They're useful for all sorts of things, both pen-related and non-pen-related. I wish all pens came in something useful like that.

[@ArjanD78]

Thank you Stephen for this review. I'm on the fence about this pen ever since it came out. I'm worried about the small size. I'll probably try it out in a shop. Too bad it doesn't post, because then I would probably have bought it immediately

[@crouserm]

Thank you. The O-ring on the outer section makes me wonder if my ensso Italia Copper would benefit from one. Not that I've had any problems with it. But something to further discourage the cap from loosening might be nice.

[@glebz7294]

Ok. I got the 250 version 2 days ago. One thing that I do not like straight away is the O-ring. The second thing, that I didn't consider is the anodized body of the pen. After 2 days of fiddling around with cap (screwing/unscrewing) I've noticed some of the anodised surface wearing off on the first turns of the thread inside the cap. So, the wearing off of the anodised thread sections, over a couple of days of fiddling with it, is an extrapolated scenario of what you'll see happening to the rest of the pen over the period of 2-3 years of regular use in the office. If the main body was made of brass, then it wouldn't be so critical to me - brass sheen on black metal is rather bearable. But white metal shining through black anodisation is rather out of place. In short...not for me...I'm returning the pen today.

[@martinbreidenbach398]

The O250 can swap nibs with the Supra. Which is nice since I've already got 3 Supras and a 250 gold nib :D Since I've got Kaweco 60 nibs in all sizes I also got a O60. What I don't like about the O60/250: if I put it in my shirt pocket next to my brass Supra it does rub off some brass from the Supra. Doesn't damage the Supra (what does damage a Supra ?) but the black O250 gets some brassy spots (whichj can be rubbed off).

[@MrsAlchemist]

Very helpful, thank you Stephen! I have 3 Kaweco Sports and love the smooth and wet nibs- but the longer I write, the more I notice that the grip section is too small (diameter) and too short so I grip at the threading and that is uncomfortable. Do you have a Sport and can perhaps say if the grip section is a bit wider (diameter)? It’s difficult to find reliable measurements because this pen is not so „popular“ ☺️

[@frankbruno7122]

Thank you Stephen, I wondered about this one.. you're always there with a great review. Love you man.. Frank in Colorado

[@badger9961]

Dear Mr. Brown, I own a 250 myself, and I think, it is not the same pen as the 060 with a larger nib. The 250 is thicker than the 060, and its section is shorter. In my opinion these two models are two different pens which look very similar. But they are not the same pen with different nibs. I think, that O-ring helps to keep the cap on the pen. So one can close the cap without damaging the thread. Without that O-ring it may wear out if one screws too hard. By the way: The engraved writing on the barrel is on different places in relation to the nib. On mine it can be seen between thumb and forefinger when writing. And a long cartidge fits into the pen, so there's no need to use a converter, if one likes to refill an empty cartridge.

[@draganaj6752]

Great objective review as usual! I always liked the retro looks of the Kaweco Pens (and tins!), I just had a somewhat off-throwing experience with a Kaweco Elite - which I really liked to use - but the threads of the cap just won't work after 2 years of more or less regular usage. One day I took out the pen of my bag and it there was ink all over the pen, as the cap was rotating in the pen case - you can rotate endlessly, there is no stop point - and I did never use too many pressure to screw and close the pen cap. So it has become unusable and it was more than 100 Euros back in the time. Now that new model somewhat reminds me of this Elite - which is a good thing - but I don't trust these Kaweco threads any more. Also that O-Ring solution does not seem really practical to me. As you said, for that price I would have expected a converter along with the pen too.

[@randy-9842]

I think I would like this pen a lot. I have both the 060 and the 250 nibs and they seem to perform about the same (I'm not expert you are though), so, for me, that would come down to aesthetics. Thanks for another great review!

[@maartenvanherpt8863]

The O-ring bothered me a lot too. Simply too thick for this pen!!! I took it off and tried a Goulet preppy O-ring, already much better. I ordered some O-rings after some measurements and research online and found another type that fits even better. Won't come off anymore when rubbing the pen, barely noticable under your fingers. How such a tiny detail can make or break an rather expensive pen... Now it's a great pen! I post it too, i like to hold it on the capthreads and posted this is more confortable. I deal with the scratches this will create. When you jam it on a bit, it will hold well enough. I have a feeling that, the more you post it, the better it fits over time. Another weird thing is that the text on the barrel doesn't line up with the nib (and you can't rotate the nib in its screw-in nib unit). At least you can adjust the position of the clip so that the text can be lined up with the clip when the pen is closed. A very nice, classy pen with some unnecessary designer flaws.

[@docking_quill3306]

Great review as always! Id like to give you a heads up about a company called Aroundsquare, based out of Vancouver Island. They launched a fountain pen about a month ago and I think it definitely stands up to the Alu Kaweco, but costs much less, at 70 USD. A review would be awesome!

[@MrAndrew1953]

Yes I have ummed and nahmayed about getting one of these for some time. They sell for AUD $169 when I last checked. As you say that's a lot for a pen sans converter that doesn't post mien host. On the plus side it has a no-6 nib and section. The pain of not getting one vould be vorse Ja?

[@greyareaRK1]

I like the look. The inability to post seems like an odd, unforced error for an experienced pen company, especially as the pen looks close to the size limit for usability. Ditto the rubber ring - a flat washer would seem a better option to me.

[@13noman1]

Pretty surprised it doesn't post. Pity -- my hands are on the large side (the Sport posted is adequate but still small for me); I thought this would be good size posted but it doesn't. Sigh.

[@jaystone4816]

Thanks, Stephen. I'm sure others have mentioned it as well, but I really like the retro look of their pens and tins. I'm also drawn to faceted barrels, so that's two in this pen's favor. Adding a #6 nib makes it even more attractive. Non-posting: well, there's two kinds of people in this world...those who must post their pens, and those who do not. I'm firmly in the non-posting category. It mars the barrel over time, which I find annoying and unpleasant.

[@judyjacobs5827]

Thanks for the honest review, Stephen. The price, the poor design of the o-ring pseudo-sealing, the absence of a converter, and the inability of this object to post are more than enough to dissuade me from ordering one. Though a "full-sized" pen, it seems too short for comfortable writing without the cap posted. But the cap doesn't post, so, a no-go. Seriously, Kaweco, one might expect your storied German engineers to do better than that.

[@catwhisperer911]

I like the pen but wouldn't purchase it because it doesn't post, which I can't understand why they did that. Thanks for sharing.

[@kandi215]

Great video! 🎉

[@paulmchugh1430]

I also understand the pen will not accept a long international cartridges. Can you confirm?

[@badger9961]

Oh yeah, it accepts the long cartidges!

[@paulmchugh1430]

@@badger9961 thanks

[@jeffreybarton1297]

The O ring is a deal breaker for me. I know for sure I'd lose it or snap it in a week.

[@jeffreybarton1297]

@@christga100 yes! An O Ring is almost irresistible to tweaking and fiddling with 😀

[@peterpuleo2904]

No converter. Does not post. Price. Small size. Thumbs down !