TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen Review • New Cartridge/Converter Pen from TWSBI

[@Foxtrotlima73]

Great review, very thorough and much appreciated. I have both the TWSBI Eco T and the TWSBI Swipe and (I can't believe I am going to say this), I actually prefer the Swipe. I think that is is a great entry level pen, it really is. Heck, never mind entry level, it is a great day to day pen for people like me who like to keep several pens inked up at the same time! I am in the UK and we don't have the Prussian Blue available yet, but I know I will be getting it when I can!

[@williamhowland1031]

I got mine as soon as I got an email from Goulet pens! I went with the black/smoke. First TWSBI ever and I love it 😍 Great job as usual James 🙏❤️💕

[@zathrasnotzathras655]

I was one of those nervous people while you had the uncapped Noodlers bottle and thanks for triggering my Dora nightmares. 😅 watched too many of those shows between my 2 kids. I’m interested in seeing if ink will corrode the spring over time.

[@JG3Reviews]

Sorry about the Dora and ink stress! 😆

[@lsr2937]

I hadn’t made the ‘Swiper no swiping’ connection until you mentioned it 😏 My now college kids have quite a bit of Dora and Diego in our past.

[@susanorban3059]

Thank you for your review. I just got my Swipe and haven't inked it up yet. I feel more comfortable now that I've seen your video. I'm pretty new with FP but love it! Have a blessed day!

[@TheNibNerd]

Thank you for the demo on how to fill the spring converter. For the life of me, I couldn't figure it out.

[@JG3Reviews]

Glad to help!

[@qvisionstudios]

Looks like this will be another hit for TWSBI. Not too keen on the blue. Liking the smoke version. I foresee TWSBI releasing different coloured versions of the Swipe in the future.

[@bikkies]

I think Twsbi have a big hit on their hands with this one. I have both finishes already and just might accidentally buy more. Accidentally. They've actually put some thought into this. The strongest plus for me with these as compared to the Go, is to do with problems I have with my hands, grip and fine motor control. The Go is just a little too slippery, fiddly, can't quite explain it. One handed operation is hard for me, and sooner or later I'm going to knock over an ink bottle when filling a Go, I just know it. No longer a problem with the Swipe. Well done to Twsbi!

[@gonzacope]

Love the Star Trek TNG reference! Great review, thanks! Greetings from Lima!

[@JG3Reviews]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

[@zenandink3531]

Love my TWSBIs-think I’ll have to get this one😉 Nice review style-thanks!

[@leebyrd1434]

I got both. I find the spring converter hard to get clean. Both are 1.1mm stubs. Clip hard to use on anything thicker than a t-shirt pocket. Love them. these are my first TWISBIs

[@JG3Reviews]

I have the 1.1 stub in my 580 and it is a great nib.

[@richardalanduncan]

Great review. Love the verse at the end, too. Thanks.

[@illegalopinions4082]

I didnt realise the swipe was 2 years old. It is a fantastic pen and alongside the huge TWSBI converter that holds an ungodly amount of ink means even if Im using the stub I can run it all day. I dont think Ive ever run out of ink even when Im writing ridiculous amount.

[@SunshineFL]

Mines is in the mail on its way.

[@BC7Bill]

Great review, thanks! I really like mine, same color w/ fine nib. 😁

[@TheNightowl001]

I ordered mine as soon as I got the email from Goulet telling me they were available! I got the Smoke color in EF! I like it!

[@JG3Reviews]

I very nearly ordered the smoke version, I like the demonstrator look.

[@clarkbilgrav]

Great review. I’m thinking this might just be the right fountain pen for a friend who has never used one. She could start out with cartridges and move on to one of the converters when she’s ready. I love the large capacity of TWSBI’S filling system. I would love for you to review the TWSBI Classic sometime. It’s one of my favorite pens. Thanks!

[@JG3Reviews]

Great starter pen, I think. I just looked over the Classic while at Dromgoole’s recently, and I was impressed. I just might have to do that.

[@JosephDickson]

I wonder why they placed the spring inside the piston. Having it outside the piston in the Go! Seems like a better design choice.

[@paulherman5822]

Definitely plan to get one of these. Though I'm not sure about the spring converter (I have difficulty with things like that), the added more standard piston type converter would work well for me. I'd been postponing getting a TWSBI because I just don't generally use something that holds a lot of ink. Most of my modern pens are cartridge converter pens, and the rest are vintage, which have ink sacs (which generally hold about the same amount of ink as a cartridge or converter. "They hold less than modern ones" is a myth, in my experience.) Probably in September, as I have heard good things about TWSBI in general. Thanks for sharing this and God bless!

[@vpnels]

There is a 4th option for filling - eyedropper, fill the barrel with ink. Don't forget a light application of silicone grease on the threads. I have one Swipe in Prussian Blue with a fine nib, and one in Smoke with a broad nib. Both nibs are nearly perfect out of the box. The broad is a pretty wet, bold writer! The fine writes perfectly. Both are very smooth. I first tried the spring converter, but then decided to eyedropper fill the whole body. Works perfectly. No leakage at all. Only one slight minus on the score card. I love the clip design, but the clip is VERY stiff. Otherwise, great pen from TWSBI.

[@JG3Reviews]

I meant to mention that, thanks for bringing it up. Cartridge choices abound, two converters, and eye-dropper. Options are great! Agreed on the clip.

[@SuvinRK]

Excellent video, thank you for the review.

[@JG3Reviews]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@robmc120]

Always informative, almost makes me want to get one, but i think i'll try to keep my collection manageable, lol. Thanks & God bless as always James, you're one of my favorite content creators to watch. P.S. Do you know whether it's eyedroppable or not?

[@JG3Reviews]

Thanks! Yes, it eyedroppable, which would yield quite a bit of capacity.

[@Michelt007]

Great review! The question I and, hopefully, others have is: is that pen writing as well as the Diplomat Magnum, as they both have a Jowo nib?

[@JG3Reviews]

Both are good, but I do prefer the TWSBI’s JOWO. I’m not sure how different their respective requested specs are for the nibs they buy. I do know that I prefer both the wetness and the ergonomics of the Swipe.

[@Michelt007]

@@JG3Reviews I just received my own Swipe, it writes smoothly, but the non-alignment of the TWSBI logo and nib triggers my OCD!

[@Ryan_H22]

I really like the nibs on my Go's. I'm holding out for a clear demonstrator on this... Then I shall have one! :-D

[@mereiriz]

I just started with fountain pens. I got the TWSBI Eco and love it. Now I’m debating between buying amother Eco, the Swipe or the Kaweco Sport. I heard that one is pretty smooth too. Any insights?

[@ewy1957]

In the spring converter, it looks like the metal spring is in contact with the ink. Wouldn't that be a problem? (Solid review JG!)

[@ev1stuf184]

I can't choose. I want both.💙💙💙

[@JG3Reviews]

The struggle is real!

[@cyana5867]

I like your font!

[@boneybone8123]

It's a fairly wet writer but you just filled it up. The ink inside the feeder makes every pen a wet writer before that ink is used and feeder starts pulling out ink from reservoir. Depending on the feeder and sleeve capacity, duration of this wetness varies. How does this pen write after this passes and you start using the ink from the reservoir, is it still a wet writer? How about when the ink is below half a tank and pressure is starting to drop.

[@JG3Reviews]

True, and yes, this pen has written with the same wetness consistently since, and with a variety of inks. Same with my Eco and Go.

[@boneybone8123]

@@JG3Reviews Thank you. I write with my pens sometimes for hours continuously and swiftly but most of their ink flow can't catch up. After a while, I have to either stop writing and let the ink come down or shake it a bit to get ink; this interrupts my flow greatly and I become obsessed and annoyed by it. Therefore I am looking for a very wet pen which can keep up even with very quick and long lines of writing. For instance Lamy Safari needs to rest nib down for 5-10 minutes to start writing with its optimal wetness after 45-50 minutes of writing, or I have to push piston down to push ink down. It's very limiting. I believe this is related to feeder design structurally. Of course different viscosity of inks varies but the main culprit is the feeder. I've never used Twsbi before, maybe this is the answer.

[@sushanart]

No silicone grease included with the Swipe and Go? 🤔

[@JG3Reviews]

No, I don't think there was any. It's primarily seen as a cartridge/converter, so that's the reason, I'm sure.

[@stepheninks]

Are you possibly thinking of Star Trek TNG because the clip separates into two prongs like the thruster housings on the Enterprise? Jealous that you already have this. I have never wanted a brand new pen design so badly!

[@JG3Reviews]

Yes, and the the overall design language on the TNG Enterprise. Looks like it would fit right in.

[@edwardstaats4935]

Could you explain at some point the difference between the International short and long cartridges? And what about the bore sizes?

[@JG3Reviews]

It basically boils down to length and capacity. The long int'l standards hole ~1.4 ml vs the shorts holding 0.7 ml. The TWSBI cartridges have a shorter neck than the int'l short, but that doesn't affect this pen. It would mean that TWSBI's cartridges won't work in many other pens. Their larger diameter overall would also limit their use in other pens.

[@edwardstaats4935]

@@JG3Reviews Thank you for explaining. My question has to do with the bore sizes. The short international may have a different bore size than the long?

[@JG3Reviews]

@@edwardstaats4935 Ah, no, the bore size is identical with short & long int'l cartridges. Only the length changes.

[@edwardstaats4935]

@@JG3Reviews My experience is that is not true. Not sure why but if you check out Amazon (or EBay, they talk about the bore size. I have no idea of the bore size for the shorts. They work in my Jinhao X750 but the long ones (that I purchased do not work. I am like you. I would have expected international cartridges to be identical but for the amount of ink. Any thoughts?

[@JG3Reviews]

@@edwardstaats4935 Most of the mainstream manufactures will interchange. I have read where sometimes the Chinese int'l standard isn't the same...sometimes they'll work, sometimes they won't. Jinhao, for example, has some that are actually different. Some of that variance may be quality control, but I read that sometimes it is because the "int'l standard" isn't actually set by anyone. A Chinese viewer once commented that there is a different Chinese "int'l standard". That may be what's at play. When I want to be absolutely certain it's the int'l standard I'm used to, I buy from a Western manufacturer for a western pen, a Chinese for a Chinese pen.

[@peregrineslim4446]

I didn't like the entire top of the GO, but it would have been tolerable if it were the same colour as the barrel.

[@williamvickers2279]

I like the swipe more than the eco

[@michaelcorleone89]

can you remove the nib on the Swipe?

[@JG3Reviews]

They can be pulled like the Eco (same nibs as far as I can tell), but they are not screw in nib units like some TWSBIs.

[@irishguy13]

Why’d they make a clear section over a black feed? They should have made them uniform.

[@JG3Reviews]

I don’t know, but a clear feed would look good to me.

[@grandmastersemos84]

You remind me Matt from pen habit..

[@michaelcorleone89]

On my card box it says “made in china”. How’s that possible?

[@JG3Reviews]

Taiwan, Republic of China. That's where TWSBI is based.

[@michaelcorleone89]

@@JG3Reviews i know but i was wondering why the difference. Plus i didn’t get the piston converter and the pen costed me the same. I hope it was a good value for the money anyway...

[@JG3Reviews]

Sorry, I was away from the box and made a wrong assumption. Your cardboard sleeve says China where mine says Taiwan...does it list on the box what should be included?

[@michaelcorleone89]

@@JG3Reviews it says China instead of Taiwan and the list of items is the pen, one spring converter and one cartridge. It doesn’t list a piston converter. So i was wondering if it is the same pen or if they are somehow different

[@JG3Reviews]

I don't know. I'd almost be inclined to ask TWSBI about it. It could be just that it was packaged for a different market, that happens. Curious.

[@theartyone]

Pure Pens in the UK did a capacity test and the Swipe holds more ink than the GO. I don't like the GO... the ink flow for a B nib is terrible.

[@JG3Reviews]

I'm not surprised. The GO's reservoir isn't as big as it first appears.