The triangular grip didn’t bother me very much since the corners were well rounded. I find the triangular grip on the Perkeo to be more comfortable than the Lamy Safari with my grip. The 1970s had seen the writing instrument become much cheaper due to mass production and outsourcing, however beneficial this may have been to customers who had once been priced out of certain pens this posed a longer term issue for the entire industry. Having moved from in-house production of parts for the majority to outsourcing most parts was economically disastrous and the structural changes in production methods, threatening even the most well-established manufacturers ,like Kreuzer or Mont Blanc...Ultimately, Kaweco was forced to close its doors in 1980 amid financial difficulties. H & M Gutberlet gmbh meets Kaweco I don’t need any more fountain pens (obviously!) but when I do, I’ll no doubt be looking at another Lamy.

Pam: For the times I “crave” for a “chubby” line width, I gravitate towards a Kaweco EF nib. What I love about the Kaweco EF nib is that it creates a very round line that can sometimes compliment my writing style. Kaweco’s foundations began in Heidelberg near the University city of Bonn, an ideal location as its college town status particularly of the arts and science meant that reliable writing instruments were in high demand. The writing instrument industry had begun to boom with the creation of the steel nib which slowly overtook its predecessor the Goose Quill. Mercents Carl Luce and Friedrich Enßlen started out in 1883 with the production of wooden dip pens as well as the sale of imported steel and gold nibs. Pam: Other than a clip, this would a great EDC. It doesn’t take much to uncap, it’s a postable pen (no lost caps!), and light! Again, some see the weight as a disadvantage, however, the construction of this pen should be able to stand up to a trip to the washing machine. Ink stains not withstanding. It was in 1909 that a patent for the Kaweco safety pen was obtained, the model featured an innovative screw thread at the turning knob of the mechanism to prevent ink leakage.Pam: Honestly, the pen is a GREAT example of a starter pen for those who want to try out a Western sized nib. For the price, the design and the nib performance, the Perkeo is a contender to be a great starter pen. Will it surpass the Lamy Safari or the TWSBI Eco? Maybe not, but depending on what you are looking for, why not try the Perkeo? Roz: My first impression of the Kaweco Perkeo was how attractive and friendly its colors were. While the colors are solid and the pen has no sheen or gloss to it, I think the facets really give it a subtle eye catching quality. Katherine: The variability on these nibs is surprising — my boyfriend and I each own one, and mine writes like a dry EF, and his writes like a wet Fine, even when inked with the same ink. Both are smooth and decent writers, but the variability in flow and tipping was surprising! Kaweco has a long history starting in 1883 when it was originally known as the Heidelberg Dip Pen Factory. One of Kaweco's earliest models was the eyedropper-filling Perkeo. Featured in the 1908 catalog, the fountain pen was made of ebonite with a gold, iridium-tipped nib. One would have to carry the pen with the nib pointed toward the sky, otherwise, it would leak. Not exactly ideal when compared to today's pens. Yet, at the time, it was an improvement over carrying a pot of ink with a dip pen.

Franz: These Kaweco Perkeo pens fascinate me. It is a substantial pen compared to the Kaweco Sport and the colors may be subdued but at the same time they are enthralling. The fine facets of the barrel makes it an elegant looking pen and makes the Perkeo stand out. Katherine: The Perkeo is a little weird to me. My initial reaction was “ooooh facets!” then “hm… the facets on the body and cap are different…” I like the colors overall, but have clear favorites.

Kaweco Perkeo vs. Sport

Pam: The Perkeo is pretty light, just like the acrylic Kaweco Sport, which is both an advantage and disadvantage in my book. I find that in pens that are too light, I tend to bear down harder on the paper. Yet for portability and journaling purposes, the weightlessness of this pen made it really easy to start and continue using with little fatigue (if I don’t bear down). Interestingly enough, the disadvantage of weightlessness that I pinpointed on the Sport, was offset by the length and size of the Perkeo. It was a joy to write with. Roz is a techie by profession and enjoys writing and sketching as well. She’s always admired fountain pens but was afraid to use them until Pam took her under her wing less than a year ago. Pam let her write with a few pens to see what she might like and own. Roz primarily uses her fountain pens for journaling, and scheduling on her planner. Currently, she’s also using her pens to sketch and doodle for Inktober and tries to keep up with the daily prompts for October. When Roz isn’t busy writing or drawing, she spends her time baking in the kitchen. Thank you for joining the fun and helping us out Roz! This release coincided with the 10th anniversary of Kaweco and 25th anniversary of the original Heidelberg dip pen factory. The anniversaries were celebrated in an article featured in a local newspaper which listed each of their 88 employees by name. One thing that has come from researching this company's intriguing history is that they have always existed with a sense of pride over their work and products and it was never purely the achievement of the owners but rather a collective effort which was richly documented and celebrated with photographs and written recollection - but i digress.