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Pens and Pencils with Patina? Kaweco's Tough Offerings
Beefy pens and pencils. The Sketch Up's got a 5.6mm lead
Writing utensils being such disposable things, it's rare to see one with a patina; I feel like they rarely survive for that long.
However, Kaweco—which is something like the Mercedes-Benz of writing utensil producers, manufacturing in Germany since the 1880s—makes tough, pricey pens and pencils out of aluminum, steel or brass that can take a beating.
Somewhat hilariously, they also sell a line of stonewashed pens, if you'd rather not earn yours the old-fashioned way.
I came across the company while looking for a more durable mechanical pencil for shop use. They make this handsome, aluminum AL Sport line.
For the more sketch-minded, they make this brass Sketch Up line that holds beefy 5.6mm leads. I have no idea how you sharpen the thing.
All Kaweco products come in these vintage-style tins.
These things ain't cheap—the AL Sport pencils run €56.50 (USD $67), and the Sketch Ups are €30.50 (USD $36). If I drop that much on a pencil, I'll damn sure own and use it for long enough to earn that patina.
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So I have a kaweco sport fountain pen, and I'm really thrilled it has held up for 2 or 3 years now, rolling around in my pocket while I'm working, walking, on the playground with my kid, etc. I'm a bit disappointed the contact between the threads on the shaft and the inside of the cap is made of plastic - it doesn't fit securely, and I have to be careful to not turn it too much. Other than that, it's as solid as it looks.
The leadholders actually have a little sharpener inside the latch button on the back end.
The cap comes off, and there's a little angled blade in there, to maximize the gee whiz factor of this stellar design.
(It does get lead powder all over the place if you're not careful)