Conklin Word Gauge Fountain Pens Reviews

I received delivery about a week ago, cleaned/flushed it and filled with Iroshizuku Fuyu-Gaki. I have used the pen exclusively since, for both work-related and personal purposes. The nib performs okay, no major complaints but nothing to praise, either. Mine is in extra fine, so some of the stiffness and slight scratchiness is unsurprising but ink flow is generally consistent and reliable. Writing heavily, I used up about 75 percent of ink capacity before deciding to empty and clean...oh boy. Despite flushing with water more than two dozen times, flushing with J.B's Perfect Pen Flush three times and flushing with water another half-dozen times, I cannot get rid of the residual ink that seeped above the piston and seeps back into the chamber in minute quantities each time the piston is lowered and raised. It's clear that the only way to fully clean it of the previous ink is to take it apart. I don't blame Pen Chalet -- by putting in on sale for half off, it all but shouted "This pen may not be one you end up loving." And there is no "defect" because there are no external leaks, the pen fully draws from the bottle and writes adequately. Except after the first inking, you cannot maintain the purity of the ink. A little deeper research ahead of purchase would have been prudent, because I am discovering I am not alone in experiencing this problem. No more Conklins for me...

Really love this pen - smooth flowing nib and it looks sharp. I don't know (or care) how accurate the number valve is, but I love having it there

I am really enjoying my first Word Gauge.it is a good size for me, lightweight and a smooth writer. I particularly like the large ink window. I did have a little trouble twisting the piston-knob to get it moving, as I did not want to damage it. But I was careful, and it was fine. This pen is a good value and will last for years.

The pen looks good in carbon fiber with the orange window, kind of retro-modern. It’s pretty much an ideal pen for my use; piston filler, holds a good amount of ink, decent size, postable, and above all, it writes well! The availability of different nibs from Conklin is a bonus. If you just feel more stubby than fine one day, a quick nib swap and you’re back in the writing groove.

The Conklin Stealth Carbon Fiber with Orange Translucent ink window is a very good pen. The pen is attractive. The larger pen fits my hand well. The piston filling mechanism is tight (a little difficult to turn the knob) but I prefer that to a loose (sloppy) mechanism. The nib is one of the better Conklin Fine Black nibs that I have. The pen possesses my favorite "clothes pin action" clip. I would highly recommend this pen to anyone who prefers a large pen. It is of higher quality than the less expensive Conklin pens, which may be because it is one of the few made in Italy.

This review is for the orange Word Guage in a M Nib.
The pen writes well and smooth with a hint of feedback. The only issue is that that piston mechanism is really tight and not smooth and hard to fill or clean the pen.

The attention to detail on this pen is not good and it should be better given the price point. The top cover of the pen that turns the converter falls off easily as you turn it to fill the pen. Then, it will fall off after posting the cap. The various parts of the pen are uneven. The pen does write well and is comfortable. However, other pen manufacturers have better quality control making a better functioning and cosmetically looking pen at a lower price.

I got the Orange Carbon pen with a stub nib. Seems like it holds a gallon and a half of ink. This is another great Conklin pen I now own. It writes well, very well.

Excellent work horse pen. Use it for conferences and long note taking. I have a couple of the same model. Would buy again.

The combination of vintage design and modern substance is a great combo. The carbon fiber is matte so don’t expect a flashy shiny body.