Hi all! I’m looking for recommendations for a not-too-nice fountain pen that can be thrown in a bag and can sustain potential scratches, but still feels nice to use.
I currently have this Kaweco AL Sport that I bought second-hand and I love it. The scratches give it character, I never worry about it breaking under pressure like a plastic pen might, and it feels nice in my (smaller-than-average) hand.
I have a couple regular Kaweco Sports, but they just don’t feel quite as nice as the AL to use (I like the weight of the AL) and I have two Sailor Pro Gear Slims that I adore, but I’d be scared to just toss them in a bag with potential scratchy items.
I’d love to hear about your favorite EDC that can take some knocking around, or any suggestions you have for something similar to the Kaweco AL Sport.
Hope you’re all having a great day!
Hong M2 could work. Metal so it takes a beating. Plus the cap has a very satisfying spin when going on and off.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKMR28M2
Really nice FP! I particularly suggest the brass version, more substantial than the AL + long knife nib: spectacular!
And if you strip the finish on the brass one, it will patina nicely!!
Yeah exactly! I have done the same thing on mine!!!
What’s long knife nib mean?
It’s basically an architect nib
Can confirm. Solid, satisfying spin on the cap when going on or off. I use mine as a bit of a beater pen. It was cheap and has shown that it's durable in a backpack in the backcountry for sketching, in my pocket for generic use, or in a bookbag to/from class and coffee shops.
Thanks, I love the color options!
I have a brass hongdian M2 and a Mcnteik brass pen; I vastly prefer the latter to the former. It was about $50 vs the M2's $20, but I think it's worth it.
Do you have a video of this satisfying spin? That sounds fantastic
I have two for my EDCs. The paint rubs off if you've got a more active job (trades), though. I also broke the clips on mine.
Second this as an alternative to the Kaweco.
It looks like the M2 is a clone of the AL Sport as well, just not one of the stonewashed ones.
Hongdian Blackforest, Hongdian 6013, Pilot Metropolitan
Hongdian Black Forest - My suggestion too. They are a remarkable pen.
I’ll second this. I was so surprised by how smooth it wrote and just the overall feel of this pen. I’d highly recommend.
Do you have the Black Forest in black or white model? I like the white, but would be the same?
My green Forrest and my M2 are my toss in the bag pens. 👍
My battered Kaweco Al Sport Raw. The thing's a tank. In fact, the blemishes make it look better, lol
https://preview.redd.it/7dxbacbm5f6g1.jpeg?width=2688&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b093fbecb456d105fbae9e074c84556760f819ca
Oh man, that’s nice! Maybe I just need to get another AL Sport after all…
Or Kaweco Steel Sport 🥹
It weighs like nothing, but is still solid and comfortable to write with. The ultimte EDC, IMHO
The AL Sport raw aluminum goes for north of $70.
The steel Sport starts at $1 shy of $100 and goes up.
It sounds like you're looking for something closer to $20-30, in which case I'd suggest a Pilot Metropolitan or Lamy Safari, or maybe even a Jinhao 82.
It’s not cheap, but my Lamy 2000 was my daily pen for many years. It’s been with me to labs and lectures, and I haven’t felt the need to worry about placing it in a dedicated pen sleeve when traveling.
Just curious, sounds like you were laying out the case for another AL sport. What makes that a poor candidate for your use case? Just the scratches? I’d argue that the scratches give nice character , and are most likely to easily absorb the scratches without concern.
Barring all that, something like a pilot metro or plant safari comes to mind. The safari, especially, would be unaffected by rough use.
Definitely open to another AL Sport, but I enjoy trying new pens and seeing what’s out there. Thanks for the recommendations!
If you like that sport model, I’d be interested in that piston AL model. You could retire your AL to the bag and get the piston for desk use or whatever.
I have a piston. Great pen.
I wish I had asked for one for Christmas versus a sport , but it’s my first sport ever and wasn’t confident I’d like it. I sure do like the capacity and aluminum body more on the piston.
I have a brass sport, as well. You won't be disappointed either way other than capacity.
Oh! Well then I’d recommend the Brass Sport :)
this has been my favorite pen for the past several years (well, mine is the rollerball version, but still)
Oooh interesting! I’d say that the FP version is pretty darn great, and I say that with the caveat that I was wildly disappointed by the Brass Sport mechanical pencil (the feed knocks around![?!?!?]). Would be interested to know how the rollerball holds up to the FP.
Hongdian M2. Metal, pocked sized, nicely made, good nib.
The titanium asvines or almost anything gravitas could prob do the trick
also anything ultem, that's supposed to be very strong too
karas does edc for fp and non-fp, schon i think?
https://preview.redd.it/l2wzwkztag6g1.jpeg?width=2001&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=79ce79ef67a5eb68a1cde0b91c29f649c1ad2ba4
Ooh I've never had my converter pop loose (knocks on all the wood in a 100ft radius) but this is a great idea!!! Imma do this with all my pens! 😂
i dropped this pen perfectly down from like 8 inches out of my hand to the top of the desk and i heard it pop. i also have a lot of promo clicky pens for my work so it was solved very quickly.
Namisu has really nice titanium pocket pens, I have their Nova Pocket in the beadblasted finish and it hides scratches pretty well!
Second the Nova Pocket
Kaweco Liliput in any of the finishes if you don't mind scratches showing.
Lamy Al Stars are also aluminum.
And if you get a good Twsbi ECO, those can be work horses.
I love my liliput. I carry it every day in my pocket. Apparently it's controversial because you have to post it for it to be comfortable but I don't mind that because it's light and compact.
TWSBI Ecos are great pens for many reasons... but durability doesn't top the list in my mind. Maybe I'm biased because I had to buy a $5 replacement grip section even though mine never left my desk at home.
I love my AL Sport (which looks pristine compared to the OP's) and my recently-acquired PGS. I'd suggest a Decimo (all metal, nib retracts, slim like the PGS....) to the OP or just getting a simple pen sleeve and taking the PGS on the road.
haha, oh man I know others have had issue which is why I said if they get a "good" one without issues. I got a indigo bronze one several years ago, and it's always in my cheapo pencil case, nary an issue. It's my pack it and forget it pen. But honestly, if you have other high ink capacity pens you'd just throw into a regular pencil case, lemme know!
I love my brass Liliput, I’ve had it 9 years and it only looks better with age and writes as well as the first day I bought it
If you are open to something more vintage, I can recommend a Parker 25. It doesn't break the bank, is a nice writer and built like a tank, plus I really like the design.
I would also suggest the Parker 45 specifically the flighter model - like the 25 its an all metal pen, and built like a tank. I also really like the desgin and it got a semi hooded nib!
I use a Lamy AL-Star
Hongdian Black Forest for something slimmer and more traditionally-sized.
Pocket pens: Gravitas Pocket or Quark, Namisu N2 or Nova or Ixion, Makar (custom pens).
Honestly, the Al Sport fills the void of a highly durable pocket pen that won’t break the bank. So German.
Lamy Studio in brushed stainless steel. I bought mine secondhand as well, so I don't worry so much about beating it up, but it can handle anything you throw at it. The brushed finish helps hide scratches and dings. The stainless steel is also one of the only versions that comes with a rubberized grip rather than the shiny, slippery chrome. The cap seal is also better than that of the Safari/Al-Star.
I also love the AL Sport and the fact they can take a beating. Frequent dropper of pens here! I just bought a Platinum Plaisir to try out since they are inexpensive and I can easy swap the nibs between the Preppy and the Plaisir. The Preppy will always remain my ride-or-die pen no matter how many more expensive pens I buy and an aluminum Preppy seemed like a great investment! Did I mention how often I drop my pens? 😅
Y-Studio make fantastic pens!
Seconding this- I have 2 YStudio Classics and they're brass pens that are weighty and durable. No clip though and the cap doesn't post.
Delike Brass pen. I switched the nib for a hongdian and put in a lamy cartridge for larger ink capacity. Super nice
My Jinhao x750 can take a beating and hold up no problem. It's got a bit of weight to it as well, which is nice.
Little pricy, but honestly the makrolon the Lamy 2000 is made of is fantastic when it comes to wear - I have tossed mine in my pocket/bag and it still looks like new.
The two pens that come with me to my construction job are a diplomat aero and a lamy 2000. They both write great, take a beating and are reasonably priced unless the prices sky rocketed since I bought them. Definitely not the cheapest options but they aren't $500+ or rare so I don't mind if they get a bit dinged up.
Platinum Procyon?
This is my daily driver pen and I absolutely can second this.
Mine lives in the pen loop in my backpack, when it makes it there. Otherwise it is at the bottom of the bag if I am in a hurry. It has been dropped more than a few times and is holding up remarkably well.
This was my first ‘real’ pen after a Jinhao 9019. It still makes it into the rotation which has been heavily taken over by a Pilot Custom 912. It can definitely take a beating and is just consistent.
Those Platinum nibs are some genuine work horses. Super consistent and never leak.
AL Sport is the reigning champion of compact Not-Too-Nice, though the Asvine J-16 is pretty great for just throwing in a bag if you don’t mind something larger.
Hongdian N23 Year of the Rabbit
Lamy Safari is a great throw around pen
I have a pair of Hongdian M2’s… Very similar to your pen here. Both have been great, reliable writers for me. I have been knocking around in the front of my messenger bag for months. I can even carry them in my measly excuse for (girl) pockets without them falling out because they are short. And the little springy clip on them as nice.
Mine are both the aluminum versions, but they also come in brass. My aluminum ones are holding up beautifully though, and our weighted nicely for my liking.
Pilot MUJI is also a great metal pen that can be knocked around. Also aluminum like the H-M2. Has a snap cap…. Which is decently secure. Mine does not fail me ever. If you don’t want to deal with refilling cartridges, a Schmidt universal converter will fit this pen!
I also really like my Kaco Edge. Secure friction fit cap. It’s not metal though, it’s Makrolon. It has an aluminum “clip” that’s not really a clip. It’s more of a little roll-stopper. You cannot actually clip it to anything. Has a great seal also… And does fantastic knocking around.
My Travelers Company FP went through the washer and didn't leak so I'm a big fan.
Traveler company fountain pen
I “had” a KAWECO Liliput in brass I got second hand but have lost it somewhere in the house. If I never see it again I doubt I’ll get another that small but will likely get a brass sport to replace. Just fell in love with the patina 💗
I have a Kaweco Supra and it's just like a bigger lilliput. Its also nice cuz you can take a section out to make it significantly shorter. I really love it and I don't think they get enough love :)
All-metal pens with no coating are the best and almost bullet-proof. If you like the Kaweco Al Sport, the other metal versions are even better, although heavier. Love the bronze and steel Sports, and looking forward to get the Titan one, that is lighter but also very tough.
Liliputs are very nice too, and Supras are a compromise between the two. Love my Copper Liliput and it's perfect for fidgeting, and almost indestructible. The only bad part is that both Sports and Liliputs use small converters/cartridges. Only the Supra, that also has a bigger sized nib, could use bigger solutions (if extended, not in the compact form).
Traveler's Company Brass Fountain Pen. Patinas so it looks cool. Mine fell 5 stories through a stairwell and it only dislocated nib and feed, completely fine otherwise aside from a small dent. The thing is invincible and it has a nice form factor imo. I'm also an AL Sport fan and think you might like it.
Safari
I've heard hongdian M2 are similar to kaweco. I love my Kaweco. I have a lamy safari and a kakuno and both of those I kinda toss around and haven't gotten any leaks or issues, but I could just be lucky. I'd like to get that hongdian in brass to see how it would look with a patina
Kaweco Supra and Liliput are both nice. I like the full size nib on the Supra and the ability to convert it into a full size pen. Also a Schon pocket six may be a good idea.
Kaweco Brass sport.
Legend says that if it got thrown under a car, we'd be paying for a new car and not a new pen
love my kaweco brass
Kaweco brass?
I love my brass kaweco al sport! Really ages nice without any polish too!
I have the brass version of that pen and it’s fantastic - built like a tank.
I have no suggestions. I just want to say the patina on your pen is beautiful.
I just got myself a Platinum Plaisir for this exact reason. I got Nova Orange and it’s a super nice color. The color got to me without thinking if it’ll scratch so I guess I’ll see how it looks after EDC carry. I feel the black one would be better for EDC. JetPens has the black for $16.50 exc. taxes and shipping.
Rotring 600 is a very robust pen, but perhaps a bit on the expensive side for bag tossing.
I’m a fan of the Scriveiner Classic, the silver finish shows wear but still feels smooth
Anything by Karas.
For Chinese pens, wing sung 601. Parker clone classic, and best clone on the market, even better than the "new" 51s. Plus ink window if you want.
I mean I EDC 1-2 Safaris daily between my pockets, my daypack, backpack, or travel bags every day and they hold up just fine.
Sounds to me though like you made an excellent argument for a Kaweco Sport in Brass.
You like the patina but not that it shows the scratches and you already know that you'll like the way it writes.
My vote goes to the Lamy Safari (esp the matte versions which don't show scratches) or a Pilot Kakuno (easily replaced, high quality nib for price and excellent QC)
Mine is a Pilot Metro, I have three of them, one fine, a medium, and a stub. It’s got a bit of weight to it (I don’t like light/plastic pens) and like your AL sport, if’s a metal bodied pen. It’s not a pocket pen, but you can’t go wrong with a Pilot pen — the nibs are just super reliable and it never hard starts on me. Check it out!
Twisbi isn’t super durable but I find it to be the most premium experience for the price point.
What about getting a pen case?
A Gravitas pocket could do the trick, they are amazing pens, and they are available in many different materials (from carbon fiber to aluminium, brass, copper and titanium, or ultem and zirconium)… they are built like tanks. I have a Dinkey (smaller than the Pocket) in Tungsten, and man is this a solid pen (when carried, it literally lives in my jeans pocket, next to probably a knife)! The Pocket can make use of the Kaweco mini converter (the foldable one is ideal) or standard cartridges. Some are eyedropper capable too.
It's not even metal, but out of my collection I'd be hard-pressed to find a more reliable pen than my good 'ol TWSBI Eco. If we're talking about just 'throw this into my purse while it jangles around with all the other stuff in there', the Eco will get the job done beautifully.
I really like my Hongdian M2. Brass, so it feels weighty and nice. But I drag it around work and so far it’s handling the daily grind like a champ
The Pineider Avatar in Ultra Resin is my "almost" impossible to break pen. It fell off the table multiple times, got ejected from my backpack onto hard concrete and even fell off my back pocket as I was chasing a bus.
It is no longer looking as pristine, and I had to replace the nib once from Pineider, but that aside, the pen is still writing very well.
I got into collecting steel body pocket pens from the 70s for similar reasons - I can throw them in my pocket or bag and not worry about damage.
Out of the collection I've ended up amassing, my favorite to use is a Platinum pocket with a soft fine nib. The flex in the nib makes it a joy to write with. I have others from Sailor and Pilot (and others from Platinum - including a couple with platinum alloy nibs), but this is the one I treat as a beater that gets inked more often than the others.
https://imgur.com/a/OjGFcAl
Lamy safari, kaweco sport (plastic) or perkeo, moonman c1, any jinhao, pilot kakuno
I'm really curious as to why someone downvoted you
sailor 1911, but I dont let it stay with scratchy items in a bag xD, and secondary , the budget is depending of all persons. I got only 1 pen for 100euros. And Idk it is expensive or not. For my - t was a little expensive, but I did it and Im happy with my first pen, I recommend it highly.
My Kaweco Steel Sport! It feels better machined than other sports.
Id say the brass version of that as it looks better with age
Another vote for the Kaweco brass! I put a vintage 14k flex nib in mine and I never worry about it because brass is strong :) It is never not in my pocket or my hand.
I have a raw AL sport with a black fine nib and it’s so scratched up, I love it! Not only do I not feel bad about getting it scratched, the more it gets scratched up, the more I like it! I also have the brass and stainless steel sports (also several other AL Sports) but the raw AL is my go to edc pen. I’ve taken it backpacking, it’s lightweight and reasonably crush proof, plus cartridge only makes it very easy to just throw a few carriages in my bag and never have to worry about running out of ink.
I think you already have the perfect knock around pen. Maybe the brass or stainless if you want a heavier pen. I also really like the Travelers Brass pen. Similar vibe to the Kaweco AL Sport, but brass. Not as heavy as the Kaweco Brass Sport, it’s also a snap cap/push to post and has a clip (better than the Kaweco clips which I’m not a fan of them moving around).
The Al sport is my fave for this, but I also frequently carry in a random pocket: - Parker jotter (all steel, with its BP buddy) - yongsheng 601 flighter - Kaweco sports and liliputs
If I’ve got it in a side pocket of my handbag (so relatively safe): - pilot prera - moonman m800
Didn’t this AL-Sport come looking like this brand new? I have a denim colored one that looks just like this pen. It was called stonewashed.
If you like the character of the kaweco AL-sport, I recommend the Lamy AL Star. Same concept, different pen shape. (Also, you can always swap the nibs, and, bonus, even swap out for a gold nib)
For durability, I also really like the Lamy 2000 - it’s just a quiet, unassuming pen that delivers a wonderful experience.
Id also throw the diplomat viper and/or aero in there as well.
Pilot Capless Matte Black is the perfect subject for your project.
It is my EDC, my work pen. Lacquer of some sort over a brass body. <F> nib, I use Writer's Blood.
I'd rate it as pretty nice, though. A little higher than not-too-nice, I'll admit.
But make no mistake, it's a great writing instrument, too.
twsbi twsbi twsbi