I have been raving about the Franklin-Christoph Model 40 Pocket fountain pen since I first laid eyes on the Smoke and Ice model earlier this year. It took a few months of hemming and hawing before I pulled the trigger. As I look back now I am left to wonder what took me so long.
The Model 40 Pocket it is a true pocket pen. The smooth acrylic barrel and clipless design allows the pen to slide into even the tightest jeans pocket with ease. (F-C has introduced a clipped version in three models if that is more to your liking.) It is made to be used with the cap posted, and while some may not like that, it is part of what makes this particular pen so great.
While I have been enjoying the portability of the Model 40 Pocket, the sheer beauty of the Smoke and Ice barrel has me wanting this pen with me at all times. Part of the reason it looks so cool is the ability to use it as an eyedropper filler. Short international ink cartridges work fine, but the translucency of the barrel is begging you to allow the ink to slosh around. Was I nervous about using it as an eyedropper AND carrying it in my pocket? Absolutely, but I went for it and it has worked flawlessly since day one.
The feature list doesn't end with portability and beauty. Franklin-Christoph offers something with this pen (and several other models) that no one else does: Nibs customized by nib master Mike Masuyama. F-C offers standard sized (EF, F, M, B) steel and 18k gold nibs, and for a small premium you can upgrade to a Masuyama steel or 18k gold Needlpoint, Cursive Italic (M or B), or Stub (M or B).
For my Smoke and Ice Model 40 Pocket I chose the steel medium cursive italic, or what I now refer to as nib nirvana. There is not another nib in my arsenal that I enjoy as much as this one. It is exceptionally smooth while keeping the sharp, clean lines I would expect from a cursive italic nib. You can see why I enjoy it so much in the writing sample below.
I am prone to hyperbole and use extraneous words in my writing that any high school newspaper editor would strike out immediately. But I write how I feel, regardless of it is proper technique or not. The Franklin-Christoph Model 40 Pocket is an amazing pen and an all-time favorite. I can't imagine ever not having this pen inked up.
PEN: Franklin-Christoph Model 40 Pocket
PAPER: Rhodia DotPad
