Sunderland mk1 - An Exceptionally Crafted Pen (Sponsor)

Since the launch of the Sunderland mk1 Kickstarter project a few weeks ago, project creator Brad Sunderland has done exactly what you would hope from someone you are putting your hard earned dollars behind: He has listened, communicated, and adjusted on the fly.

The mk1 met its funding goal early on, but Brad wasn't content to rest on his laurels. Listening to backer feedback, he has tweaked the cap design to include a polymer liner in an effort to make cap retention and barrel scratches an afterthought. Having used a prototype of the mk1 for the past couple of weeks (see my full thoughts below), I can tell you that he nailed it. It's a great change to an already excellent design and shows the commitment Brad has in making the Sunderland mk1 a wonderful writing instrument.

There are only four days left to back the Sunderland mk1 on Kickstarter. Do it now.

The Pen Addict Review of the Sunderland mk1

I knew the moment I opened the package that Brad Sunderland had a winner on his hands. I've reviewed many machined pens in my day and the Sunderland mk1 ranks up there with the best. I've had this prototype in my hands for a couple of weeks now and there are several things that set it apart from the rest of the crowd.

First of all, the weight of the pen is lighter than most machined pens I've tried. Aluminum is a lighter metal to begin with, but when making a full barrel out of it you can end up with a pen with some weight behind it. The Sunderland mk1 is just the right weight, and most importantly, extremely well balanced to write with. It reminds me a lot of the Maxmadco bolt action pen in look, feel, and finish, minus the bolt. The tolerances are tight, the lines are smooth and clean, and it feels like quality.

Secondly, you can post the cap without throwing off the balance of the pen. Not many metal pen manufacturers can make that claim. Brad managed that by adding a slight taper on the rear of the barrel so the cap can post deeply. Additionally, the cap has a polymer liner to keep the barrel scratch free and stops the nails on chalkboard sound of metal on metal posting and twisting.

Finally, the most interesting feature of this pen is the hidden thread design Brad created, which keeps your fingers from hitting them while writing. This is big deal for metal pens and is exceptionally well executed on the mk1. It’s not short threaded either, meaning it will take several turns to remove the cap, which is nice for pocket carry and prevents any looseness.

If it sounds like I am fawning over this pen it’s becasue I pretty much am. And I haven’t even mentioned the strong stainless steel clip and top notch black finish of the pen. I loaded it up with an 0.38 mm blue black Pilot Juice refill (it takes Pilot G2 refills as well as Montblanc fineliner and rollerball refills - another great feature) and have rarely left the house without it.

My thanks to Brad Sunderland for sending me this prototype to test out, and I look forward to receiving my backer reward from this project once it wraps up.

Sunderland mk1 - An Exceptionally Crafted Pen (Sponsor)

The Sunderland mk1 brings several unique design elements to its recent launch on Kickstarter. Designer and machinist Brad Sunderland has created a patent pending thread-on cap where the threads are hidden in the tip of the pen, unexposed to the user. This gives the pen a cleaner look and the added comfort of no threading to interfere with your grip.

Brad also machines his own pen clips from 17-4 stainless steel, as opposed to stamped clips found on many other metal pens. This serves to make the clip stronger and more durable. The flute down the center helps tune the stiffness of the clip in addition to adding visual appeal.

The mk1 comes in three finishes - Electroless Nickel, Anodized Clear, and Anodized Black - and uses both Montblanc Rollerball/Fineliner and Pilot G2 compatible refills. Yes, this means it fits the amazing Pilot Juice refill as well.

The Early Bird reward level for the Sunderland mk1 starts at just $65, with the regular price set at $75 and up for single pens, and a price break for multiple pens. Head over to the Kickstarter project page, watch the wonderful project video, and back the mk1 today!

The Work/Play Limited Edition By Baron Fig (Sponsor)

We are big fans of Baron Fig notebooks around these parts, and their latest release is poised to be their best one yet.

The Work/Play Limited Edition is designed with balance in mind. Every spread has a dot grid page on the left and a blank page on the right. This is a wonderful setup and a fantastic looking notebook that is sure to sell out quickly. Click here to buy yours today !

I was able to ask Baron Fig designer Joey Cofone a few questions on how the Work/Play edition came about:

1. What was the inspiration behind the design of the Work/Play edition?

Good question! We here at Baron Fig are huge proponents of balance. The Work/Play edition came from the desire to manifest that idea in a Confidant. Most would agree that being a hard worker is a valuable quality in a person, but we need to remember that it's equally important to be good at play. This edition reminds us to do both!

2. This is a limited edition, but do you see a black cover Confidant in the standard Baron Fig lineup at some point in the future?

Do you remember the Maker edition? We released it in March to celebrate our anniversary. It had a charcoal cover---and sold out in just a couple of days. That was a solid lesson for us, and I expect the Work/Play to go out in a similar fashion. I can't answer your question directly, but just know that I'm winking at you as I type this.

3. Finally, and this is a big one, why is blank on the right and dot grid on the left, and who had the final say in the decision?

We put a lot of effort into engaging the community, whether it be via email, Facebook, Twitter, or even in person. One particular thought we heard often was, "What if you put two paper types in one book?" It took a while to figure out how that could manifest, but I think we did a great job. In my mind dot grid represents Work and blank represents Play---each spread delivers a message of balance. Hope you enjoy!

The Pen Addict Review of the Baron Fig Work/Play Edition

I've been able to test out the Work/Play edition for the last two weeks thanks to my good friends at Baron Fig. It's a great release, and my favorite so far. The black linen cover alone would have me sold, but the addition of dot grid ruling on one side of the page and blank on the other sealed the deal. Add in a limited release and a wonderful presentation and you have the makings of something great.

From a usage perspective, gel ink pens and pencils of any variety are the standout writing instruments for the Work/Play edition. Gel ink goes on smoothly and colored inks retain their vibrancy. Pencils of all types are exceptional on this paper. There is slight feedback when writing, which is what you want with graphite for the utmost control.

Fountain pens have historically been hit or miss in Baron Fig's offerings. The batch I tested this time around has done better than any I have previously, with only one nib and ink pairing feathering and bleeding. Noodler's Dromgoole Blue Steel in a Franklin-Christoph fine cursive italic nib was the culprit, but then again, this ink feathers on nearly every paper I have tested it on. Other combos - Sailor Jentle Apricot in a Sailor B nib, Pilot Blue Black in a medium cursive italic nib, Platinum black in an EF Nakaya nib - had no feathering or bleeding issues at all. Still, your mileage may vary, especially with wide nibs and wet inks.

The biggest question I had about this edition is would I actually use both sides of the page as designed? I don't know that my brain functions in a way to be able to handle it, but it is done so well it makes me want to try. There is some ghosting on the pages (seen at the top of the above image), with one sides writing able to be seen on the back side of the page, but it is manageable. If you do write on both side of the page you are likely well aware of what type of pen works best for that task. Either that, or you just embrace the situation and write away.

I don't see any reason why the Work/Play edition won't be the most successful Baron Fig limited release yet. It has a lot going for it, including a great team behind the brand. I look forward to filling this book up and keeping a keen eye on what Baron Fig has in store for us all next.