The first two years of the Orlando Pen Show have been a maker’s bonanza. For someone like myself, who is constantly on the lookout for new products - and new people to discuss those products with - the trip has been more than worthwhile. The 2023 version of the show provided ample opportunities, and this review is one of several that came as a result.
In what was only his second pen show, Bart, the maker behind Zodiac Pens, made a clear name for himself. Choosing materials from other makers, and turning those blanks into his namesake shapes, I was impressed with what I saw. Everything on display was so good it was difficult to pick one out. So I didn’t - at least at the time.
But Bart’s work made an impression on me, and I must have made an impression on him, as I picked up the same pen over and over again from his display. He reached out to me a few days after the show to see if I would be interested in reviewing one of his pens. Of course, I said yes, and happened to ask “You know that one I kept picking up? Do you still have that one around by chance?” Somehow, he did, knowing the exact one I was referring to. The Aries Model in Carolina Pen Co. Stormy Koi was soon on its way.
As I’ve spoken about before, there are a combination of factors that make me choose a pen from a small maker such as Zodiac pens. Materials are usually what gets me to stop and investigate at first. Is there something unique on the table worth a glance? And I don’t necessarily mean swirly, sparkly acrylic. I like those as much as the next person, but it could be flat black ebonite for all I care, as long as it is compelling in some way.
That’s where barrel shape comes in. Generally speaking, the more basic, the better. I’m looking for a proper hand fit, focusing on size, weight, balance, and grip style. From there, I’m looking at fit and finish of the pen. Is it polished evenly? Are the threads cut well? Things of that nature.
Many of the boxes were checked at the Zodiac table, so how did the Aries in Stormy Koi stand out? The shape is simple, with straight lines throughout the barrel until reaching the ends, which taper slightly into a flat finish. The overall size and weight fall perfectly in the middle, and the concave section fits my grip well. Add in the oddity that is the Stormy Koi material - featuring a solid grey acrylic swirled thought translucent blues - the end result stood above the rest for my personal tastes.
Fitted with a Steel Jowo #6 Extra Fine nib and inked with Papier Plume Oyster Grey, this has been a pen I’ve been actively using over the past couple of months, and enjoying every minute of it. Big thanks to Bart for sending me my first Zodiac Pen. It certainly won’t be my last.
Be sure to check out all of what Zodiac Pen Company has to offer on their site, with many different barrel shapes and materials, starting at $160.00. You can also follow them on Instagram @zodiacpencompany, and hopefully at a pen show near you soon.
(Zodiac Pen Company provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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