Those who have seen me post know I like the Berlin click from Liebensteiner in Germany. No U.S. supplier, that I'm aware of, so I typically order in bulk to make the shipping cost more manageable (per pen). I'd been eyeing their Munich piston filler for some time, but it is a CRAZY expensive kit. Well, I finally pulled the trigger. The only pens I tend to keep for myself are the "factory seconds" that I'm too embarrassed to sell or give away and, given that I was turning 40, I figured it was time that I made myself a nice pen for myself. So I pulled the trigger, and and turned used a piece of green cellulose acetate that I'd been saving for something special.
The pen kit is EXTREMELY well done. 100% made in Germany. A flawless brushed stainless steel finish. And a unique internal piston filling mechanism complete with circular ink windows near the nib. It comes fitted with a Schmidt stainless steel nib. I'm really happy with how it turned out and love the blank. I was told the material was made to simulate Omas arco verde. It doesn't really do that, in my view, but I like the look of this better.
I'll probably add this as an offering among the pens that I sell, but the kit is too expensive to buy and then try to sell (for me). I'm thinking I'll use the photos of the pen I made for myself and offer a completely bespoke design experience for the customer. The down payment will cover the cost of the kit, and then I'll let folks pick out the materials for the barrel, decide whether he or she wants the stainless steel piston operator at the end or one that matches the body (Liebensteiner sells a component that allows you to swap it out). Who knows if anyone will actually buy it, but I figure why not offer? I wanted the pen for myself anyway so I'm not out anything.
Anyway, this is a really great kit. Worth the cost? Hard to say. It's a big investment up front if you're going to make the pens and try to sell them. But, if you're buying a pen from the pen shop, you could spend a lot more and get a lot less. So, as a gift to myself, I think I did OK.
The pen kit is EXTREMELY well done. 100% made in Germany. A flawless brushed stainless steel finish. And a unique internal piston filling mechanism complete with circular ink windows near the nib. It comes fitted with a Schmidt stainless steel nib. I'm really happy with how it turned out and love the blank. I was told the material was made to simulate Omas arco verde. It doesn't really do that, in my view, but I like the look of this better.
I'll probably add this as an offering among the pens that I sell, but the kit is too expensive to buy and then try to sell (for me). I'm thinking I'll use the photos of the pen I made for myself and offer a completely bespoke design experience for the customer. The down payment will cover the cost of the kit, and then I'll let folks pick out the materials for the barrel, decide whether he or she wants the stainless steel piston operator at the end or one that matches the body (Liebensteiner sells a component that allows you to swap it out). Who knows if anyone will actually buy it, but I figure why not offer? I wanted the pen for myself anyway so I'm not out anything.
Anyway, this is a really great kit. Worth the cost? Hard to say. It's a big investment up front if you're going to make the pens and try to sell them. But, if you're buying a pen from the pen shop, you could spend a lot more and get a lot less. So, as a gift to myself, I think I did OK.
The end result though is hard to argue with. LOTS of nice details that make for a very professional looking finished product.