The Franklin-Christoph 40 is a rather intimidating pen.
Some pens naturally look happy, carefree. Not this one. It regards your colourful Lamys and Baoers disdainfully. It is the pen equivalent of somebody in a very neat black suit wearing a stern face expression. Clearly, it means business.
Luckily, so do I, so I am reviewing it.
No, this pen isn't brightly coloured, it doesn't have an insane, flashy design or revolutionary new shape, but it doesn't have to. Franklin-Christoph are so confident in their product that they don't hide behind any distracting features. They knew that the pen would just work so well that all these things would be completely uneccessary.
That doesn't mean that they didn't make it good-looking. The sleek, elegant shape, accentuated by the unusually long cap, exudes refinement. Clearly, the manufacturers really wanted their product to chisel the phrase 'fine writing instrument' into your brain.
It isn't completely black either, though it may appear to be at a glance. There is a brown band (that my camera refuses to show properly) above the writing that reads 'Franklin-Christoph 40' on the cap. It has black streaks and a white shimmer, which creates an effect similar to mother-of-pearl.
It has a silver coloured clip with four diamond shapes etched into it. You can unscrew the top of the cap, and remove a screw to take off the clip. Then screw the top of the cap back on and you have a clipless pen!
I prefer it with the clip on, so I skipped this step and removed the cap so I could see the nib. It is decorated by some fine lines, the Frankin-Christoph logo, and a small 'M' underneath it to represent the nib size.
Inside the pen is a simple friction-fit converter accessed by removing the barrel.
I filled it with Birmingham Pen Co. Writing Ink in Heron, and took the nib for a test drive.
I know that this is going to end up being a pen that I use regularly just because I love the nib. It isn't scratchy at all, lays down a good, consistent line, and is in general a pleasure to write with. This is exactly what you want from a good pen, or any product really - it should do its job so well that you can't resist using it.
But what is the good of of top-notch nib if the pen itself is uncomfortable to hold? Again, the manufacturers knew this, and gave both the section and barrel a simple design that I think is comfortable for 99% of writing styles. Straight and round. That is all that is needed. No fancy contouring that looks good but is a nightmare unless you grip the section in a specific position. Simplicity is often the best policy.
Due to its unusual length, the cap posts securely and adds a bit of weight to the pen. I'm quite happy to use it unposted, but perhaps those with bigger hands would appreciate the extra length and weight that posting adds.
I can't find anything to dislike about the 40. I usually try to name at least one fault with the pens I review as I feel that anyone considering a new pen (especially an expensive one) should know every little detail, including things that they may potentially dislike. There doesn't seem to be anything irritating or even mildly annoying about this one. If you choose to purchase a Franklin-Christoph 40, you'll have a trusty writing companion for life.
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