Hi Chris. I was really surprised by this review. That pen looks beautiful. I have 7 or so other Narwhal pens none as attractive as that one. I have had problems with skipping, hard starts, and a broken piston turning knob. I'm really glad you are happy with yours but I think I'd rather look into that last pen you showed a sneak peek of. Thanks for keeping the fountain pen fire burning.
I have one Narwhal. As Chris I choosed a broad nib, because I'm big fan of colorful inks. My nib is smooth as butter. In the beginning I was even against it because of it's crazy smoothness from the getgo! I left it for two or three months in the shelf. Now i truly enjoy it with shiny inks. I find this black edition as very well designed 😍
@@Zmiana_Pogody Smooth means nothing on a nib. Eighty percent of smooth nibs are that way only because they are over polished, and are right on the edge of baby's bottom. People want ultra smooth nibs only because RUclips says they should want them, but the truth is that an ultra smooth nib is made that way only because most people know nothing about fountain pens, and this includes a few hundred pseudo-experts on RUclips who never even saw a fountain pen until they watched a RUclips video. The good news is that very, very few fountain pen owners actually use a single fountain pen enough to know how horribly bad it really is. Even an over polished nib will last for years, if you rarely use it. It's like cheap Chinese pens. They look great, nut the nibs, tipping and all, are made from very low grade stainless steel, and the claim of the nibs being "iridium" is a complete lie. The "resin" is just cheap plastic, and they're really just toys made to look like real pens, but people buy them by the thousands because they just don't know any better. I feel the same way about Narwalh pens. There's really nothing to them. It's cheap material made to look pretty. I'm not sure the ebonite is at all high quality, either. It smells like that extremely low grade "ebonite" that's made in China, and exported to India.
James, more negativity. If you continue I will need to block you. Your comments are just negative, You do not understand any of these pens or the materials they are made from. You do not speak from experience. You are one of those pseudo-experts.
@@jamesaritchie1 actually, buttery smooth and over-polished are very different. An over-polished nib with baby's bottom won't write well. It will be skippy and tend to railroad. Some people enjoy some feedback, others buttery smoothness, some like me enjoy both depending on the pen/nib. A buttery smooth nib, just like any well-tuned nib, will lay down a line of ink with no pressure. An over-polished nib will not do that. You really do have a lot to say with no real understanding or knowledge backing it up.
Thanks for the review. I have the bronze version which I am very happy with and interested in what others think. This is the most interesting 'Chinese Pen' I have seen and I was attracted by the classic look and materials and the retro steampunk aesthetic. The markup on fountain pens is always astronomic but given the quality of the design and build I think the price is reasonable. An established, so called, luxury brand would charge ten times the price.
Man, you had me worried! Last pen of 2021 with six weeks left? I nearly thought I was all alone! Thankfully, you came through! Looking forward to all the reviews, as always.
Thank you Chris. I bought a Narwhal Nautilus Cephalod after seeing your review. Very impressive design.Mine is a medium nib and writes excellent. I think the pen was inspired by one of my favorite novels by Jules Verne: "Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Seas" The submarine name Nautilus and the Narwals that were mentioned in the novel as well as the port holes in the submarine and the deep sea diving suits there. Interesting that mine does not have a strong smell. Cheers!
Great review of the pen and ink, may have to consider one of these pens. Can't wait for your review of the N1S. Ordered a T5 last week to see what the size and shape and material are like, after an extended excursion into eyedroppers and vintage, . It's going to be fun writing with piston fillers again.
Another great review. As usual, all the retailers including Truphae are out of stock in this great fountain pen. I will need to wait until Narwhal manufactures more, as this pen sells out quickly. I am on an Email list for this pen and the bronze variation from several retailers once they get a shipment. I did manage to get in on one Nautilus; it was a very limited run of only 85 pens from Dromgoole's in Houston. It is a Nautilus in Seaweed Green, a very dark green, like seaweed, with some subdued vertical black streaks. I bought No. 50/85 and I am glad I didn't wait as it sold out completely in hours. I am completely happy with the pen. I went about 3-4 weeks without writing with it and it started up writing right away, no dry nib. I do love the Narwhal in-house nibs.
Looking forward to those new reviews Chris!, any chances we could see you with the new Moonman A1 in the future? It looks like a better approach to the Pilot VP than the one Lanbitou did with the Curidas.
Hi Chris, I missed all the Nautilus supplies from Dromgoole’s-and was OK with that UNTIL I saw your review-gosh darn now I want one! I just pre-ordered one from Cult Pens and they are supposedly to ship in December. Got that bronze one with the broad nib. What I really wanted to know was WHAT WAS THE OTHER 10? Thanks for keeping us going to the end of 2021-looking forward to the rest of your reviews!
@@jacobus57 I know but everywhere I have looked it has been sold out. I found one place that I could pre-order it in Italy, of all places for a US based pen.
Another great review of a very tempting pen Who would pass on a smelly but 10.0 cr52. rated pen, hihi And then on top 2 more hints on beautiful newcomers I decided also to slow down on purchases, but one of those may become my 2022 pen. My 2021 is a yongsheng/wingsung 928 with gold nib from bobby Friendly regards
HOLA Chrispa 52. oaooooohhhhh. Ese provoca ganas de retornar a la compra de estilográficas. He estado en una terapia de control de compras, ya que he llegado a pensar que tengo ya suficientes plumas como para saber que tengo algunas de ellas que no volveré a usar en lo que me resta de vida. Pero esta realmente me parece que vale la pena hacer una excepción. Cordial saludo desde Medellín, Colombia.
HOLA Luis. Saludos cordiales desde Nueva Jersey. Admiro tu control. Tengo muchos más bolígrafos de los que nadie podría usar. Pero adquiero más. Algo que hago. Mantente seguro y saludable.
@@chrisrap52 I know the feeling. Recently ordered one of the newer versions of Hero 100, with convertor, not the vacumatic version, in all metal, which is coming in December, and I might succumb to something else before the end of the year. Those T4s you previewed look mighty tempting. And we all know what Oscar Wilde said.
@@chrisrap52 I was thinking Ranga, but the shipping from India is so long right now, and I missed the group buy. Might want till the next one. And the Bronze Nautilus looks great, especially with those ink window portholes.
I have pen envy. This was a pen I was waiting for but missed out on. I met the Narwhal team at the SFPenShow in late August and was informed of this new pen. However, this pen sold out sooooo quickly. The demand sure exceeds the demand. I hope they keep up the good work and hopefully make more ebonite pens so that I can acquire one.
@@martinlebl631 Well, "ebonite", maybe, but if so, it's very low grade. Why not save your money and buy a pen that isn't just a cheap toy made to look like the real thing?
James, do you have one of these pens? You are just being negative, making unfounded statements based on no facts, What pens do you own? Please do a video & show us what a "Quality" pen is.
@@chrisrap52 Value, no. Silly, yes. As much as I detest cheap Chinese pens, even a Jinhao is a better deal, a better pen, and uses better materials than Narwhal. "Ebonite" does not mean quality, anymore than "resin" means high quality. With Chinese pens, the cheapest plastic is called "resin" to fool suckers, and "ebonite" comes in all sorts of quality levels. I don't where Narwhal gets the ebonite for these feeds, but it smells just like the very low quality "ebonite" that's made in China, and exported to India. This is a five dollar pen that sells for a ridiculous amount of money solely because of the hype, and the "ebonite" feed. It's one hundred percent media blindness, and zero percent pen quality. This fountain pen craze has been going on for twenty years now, and people still don't understand than a very smooth nib probably means an over-polished nib that is already nearly worn out whgen you buy it, that "ebonite" does not automatically mean quality, and that Chinese may be pretty, but that even the best of them are really Chinese toys, not real pens for adults. They're made of very low grade plastic, even lower grade stainless steel, have tipping that is nearly worthless, and when one comes with an ebonite feed, you have n clue what you're getting. Chinese ebonite is nothing at all like western ebonite, just as Chinese "brass" has nothing in common with western brass.
No need to bash what you do not understand. Please keep you comments to your good experiences. No need to rant, no one needs to hear that. If you want to comment on my videos, no more rants, thanks.
Hi Chris. I was really surprised by this review. That pen looks beautiful. I have 7 or so other Narwhal pens none as attractive as that one. I have had problems with skipping, hard starts, and a broken piston turning knob. I'm really glad you are happy with yours but I think I'd rather look into that last pen you showed a sneak peek of. Thanks for keeping the fountain pen fire burning.
I have one Narwhal. As Chris I choosed a broad nib, because I'm big fan of colorful inks. My nib is smooth as butter. In the beginning I was even against it because of it's crazy smoothness from the getgo! I left it for two or three months in the shelf. Now i truly enjoy it with shiny inks.
I find this black edition as very well designed 😍
@@Zmiana_Pogody I'm glad you are enjoying it. When I get more than one pen, I like to change the nib sizes so I can try all the options.
@@Zmiana_Pogody Smooth means nothing on a nib. Eighty percent of smooth nibs are that way only because they are over polished, and are right on the edge of baby's bottom. People want ultra smooth nibs only because RUclips says they should want them, but the truth is that an ultra smooth nib is made that way only because most people know nothing about fountain pens, and this includes a few hundred pseudo-experts on RUclips who never even saw a fountain pen until they watched a RUclips video.
The good news is that very, very few fountain pen owners actually use a single fountain pen enough to know how horribly bad it really is. Even an over polished nib will last for years, if you rarely use it. It's like cheap Chinese pens. They look great, nut the nibs, tipping and all, are made from very low grade stainless steel, and the claim of the nibs being "iridium" is a complete lie. The "resin" is just cheap plastic, and they're really just toys made to look like real pens, but people buy them by the thousands because they just don't know any better.
I feel the same way about Narwalh pens. There's really nothing to them. It's cheap material made to look pretty. I'm not sure the ebonite is at all high quality, either. It smells like that extremely low grade "ebonite" that's made in China, and exported to India.
James, more negativity. If you continue I will need to block you. Your comments are just negative, You do not understand any of these pens or the materials they are made from. You do not speak from experience. You are one of those pseudo-experts.
@@jamesaritchie1 actually, buttery smooth and over-polished are very different. An over-polished nib with baby's bottom won't write well. It will be skippy and tend to railroad.
Some people enjoy some feedback, others buttery smoothness, some like me enjoy both depending on the pen/nib.
A buttery smooth nib, just like any well-tuned nib, will lay down a line of ink with no pressure. An over-polished nib will not do that.
You really do have a lot to say with no real understanding or knowledge backing it up.
Thanks for the review. I have the bronze version which I am very happy with and interested in what others think. This is the most interesting 'Chinese Pen' I have seen and I was attracted by the classic look and materials and the retro steampunk aesthetic. The markup on fountain pens is always astronomic but given the quality of the design and build I think the price is reasonable. An established, so called, luxury brand would charge ten times the price.
The pen is a good value. I enjoy mine on many levels. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the review, Chris. I’ve ordered one and hope I like it as much as you do! The design really is excellent.
Man, you had me worried! Last pen of 2021 with six weeks left? I nearly thought I was all alone! Thankfully, you came through! Looking forward to all the reviews, as always.
There will be more in 2021! Thanks for wastching.
Thank you Chris. I bought a Narwhal Nautilus Cephalod after seeing your review. Very impressive design.Mine is a medium nib and writes excellent. I think the pen was inspired by one of my favorite novels by Jules Verne: "Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Seas" The submarine name Nautilus and the Narwals that were mentioned in the novel as well as the port holes in the submarine and the deep sea diving suits there. Interesting that mine does not have a strong smell. Cheers!
Totally agree. Glad you enjoy the pen. Mine has been in constant use. Recently flossed nib to improve the ink flow, writes even better.
Great review of the pen and ink, may have to consider one of these pens. Can't wait for your review of the N1S. Ordered a T5 last week to see what the size and shape and material are like, after an extended excursion into eyedroppers and vintage, . It's going to be fun writing with piston fillers again.
AliExpress just advised my T5 shipment is delayed. Could be delivered in 2022. I enjoy some modern pens.
Great review, as usual. And, a very handsome pen! Be well, stay safe, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks, you too!
Another great review. As usual, all the retailers including Truphae are out of stock in this great fountain pen. I will need to wait until Narwhal manufactures more, as this pen sells out quickly. I am on an Email list for this pen and the bronze variation from several retailers once they get a shipment. I did manage to get in on one Nautilus; it was a very limited run of only 85 pens from Dromgoole's in Houston. It is a Nautilus in Seaweed Green, a very dark green, like seaweed, with some subdued vertical black streaks. I bought No. 50/85 and I am glad I didn't wait as it sold out completely in hours. I am completely happy with the pen. I went about 3-4 weeks without writing with it and it started up writing right away, no dry nib. I do love the Narwhal in-house nibs.
Looking forward to those new reviews Chris!, any chances we could see you with the new Moonman A1 in the future? It looks like a better approach to the Pilot VP than the one Lanbitou did with the Curidas.
Haven't seen an A1. Who is selling it? I'm not a fan of retractable nibs. May not get an A1.
Hi Chris, I missed all the Nautilus supplies from Dromgoole’s-and was OK with that UNTIL I saw your review-gosh darn now I want one! I just pre-ordered one from Cult Pens and they are supposedly to ship in December. Got that bronze one with the broad nib.
What I really wanted to know was WHAT WAS THE OTHER 10?
Thanks for keeping us going to the end of 2021-looking forward to the rest of your reviews!
PenBBS 487. ruclips.net/video/xIJew4QZu8I/видео.html The Nautilus is better.
That's a real beauty.
I ordered the bronze version. Still waiting for it. Hope to get it and not get a refund or get an alternative. This has been a very popular model.
I really hope you get it, but I wouldn't hold my breath 😔
@@jacobus57 I know but everywhere I have looked it has been sold out. I found one place that I could pre-order it in Italy, of all places for a US based pen.
@@paulmchugh1430 stilo e stile? I got mine from them and it arrived two days ago :)
Pens are made in China.
I know but US based company in California, I believe.
Another great review of a very tempting pen
Who would pass on a smelly but 10.0 cr52. rated pen, hihi
And then on top 2 more hints on beautiful newcomers
I decided also to slow down on purchases, but one of those may become my 2022 pen.
My 2021 is a yongsheng/wingsung 928 with gold nib from bobby
Friendly regards
Nice buy. Bobby has many new nice pens. Let us know how you like the 928. Stay safe & healthy.
HOLA Chrispa 52. oaooooohhhhh. Ese provoca ganas de retornar a la compra de estilográficas. He estado en una terapia de control de compras, ya que he llegado a pensar que tengo ya suficientes plumas como para saber que tengo algunas de ellas que no volveré a usar en lo que me resta de vida. Pero esta realmente me parece que vale la pena hacer una excepción. Cordial saludo desde Medellín, Colombia.
HOLA Luis.
Saludos cordiales desde Nueva Jersey. Admiro tu control. Tengo muchos más bolígrafos de los que nadie podría usar. Pero adquiero más. Algo que hago. Mantente seguro y saludable.
Always interesting. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
For the price, the fittings look a tad cheap. Is that cheap, faux metal material that flakes easy?
Looks can be deceiving. No faux metal. The metal bits are brass with a durable coating. I expect it to last a long time.
With six weeks left I am betting another pen or two will squeeze in before the ball drops on New Year's.
I will resist. Resistance is futile.......
@@chrisrap52 I know the feeling. Recently ordered one of the newer versions of Hero 100, with convertor, not the vacumatic version, in all metal, which is coming in December, and I might succumb to something else before the end of the year. Those T4s you previewed look mighty tempting. And we all know what Oscar Wilde said.
@@chrisrap52 I was thinking Ranga, but the shipping from India is so long right now, and I missed the group buy. Might want till the next one. And the Bronze Nautilus looks great, especially with those ink window portholes.
I have pen envy. This was a pen I was waiting for but missed out on. I met the Narwhal team at the SFPenShow in late August and was informed of this new pen. However, this pen sold out sooooo quickly. The demand sure exceeds the demand. I hope they keep up the good work and hopefully make more ebonite pens so that I can acquire one.
I don’t think this is a limited edition, there’s more of them coming
I was tempted by their previous models, but now that they have one in ebonite it seems like a near certainty at some point.
@@lucadanna6588 good to know!
@@martinlebl631 Well, "ebonite", maybe, but if so, it's very low grade. Why not save your money and buy a pen that isn't just a cheap toy made to look like the real thing?
James, do you have one of these pens? You are just being negative, making unfounded statements based on no facts, What pens do you own? Please do a video & show us what a "Quality" pen is.
Happy Thanksgiving
Same to you!
Maybe you will be at the FPH show in December.
I am planning to be there Friday, Probably around noon. We could meet up?
@@chrisrap52 I can change the date. I was going to be there on Thursday. Friday works.
I can be there Thursday. Previous Expos, they set up later on fist day. I would plan to be there at 1:00. Work for you?
@@chrisrap52 I will be there at 1:00. See you Thursday.
Roger...
😃
If that pen is a 10.0, what does that make a Namiki Maki-e? Or is it just a 10.0 when compared to other steel nib pens?
It is a 10.0 for me. I may not give a Namiki Maki-e at 10. Not a fan of that pen.
You pay €100, out of the €120 price, for the silly name of this pen. The boxes probably cost another €10.
Silly not. Value yes.
@@chrisrap52 Value, no. Silly, yes. As much as I detest cheap Chinese pens, even a Jinhao is a better deal, a better pen, and uses better materials than Narwhal. "Ebonite" does not mean quality, anymore than "resin" means high quality. With Chinese pens, the cheapest plastic is called "resin" to fool suckers, and "ebonite" comes in all sorts of quality levels. I don't where Narwhal gets the ebonite for these feeds, but it smells just like the very low quality "ebonite" that's made in China, and exported to India. This is a five dollar pen that sells for a ridiculous amount of money solely because of the hype, and the "ebonite" feed. It's one hundred percent media blindness, and zero percent pen quality.
This fountain pen craze has been going on for twenty years now, and people still don't understand than a very smooth nib probably means an over-polished nib that is already nearly worn out whgen you buy it, that "ebonite" does not automatically mean quality, and that Chinese may be pretty, but that even the best of them are really Chinese toys, not real pens for adults. They're made of very low grade plastic, even lower grade stainless steel, have tipping that is nearly worthless, and when one comes with an ebonite feed, you have n clue what you're getting.
Chinese ebonite is nothing at all like western ebonite, just as Chinese "brass" has nothing in common with western brass.
No need to bash what you do not understand. Please keep you comments to your good experiences. No need to rant, no one needs to hear that. If you want to comment on my videos, no more rants, thanks.
A plastic feed on an ebonite pen seems like a missed opportunity.
It's not the material of the feed but the function of the feed & this feed works great.
@@chrisrap52 exactly. All one has to do is look at some truly great pens with ABS feeds, and some super dogs with ebonite feeds.
Stop Swallowing spit in the mic 🤯
Thanks, hadn't thought of that. Meanwhile I suggest selective hearing,