Fountain Pen: Shibui North Dragonfly
- whimsicaleccentric
- Dec 3, 2024
- 2 min read
VISUAL
Shibui North turns out some amazing pens. This is one of their 'Dragonfly' models, which features a smoothly sloping large torpedo-shaped silhouette with flattened finials. This shop does some amazing work with ceramic coating and engraving.
This pen is a Black Cherry color and is adorned with a stylized engraving of a cat that spans most of the length of the pen. The cat is a medium gray color that stands out much more in person than I can ever capture on camera. I'm also highly impressed by the cap threads - the cat design is the only way this pen aligns, so I don't have to fight to find the 'correct' orientation to put the cap on.
The section and nib are also cat-tastic, with a really cute repeating pattern of kitties. The section has a gray and maroon pattern, and the nib is a dull gold and maroon. I love it so much!
TACTILE
The ceramic coating on the aluminum pen makes a lovely satin texture. It can be a little on the slippery side, especially since there is clip, roll stop, or other texturing on the body.
The section is amazing. It is tightly ridged and is one of the most secure and comfortable grips I've tried, especially considering that it is on the thinner side.
PRACTICAL
This nib is so cute! I absolutely love how it looks. It is a an omniflex nib and can flex decently well. Overall, I get a nice flow of ink when writing. I do occasionally have issues with downstrokes, but I think I may have fixed that with a very slight use of micromesh. Since the Omni-flex nib is a fairly stiff flex nib, I generally just use them to enjoy the slight bounce rather than truly using their flexiness in normal writing.
The Dragonfly is a large pen. It technically can be posted, but is a very comfortable size to use unposted. Due to the nature of ceramic coating and the fact that the cap threads are metal, I really try to avoid posting as I worry that it could potentially scratch the finish.
STATISTICAL
Pen Measurements:
Weight: 40.2g
Weight of Cap: 11.3g
Length Capped: 147mm
Length Uncapped: 141mm
Length Posted: 176mm
Nib: 6mm 'Omniflex' Steel
Body Style: Torpedo
Fill Method: Converter
Fill Volume: 0.8ml
Comparison Pens: Pilot Metropolitan, LAMY LX
OVERALL
Pros:
Cat themed pen!
Really pretty and eye-catching color and design
Fun patterned flex nib
Cons:
Questionable posting
Some occasional issues with writing on the downstrokes, and rarely some railroading.
No rollstop - will attempt to escape the desk if you don't watch it!
I love window shopping Shibui North's offerings, as they keep putting out unique and exciting designs. I absolutely love the cat design, the shape, and the weight of this pen. I wish the photos could capture more of the design. It's brighter in person, but still fairly understated.
DISCLAIMER: Pens and inks purchased by myself. Photos and opinions are my own.
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