Resistance Is Futile: Monteverde Invincia Deluxe Nighthawk (F nib)

I’m making plans to attend my first pen show in August- the DC Pen SUPERSHOW. (EXCITED!) Because of those plans, I’m trying to resist buying pens prior to that show so that I have a nice little pen “allowance” in my pocket come August. The key words there are “trying to.” The clinker? The Goulet Pen Company announced the release of a fountain pen that pushes a bunch of my particular pen buttons. Those buttons being:

• Stealth
• Matte
• Carbon Fiber
• Special packaging
• Monteverde

SO, I was a goner, despite my plan/pledge/vow. My Monteverde Invincia Deluxe Nighthawk (F nib) arrived last week, and it hits all the right notes. I loaded the included converter with Monteverde Black ink (with ITF), and doodled away. Very smooth. Very stealthy. Very, very cool.

This pen is a collaboration between Brian Goulet/Goulet Pens and Monteverde Pens, the details of which are found in this article and video. Brian explains the details better than I can, but I can tell you that I love the outcome of their work. I own a handful of Monteverde pens, and have never been disappointed in their looks or performance. They’re solid, reliable, good-looking pens, and this one may be the best of the bunch. Because it pushes all of those buttons that I listed above.

This may well be the stealthiest pen that I own. With the matte carbon fiber body and all-black trim, the pen is so subdued looking that it’s impossible to ignore. So it’s stealthy, yet stands out in a crowd. Which is a very cool trick.

The black fine nib writes wonderfully. Coupled with the Monteverde ink, which I’m trying for the first time, the writing experience is a true pleasure. Effortless and nicely liquid. Wet, but not too wet. Just right, really. Had they outfitted the pen with a matte black nib, rather than the shiny one, that would’ve bumped the awesomeness up one more notch. But I’m not complaining.

Looks a little like a pen wake, doesn’t it?

Though this isn’t a limited edition pen, the first 150 customers were promised special packaging, which is another reason that I made my purchase quickly. Rather than the usual green Monteverde box, this one came packaged in a black and red box that coordinates very well with the pen. Normally I don’t really care about packaging, but the carbon fiber-esque look of the box reeled me in like a pen-loving trophy fish. If there were such a thing as pen-loving trophy fish.

Normally Monteverde pens sport their mountainous logo (in white) on the end of the pen, but that’s been dropped from the Nighthawk. The pen is branded with slightly raised black lettering on the center band, which completes the totally blacked out look. The stealthiness of the Nighthawk is certainly in the details.

At 40 grams, which is about 2.5x the weight of a Lamy Safari, the capped pen is heavy, but in a very well-balanced way. I find the cap difficult to post, but that’s not an issue for me because I wouldn’t post it anyway, due to the weight of the cap (10 grams). The uncapped body measures 136 mm (5.35 inches) and is comfortable in hand. I’m really impressed with the whole package…the weight, looks, feel, packaging, and performance.

Who can resist the charms of the Nighthawk? Not I. Nope, not I.