August has been a bit of a whirlwind. First a conference, then a bit of vacation that included the DC Fountain Pen Supershow. (What a blast that was!) My posting/life/work routine was blown out of the water, but I’m back now and looking forward to writing about the show and the handful of pens that I picked up.
Let’s start with the LAST pen I picked up at the show- a Bexley BX802 Cappuccino (F nib).
I was making my final laps around the two ballrooms, and was about to call it a day, when I heard the salesman at the Toys From The Attic booth tell a customer, “That pen is a steal at $50.” Hmmmm, what pen? I edged my way into the conversation and saw that they were talking about the Bexley BX802. The funny thing is, I had “Bexley” jotted down on my pen show list; not necessarily as something to buy, but as something to at least check out. And to this point I hadn’t really looked any any/many. (I will tell you, a pen show is a big giant blur of expensive/affordable/gaudy/elegant pens and inks and nibs and parts and paper and vendors and swarming, excited customers. Super fun, but also a bit overwhelming…in a good way. It doesn’t take long before you forget what you saw where.)
I circled through the show a few more times mulling over the Bexley the whole time. A quick online search confirmed that the price was indeed a good one, and so I made my move, encouraged by my new pen friend, Tracy, who said that she’d heard good things about the vendor. I had my choice of a fine, medium, or broad nib, and choose the fine (shocker, I know). What nagged at me a little bit, as I walked away with my purchase, was that I hadn’t WRITTEN with the pen. What if the nib was a dud?
Oh, the suspense! How will you write??
It was another 48 hours before I’d know the answer. As soon as we unpacked the car, I grabbed my new bottle of Iroshizuku tsukushi (“Horsetail”) and inked up the Bexley. A few scribbles later, a big exhale of relief. This pen is an excellent writer. The fine nib performs exactly as I’d hoped- smooth and wet and fine enough for everyday writing- a wonderful combination of nib attributes.
To be honest, the look of the pen didn’t immediately grab me, but once it dawned on me that the acrylic looks JUST LIKE A CARAMEL SUNDAE (my favorite!), I was hooked. The caramelly swirls are somewhat translucent so it’s possible to catch a glimpse of the converter and ink inside- kind of cool.
See the translucent swirls?
The clip is firmly springy, and the chase pattern on the cap’s band adds a bit of interest. I don’t normally go for gold-tone accents, but in this case, they look just right. It’s a look that’s grown on me.
The pen’s dimensions fit my hand nicely. Capped it measures 5-1/4″, while uncapped/unposted it measures 5″, a length that’s perfectly usable for me. With the cap posted, the pen measures 6″ give or take a hair. The cap posts securely and doesn’t throw off the pen’s balance at all so I’m equally happy using it posted as I am unposted. By my unscientific measurements, this Bexley weighs around 20 grams so it’s a lightweight– but NOT in the performance department.
In the dizzying environment of the DC Fountain Pen Supershow, I’m glad I happened upon the chance conversation that led me to this pen. Getting this “Made In the USA” Bexley with its deliciously swirly looks and excellent nib, all at a super price, was the icing on the DC Pen Show cake. Or should I say, the cherry on the caramel sundae?
In any case, YUM.
From the Pen Cup 