I first heard rumors of a slip-cap Franklin-Christoph project at the Ohio Pen Show in November 2014. I was excited- I love me some F-C and I prefer slip cap pens. So I knew this one would be right up my alley.
So what showed up on the Franklin-Christoph table at the Philadelphia Pen Show? Daaaang. I saw it and nearly knocked some old lady over lunging to grasp the Twenty. There it was: sleek, elegant and dead simple.
In the Wild, with Questionable Focus.
I opted for the clipless version with a fine Masuyama Cursive Italic nib in steel. Always opt for the Masuyama when you buy a Franklin-Christoph pen, it is THE best deal in Penland. The fine Masuyama CI was actually an off-catalog item- I thought it was a regular offering, which was why I asked for it. Turns out they just happened to have a few on hand in Philly. Boom!
The Twenty is as understated a pen as you’ll ever find. If it weren’t for the twin carved rings on the butt and cap end, the Twenty would be practically featureless.
Very Nearly Nothing.
There’s laser-etched branding where a cap band would go. It says, “Franklin-Christoph 20.” Surprised? The section has a nice contour that is pleasing to the eyes and the fingertips. One interesting feature: the nib is the standard #6 that F-C uses on most of their pens, but is set deeply into the section. Scott Franklin told me they did it in order to keep the cap shorter and also for the aesthetic effect.
The uncapped Twenty reminds me of a vintage safety filler, only shinier.
I appreciate the classic look very much . It’s also a little bit sad to see a half hidden nib. I’d love to see a Magnum sized 20 with the nib all the way out (can I get an Amen?)
So how’s the slip cap work? I gotta say I’m impressed. The Twenty closes securely and posts perfectly. It closes tightly enough that you can unscrew the section from the barrel twisting the cap if you want (whoops!)
Interesting to note- in Philly, while purchasing the pen, I had the wrong cap for a minute. It wouldn’t stay on the pen. Jim Rouse knew what was up and found the right cap right away. Another fascinating fact- when I hand the capped Twenty to somebody else, they often can’t get the cap off. It might because I put it on with a left-handed twist that foils all you righties. Who knows?
Also New: I love this. Instead of a standard coffin, I had the option to get a small zippered leather pen pouch. Yes please, I’ll have that! The pouch is well-wrought, soft, and will hold about three pens OR two good sized buffalo wings OR maybe eight bucks (USD) worth of nickels.
L to R: Lamy 2000, F-C 20, F-C 02, TWSBI Micarta.
At pen shows, Jim Rouse spends time with each pen they sell, getting each nib set up, adjusted and writing to spec. It’s a nice touch, and ensures that you go home with a great writer. Jim’s tuning on a Mike Masuyama-ground nib in the Franklin-Christoph of your choice is such a no-brainer. If you’re playing in the ~$200 ballpark put one on your list. If you prefer a precious nib, 18K Gold nibs in sizes from XF-B are available for an additional $90. You can pay more and get the Masuyama grinds in gold also. Maybe just go visit franklin-christoph.com/ for all your nib options.
The 20 and the 02 use the same #6 sized nib unit. It’s set into the section on the 20 to keep the cap size under control.
The official release of the Twenty will be around the first of March, 2015. Look for a good stock of these at the Franklin-Christoph tables at the LA Pen Show in the meantime.
Thanks for reading. I love you!
So what showed up on the Franklin-Christoph table at the Philadelphia Pen Show? Daaaang. I saw it and nearly knocked some old lady over lunging to grasp the Twenty. There it was: sleek, elegant and dead simple.
In the Wild, with Questionable Focus.
The Twenty is as understated a pen as you’ll ever find. If it weren’t for the twin carved rings on the butt and cap end, the Twenty would be practically featureless.
Very Nearly Nothing.
The uncapped Twenty reminds me of a vintage safety filler, only shinier.
I appreciate the classic look very much . It’s also a little bit sad to see a half hidden nib. I’d love to see a Magnum sized 20 with the nib all the way out (can I get an Amen?)
So how’s the slip cap work? I gotta say I’m impressed. The Twenty closes securely and posts perfectly. It closes tightly enough that you can unscrew the section from the barrel twisting the cap if you want (whoops!)
Interesting to note- in Philly, while purchasing the pen, I had the wrong cap for a minute. It wouldn’t stay on the pen. Jim Rouse knew what was up and found the right cap right away. Another fascinating fact- when I hand the capped Twenty to somebody else, they often can’t get the cap off. It might because I put it on with a left-handed twist that foils all you righties. Who knows?
Also New: I love this. Instead of a standard coffin, I had the option to get a small zippered leather pen pouch. Yes please, I’ll have that! The pouch is well-wrought, soft, and will hold about three pens OR two good sized buffalo wings OR maybe eight bucks (USD) worth of nickels.
L to R: Lamy 2000, F-C 20, F-C 02, TWSBI Micarta.
The 20 and the 02 use the same #6 sized nib unit. It’s set into the section on the 20 to keep the cap size under control.
Thanks for reading. I love you!
