The Schon DSGN Pocket 6 is named for the full-sized #6 nib it uses, rather than the smaller nibs found in most pocket pens. I’m a bit of a sucker for gadgets and, for me, pocket pens definitely fall into that category. This is a high quality turned metal pen. It may be small, but it is mighty. At approximately 90mm closed, this is one of the shortest pens I have used, though not the lightest. This solid brass model weighs in at 43g.
How does it measure up
Closed, the Pocket 6 is several mm shorter than the Kaweco Supra I reviewed recently and somewhat thicker. Comparing it to some of my other pocket pens, it is certainly compact and will fit nicely into any pocket or palm. The only issue I can see with its portability is the 43g weight of the brass model. However, there are aluminium models available and these weigh only 18.5g.
Open and with the cap posted (as is necessary), the Pocket 6 is 132mm. This may still be a bit short for some, but does make it an entirely usable pen. It wouldn’t be ideal for taking quick notes though. By the time you have unscrewed the cap and then screwed it on to the barrel, the moment may well have passed.
As with many pocket pens, the short barrel allows no room for a converter, only cartridges. This may not be too much of a problem given the wide range of inks available in cartridge form. Plus, there is always the option of syringe filling a old cartridge. If none of this is to your liking, then your pocket pen options will be somewhat limited.
How does it feel
I don’t like to hold my pen too close to the nib, which does mean that, for comfort, I generally prefer longer sections, ideally without screw threads. The Pocket 6 suffers from a problem I find with many pens, in that the section is just a little too short for me. Not by much though, and it is more comfortable than I expected, with a nice ergonomic curve to prevent slippage. The full-sized #6 nib also helps in this respect, increasing the distance from the paper.
The writing experience
It is not impossible to write with this pen un-posted, but it isn’t exactly comfortable. With the cap posted, you have a much more natural writing experience. In fact, the weight of the pen is actually quite nicely balanced and much less of an issue than I was expecting.
The Medium Jowo nib was beautifully smooth and really quite a delightful writer. That said, coupled with the (for me) inconveniently located screw threads, this particular pen is probably too heavy to be used for long periods. Indeed, after writing less than half a page, I had dents in my fingers from those pesky screw threads. I would like to try out the aluminium version* and see if it would be more suitable for my writing style.
*these come in some wild and wonderful colour schemes too!
The lowdown
Schon DSGN are based in Philadelphia, in the USA, though a selection of Pocket 6 pens are available in the UK from Nero’s Notes and iZods. They are upper mid-range in price at around $130/£130. If you order direct from Schon, you will have to add higher shipping costs. You could also find yourself with a bill for duty and VAT on top of that. The advantage would be that you have a much wider range of Pocket 6 pens to choose from and can even configure your own.
IN SUMMARY
I suspect this another of those marmite pens. If you love pocket pens and are happy with cartridges, then will be a nice addition to your collection. You may want to opt for the aluminium one if you have issues with the weight. On the other hand, if you prefer a longer pen or a quick note-taker, then this is probably not one for you.
Pro:
- It’s small enough to fit unobtrusively in your pocket or palm.
- Full-sized #6 Jowo nib
- Beautifully engineered
- Ergonomic section
- Choice of colours and configurations
Con:
- Cartridge only
- Heavy (if you opt for the brass model)
- Perhaps not quite long enough
- Too much (un)screwing to be a quick note taker
I actually quite like the Pocket 6, but this brass model is too heavy to be comfortable for me. I’m quite excited by some of the aluminium colour ways, but somewhat put off by the price, given the likelihood of fees on top.
This review was written for United Inkdom and the pen was lent to me for this purpose.
Excellent review covering all the bases. Thanks for sharing Ania.