[Pen/Pencil Review] Baux Pen Company
This week’s pen review is going to be a little bit different. It’s a pen, but with no writing sample – for reasons that shall become clear. This particular pen was a birthday gift from Jimmy through a Kickstarter project so there’s going to be a few unusual bits. The pen comes from the same family as my Spoke Pencil from ages ago – which has now become part of Jimmy’s Pentel P205 collection — Baux Pen Company.
So, these pens are machined aluminum with anodized satin colors – mine is black. But the barrel is only half the length of the pen. The other half is the machined grip that comes in aluminum, titanium, and brass. We got the titanium grip, because titanium is cool. We had options for the end plug – that’s where the green comes in. The pen has a slightly tapered end toward the plug which allows the cap to post. The pen is 6†long with the cap it came with, and a smidge over 6.5″ capped. It’s pretty well balanced – good weight without being “heftyâ€.
Now, you may have noticed that I said, “cap it came with” and that there wouldn’t be a writing sample. This is not usual but Baux pens are a newish type thing. It’s kind of like one of my several Sherpa Sharpie covers, and yet it’s not. These pen bodies are designed to take the classic BIC ink insert – so the pen can be almost any point size and color. It came with a standard BIC Round Stic in black, so 1.0mm. The cap is the one that came with the original pen.
For a metal grip, it is comfortable. It’s a good length and weight. And, honestly? DARNED COOL LOOKING. Because what’s not cool about a BIC-style pen that you can nearly concuss someone with. They’re also customizable and engravable. I ended up with my married name because I thought I’d use it more at work (like this week).
But, they’re “artisan†pens. They are not cheap. I don’t remember how much Jimmy backed the Kickstarter for, but they’re on the Baux Pen Co. website for between $9.50 and $15.50 depending on which metals you choose for the grip – aluminum is less expensive than brass or titanium, and custom engraving is more expensive than the straight Baux logo.
The Conti brothers know how to make a relatively common writing instrument (BIC and Pentel P -205) new and exciting. Go them.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 – It’s a BIC pen in a metal case. The cap fits well on the post. It’s easy to refill – though the grip has the longest threading of any pen I’ve ever had.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – There’s nothing soft and squishy about the pen – it’s all metal. They have made an attempt at ergonomics with the ribbing, but it does flow well into the point, so it’s pretty awesome.
3. Material – 1 This is high-quality anodized aluminum. It’s sturdy but light. It does seem to be top notch materials.
4. Overall Design – 1 – It’s very “engineered†looking. It’s sharp, it’s well-designed. It’s pretty while being utilitarian. Someone put a lot of thought and work into this design to make it “new†when there’s not a lot you can do with a BIC pen. They get credit for that.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – They Are. Not. Cheap. I got this one for a gift, so bear with me here. Jimmy was an early supporter – so I have no idea what HE paid – which probably isn’t what’s on the site. The website sells these for $9.50 – $15.50 depending on what options. I’m only knocking a half point off because they’re artisan. This is not something you can get in a store. They’re functional art work. I want some more eventually. For writer stuff, you know, and different engravings and colors.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 Bronze Pencils
