As well as the aluminium AL Sport, there have also been brass and steel Kaweco models for quite a while. 2023 saw the release of an additional version, in bronze, with the one difference being this is a limited model. How limited and for how long, Kaweco do not say.

I have already covered the Sport model a couple of times, first a full review of my Orangina Spain only limited edition, and second a comparison of a number of limited editions from last year, two being plastic and one aluminium. Net result this will not be a full review of the Bronze, so if you are new to the Sport range I suggest reading one or both of the previous articles.

This pen was leant to me by Kaweco through the United Inkdom review group and it will be covered in time by a meta review.

Now Kaweco are big in the limited editions world, but this one does surprise me as it is not just the usual different colour, but rather a different metal. Bronze is not rare, so I assume the reason why this will not be a permanent addition to the line up is because Kaweco have either procured a limited supply of bronze or expect cost of the raw material to rise. After all this pen is considerably more expensive than the brass and steel models, bordering on being too costly, and any rise in the price of bronze could make the pen unsellable. This is all conjecture though. Key thing is the Bronze Sport is a limited edition pen, and for a Kaweco an expensive one.

I do rather like bronze, preference wise for me it sits between copper and brass. I think the darker and redder the colour the more the appeal to me. It also patinas, and I like that as well. I am not one for keeping pens all shiny, partly because of the appeal of the look and partly due to the effort required to maintain the lustre. I know that’s a key reason why I do not have any copper pans despite them being far superior for heat control.

The feel and smell of bronze is not to everyone’s taste, just be aware. For those of you with arthritis, copper and it’s alloys are meant to ease pain, however this has been dis-proven by the medical research world. It is heavy for its size at 48.1g, with the cap being 18.3g and the body 29.5g (so much for accurate coffee brewing scales).

There is a slight texture to the surface, but not a rough one. It is not like the brushed steel finish on a Lamy Studio, which personally I do not get on with. Here it is just a feel of a little friction, giving confidence this pen will not slip in your hands. The threads are also positioned well enough that you barely feel them.

As with all Kaweco Sports, you will struggle to use the Bronze Sport without posting the cap, well for more than quick notes anyhow. While the cap may back weigh the pen, the nature of the design means the rear of the barrel will rest on the crook of your hand, so the balance point is not really an issue, just the weight if you like light pens.

The nib is literally the same one as I used in the Kaweco Dia2 I reviewed, as between the three nibs that came with the two pens, only one was an original Kaweco branded 060. Oddly, while writing the feel is the same, however I put more ink down on the paper, so see darker writing. The only reason I can think of is due to the weight of the pen resulting in more pressure on the nib, after all I normally have a light touch. See the writing samples towards the end.

One problem with bronze is, being a softer metal it does scratch and marks are noticeable. I am not too bothered about this and consider it part of the patina process, however there is an area that sits just inside the cap when closed where there are mild scratch rings. The inner cap is plastic, so I am not sure how this has been happening, perhaps the body is just catching the lip when being capped resulting in a slow but gradual build up. Please note these marks may actually polish out, but I will leave that for some one else to try.

There is one thing I do have to cover, and this could be a deal breaker for some. Cost. Near the top I commented on how the price of bronze may be the reason why this is a limited run. Well the Kaweco Bronze Sport fountain pen should be £160 in the UK and now can be had for around £135-£140. This is compared to £75 for the Brass and £85 for the steel models. In fact only one Kaweco model does cost more, and that is the Fireblue Supra, which has a removable barrel extender, which adds to the manufacturing cost.

So here’s the thing. If you are a big fan of bronze, then this could be a good pen to add to your collection, however it is just too expensive for what you get, and this is probably the reason for the Bronze Sport being a limited edition. I suspect Kaweco were caught out by the cost of the raw material between committing to the production run and seeing the actual bill, after all they are one of the last companies who would push the limits on the purchase price of a pen.

For me the weight of the Bronze Sport is also partly an issue. For quick notes it is fine, for longer not so. Now being a pocket pen this should not be an issue, and previously I have said how much I like the suede pen pouch in which it could be carried, however for me I need to attach the pen to my journal and for that I would need a clip¹. Yes the Kaweco ones are cheap and work surprisingly well since you slide them over the pen, however it is an additional cost plus they can scratch the pen. Interesting to note though that the luxury version of the clip (at a princely £5.50) is actually available with a bronze finish.

Writing Samples:

Comparison Photos:

From left to right, Gravitas Pocket Pen, Kaweco Bronze Sport, and Shibui North Pocket Pen.

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1. For me a carry round pen must be able to be attached to one of my Midori Traveller journals. The hexagonal cap slides out too easily from the attached standard loop, and while I do have an official ‘clip loop’, these no longer appear to be made by Midori/Traveller and mine is getting soft on the edges meaning clips can struggle to attach.