I had actually been toying with trying a Tom’s Studio Pocket Fountain Pen since it was first launched, but due to a need to keep the size of my collection under control it was a nice to have, not a must. Thus when I saw one going in the ‘previously used’ area of the Cult Pens stand at the March 2025 London Pen Show I had the excuse I needed, after all it was discounted and so would not be considered a regular purchase (man maths).

Coming out of the COVID lock down Tom’s Studio caught the attention of a lot of people with his calligraphy pens. The story goes he was unimpressed with the tools his wife was using for her wedding stationary business and felt he could do better utilising his experience in design and metalwork. Tom gained a good reputation quite quickly and in time other types of pens, including fountain pens started to appear and presently there are three in his range. The Studio Fountain Pen, this model, and its replacement, the Studio Pocket Fountain Pen 2.0. Presently this version is for still for sale at various sites, some at a discount (while stocks last).

Depending on the colour and the light it can be hard to see that the cap has an octagonal cross section. This is so subtle that even in the marketing photos the updated model looks round and don’t expect the flat sides to stop the pen from rolling, they do not. The finish is to add character, not practicality. While there is an anti-choke hole close to the opening it does not seem to cause the nib to dry out.

Removing the cap and you see the section and barrel are very gently tapered, with a slight increase in curve between the cap and the nib. It provides a very large area in which to hold the pen, which is useful when trying to comfortably balance it in your hand while not holding the nib at too low an angle to the page. At the back you have two seal rings which allow for the main unit to be comfortably mounted in the cap without any wiggle.

You are not going to use this pen without posting the cap, which after all is the design, or at least if you do it will only be for quick notes. While it is shorter than a Kaweco Sport (which can just about be used without the cap), it is designed to allow a size #6 nib to be used without compromising the pocketable nature of the pen. Of note the new version (Studio Pocket Fountain Pen 2.0) is 10mm shorter than this version when closed and 12mm when posted. I would need to compare the two side by side to see how Tom has managed this, for while there is about 3-4mm spare at the end of the cap and barrel, that is still less than the amount that Tom has been able to trim off the new model.

The cap does seal well and while I have noticed some ink evaporation I think this is more likely down to the fact the pen has spent a fair amount of time being left open. Interestingly while the top of the cap is flat, the bottom of the barrel actually curves inwards.

This pen posts just by into the cap, with the two sealing rings securing the body in place. This does limit the ingress to just 2cm though. You have about 4.5cm before the point the cap and barrel meet, meaning lots of space to find a comfortable hold. This is important as posted the pen is back weighted with the balance point just behind the mid point (including the nib). It is a shame the pen will not sit more deeply in the cap, the design direction has gone for a longer area to grip at the penalty of a longer posted pen.

At first I found the posted length to be too long for me, but the pen is light enough that I actually quickly found a comfortable grip position without having to hold the pen too far back. My thumb and forefinger rest around the seam between the section and barrel. One thing to be aware of though, the barrel and section are textured with fine ribs to help provide grip and if you have sensitive touch, like me, then this can cause a little irritation. It is a shame this was done as I find enough traction on the barrel without the same issue. Very much a personal thing though and I do stop noticing it ~5-10 seconds after I have finalised on my hold of the pen, though the latter does take me a while due to the ribbed texture itself.

The nib is stamped (not laser engraved, so +1 there) with Tom’s Studio in cursive, plus the nib size. It is a Bock #6 though there is no mention on the website. The nib and feed are in a unit so can be swapped out for others, including the range of flex and semi-flex nibs Tom’s Studio also sell. As with all the latest generation of Bock #6 steel nibs it is very firm though does offer a little variation under pressure, but has none of the bounce of their older nibs. On this pen it is a medium, though it writes more like a fine. Side note. When you buy replacement nib units from Tom’s Studio you so have the option of ebonite feeds, however not for the nib you select for a fountain pen.

The filling system is short standard international cartridge. I did try a Kaweco short converter and that would not fit. A Kaweco squeeze bulb may work with this pen but that does not exactly have the greatest of reputations. Realising there is a reasonable chance the end user would want to use bottled inks, Tom has actually included a converter based syringe to refill the supplied cartridge. A nice touch.

While there is no clip option and it is too large to take a Kaweco Sport one (I did try) this pen will fit in short pen pouches (tested with the Kaweco Sport and the Namisu Pocket Nova ones in the photo).

The packaging is nice and simple and completely recyclable as it is a branded cardboard box with a folded paper/card insert acting as the pen sleeve.

So my thoughts. Despite my initial reservations over the length when posted, the balance point, and the texture, I have grown to like this pen and enjoy using it. The Pocket Fountain Pen is a slight oddity as it is small enough to be thrown in a pocket but when posted it is too long resulting in it not quite having the balance of a normal writer. It is also too short to use without posting the cap and so leaves me in a quandary about when I will use it. Oh and due to the cap being the width of an over sized pen and not having a clip option I do not have a loop large enough to take it preventing me using the Pocket Fountain Pen with my Midori Traveller Passport journal. I may yet put this pen in my main sling bag (along with other EDC carry items such as a power bank). The things is this is a very well made pen and I am loath to just leave it in a drawer.

Would I recommend buying the Tom’s Studios Pocket Fountain Pen (or the newer version). At £85 for the new 2.0 version, the £77 the website lists this this model for may seem like a decent price. Sure it is more than the equivalent Namisu Pocket Nova, but I would suggest it is a better designed and made product. Also even the new version is still slightly cheaper than a Gravitas Pocket Pen. The only things is there is just one finish (pink) left at Tom’s Studio’s own shop. I can find it available else where but normally for £85, so the same price as the newer version. So the question then becomes, would I recommend buying one second hand or in a clearance sale? Well it could be a good option if you like pocket pens, however it is one you may need to try first. Sure in most aspects this is a superior pen to the aforementioned Namisu Pocket Nova, but as an overall solution the Namisu is actually the more usable pen. My conclusion feels harsh, again I need to try the new version, but I feel that even at 12mm shorter when posted it will still be too long in the hand.

Pros:

• Very well made.
• Size #6 nib in a pocket pen.

Neutral:

• Length when posted means you may need to hold the pen further back than normal.
• Can not really be use unposted.
• Too wide for a pen loop.

Cons:

• Very long when posted.

Writing Sample

Comparison Shots:

First with a Namisu Pocket Nova and a Kaweco AL Sport

Next with the ubiquitous Lamy Al-Star/Safari