Read the introductory post to find out what the Hands-on is all about.
The design of the Franklin-Christoph Model 25 is one of the cleanest and simplest I’ve ever seen. It’s absolutely, 100% Franklin-Christoph and when I saw it at the 2012 LA Pen Show, I had to have it. In fact, it was the only fountain pen I purchased at that show. It has been in the pen case long enough, now is its time to shine.
| WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Franklin-Christoph |
| Model | Model 25 Eclipse |
| Nib Material | Steel |
| Nib Sizes | EF, F, M, B, 0.9mm Stub or Italic, 1.1mm Stub or Italic |
| Filling System | Cartridge/Converter |
| Dimensions (mm) | Capped=139.5, Uncapped=132, Dia=12, Dia+Clip=18.5 |
| Weight | 27gm w/ full converter |
| Unique Features | Short cap, unique posting method, clip holds the pen nib down. |
| Price | Starts at $149.50 |
The entire design of this pen struck me from multiple angles. It’s designed to be held nib down when clipped, which has never been a problem for me from a leaking point of view. I’ve actually found less ink in cap of this pen than in many others that I carry on a daily basis. The consistent diameter from top to bottom and the nearly invisible cap also appealed to me. To help you locate the cap, Franklin-Christoph adds a small bevel to the edge so the seam doesn’t blend into the pen. This is actually my only complaint with the pen. I would love for the seam between the cap and section to be as invisible as the seam between the section and barrel. And when I say invisible, I mean invisible. Everyone I’ve shown this pen to has asked me how you get to the converter. I think a little instruction pamphlet showing where the cap and section are would be enough to fix the possible confusion some may have.
Of course, there is a lot more to this pen that I like than I don’t like. The semi-hooded nib caught my eye and the way the cap posts by sliding under the clip is very intriguing as well. I know I’ve never seen another pen designed to have its cap placed under the clip. The clip works well and has F-C’s signature four diamonds engraved on it.
One of the biggest reasons I’m so attracted to Franklin-Christoph fountain pens is because of the wide array of nib options available and the fact that Mike Masuyama grinds them. I went with the 0.9mm italic and it writes like a dream. It has the line variation of an italic, obviously, but with the smoothness of a stub.
The grip section partially unscrewed from the barrel.
The Eclipse is neither light nor heavy, but the concentration of weight is definitely towards the clip end of the pen. Don’t let this turn you off, though. It’s not back-end heavy like a posted TWSBI 540. The weight of the Eclipse sits right in the ‘V’ of your thumb and forefinger. It takes very little effort to manipulate the nib while writing which allows for super comfy marathon writing sessions.
This is one of my favorite pens. It has been inked since I bought it back in March and will continue to always be inked. Check it out at Franklin-Christoph.com.
For size comparison. I don’t actually have to name all of these, do I?
Ok, fine. From L to R: 1.Delta Dolcevita Stantuffo, 2.TWSBI Vac700, 3.Lamy Dialog 3, 4.Sheaffer Snorkel, 5.Pelikan M600, 6.Pelikan M205, 7. F-C 25, 8.Akkerman Deluxe, 9.Noodler’s Konrad, 10.Lamy Safari, 11.Levenger L-Tech, 12.Lamy 2000, 13.Lamy Studio, 14.Namiki VP, 15.Parker 51, 16.TWSBI Micarta, 17.Omas Milord, 18.Waterman Carene, 19.Faber-Castell E-Motion, 20.Levenger Plumpster.
