| WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Levenger |
| Model | L-Tech |
| Nib Material | Steel |
| Nib Sizes | Medium only |
| Filling System | Cartridge/Converter |
| Dimensions | Length: Capped 137mm / 5.4″, Posted 167mm / 6.6″; Barrel Ø12.6mm / .496″, Section Ø10mm / .4″ |
| Weight | 48g / 1.7oz |
| Notes | Available in matte aluminum or matte black finish |
| Price | $79.99 |
| Availability | Now |
Levenger is a brand that I associate with two things: over-priced office products and the pinkest pink ink I’ve ever seen, aptly named Pinkly. But they also sell fountain pen. Many of them are their own branded pens but they have also sold pens made for them by Sheaffer and Stipula.
One of my favorite pens that I acquired early on, which is always inked, was the Levenger Plumpster. I’ve also owned a True Writer, Arborea, and Decathlon. I was pleased with each one except the True Writer, even though it seems to be a popular pen within the community. Most of their pens are fairly priced, coming in under $100 and the L-Tech is no exception.
Sticker price on the Levenger L-Tech fountain pen (it’s also available as a roller ball, ballpoint, and mechanical pencil) is $79.99. It’s only available through Levenger but can occasionally be found on eBay at a nice discount.
The L-Tech comes in a pretty neat case that reminds me of those aluminum briefcases often seen in movies holding thousands of dollars and usually handcuffed to someone’s wrist. This case contains no cash and you can’t cuff it to your wrist, but it does contain some dense foam with a cut-out specifically for this pen. Along with the pen, Levenger also includes a warranty card, a cartridge, and a converter.
Levenger decided to put a #5 steel nib in the L-Tech that is only available in Medium. Out of the box the pen wrote well. The nib is smooth and ink flow is consistent but around every other sentence I’ll experience a hard start. I haven’t looked into it yet so I’m not sure if it’s the ink, paper or the nib itself causing this, but it’s far from annoying at this point. Every other Levenger fountain pen has performed flawlessly for me and I have no reservation about their quality.
The knurled section makes gripping the pen easy, but it isn’t so sharp as to be uncomfortable. I suppose someone with a death grip might find it uncomfortable, but if you’re holding the pen like you should be then you’ll be just fine. The cap comes off quickly in just 1/3 of a turn and no matter how you put the cap on the sides will always match up. The cap post securely but will probably make the pen too back heavy for most users. I can comfortably use it with or without posting the cap as I post nearly every pen I use.
The L-Tech is a solid performer in everyday use. The clip, while appearing thin, provides just enough tension to keep it where you put it. The pen is a bit heavy, tipping the scales at 48 grams, but with the cap removed the pen settles into the hand nicely with a slightly forward balance point.
What initially attracted me to this pen was its seven sided design, the matte aluminum finish, and the knurled section. This pen is a darn near carbon copy of the Rotring 600 and with the Stealth finish, it looks even more like one:
Overall, I’m happy with my purchase of the Levenger L-Tech. If you like the design, you should be happy with it’s performance as well.
