Ashira Oleatus Fountain Pen Review: Handmade Wood and Titanium Writing

Introduction

Ashira, a pen maker based in Germany, recently added the Oleatus to its lineup and lent out review units to get the word out. After spending time with it, one honest observation stands out: the Oleatus looks extremely similar to the company’s earlier AON, to the point where the difference is not immediately obvious. What is obvious is that this is a large, attractive, largely handmade pen built from stabilized wood and titanium, and it is a genuinely pleasant writer.

Who This Pen Is For

The Oleatus suits fountain pen enthusiasts who value natural materials, a tactile nib, and small-scale craftsmanship. It is a luxury purchase with a strong environmental angle, so it makes sense for writers who want a statement pen rather than a daily beater. If you dislike metal sections or large pens, this model is worth a close look before committing.

Design and Build

This is a big pen. Placed next to a Pilot Metropolitan, it is clearly the larger instrument, long enough to be reminiscent of a paintbrush. The design itself is simple: a barrel that tapers at both ends, no finial on the cap end, a double center band split between cap and barrel, and a metal section. The wood appears to be stabilized U-bark, and each pen arrives in a walnut box that closes with magnets and includes crescent-shaped cutouts to lift the pen out easily.

The cap opens with only about half a twist, which is convenient but has a downside covered below. The nib is unmarked, and that understated touch fits the rest of the clean design. The pen is not meant to be posted; putting a metal ring against wood is a bad idea, and it is very long unposted anyway. The metal section may divide opinion if you dislike slipperiness, but it was pleasant to hold in practice.

Nib and Writing Performance

The unit here carried a gold nib marked 14k 585, so 14 karat gold. Ashira offers fine, medium, and a choice of steel, gold, or platinum nibs. Based on how it writes, this one behaves like a medium, though no marking confirms it.

One likely change from the AON is the feed. It has the dull blackness characteristic of ebonite, and if it is indeed ebonite, that is a meaningful improvement, since ebonite offers excellent flow properties.

In use, the nib delivers writing with a bit of feedback: no scratching, just a tactile sensation that lets you feel your writing. The ink flow runs on the wetter side, and line variation is minimal, as expected from a non-flex nib. Reverse writing gets noticeably scratchier and is not this pen’s strength.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The base price is about $420 in the US, and it varies depending on the wood chosen. These pens are largely handmade on a small scale, so you are paying for that craft, not volume production. For the money, you get a nicely made, attractive pen, but it is by no means an inexpensive one.

Two practical caveats: first, the half-twist cap does not have the world’s biggest set of threads, so if you carry pens in a trouser pocket, this large pen could dislodge and open up. Second, the pen’s length makes pocket carry awkward in general. Neither is a dealbreaker, but both are worth knowing in advance.

Buying Advice

If the AON already interests you, the Oleatus appears to be a very close sibling, with the possible ebonite feed being the most visible improvement. Choose your wood carefully since pricing shifts with the material, and pick a fine nib if you want crisper lines or better reverse writing. If pocket carry is part of your routine, consider a pen case rather than loose pocket storage.

Conclusion

The Ashira Oleatus is an attractive, well-made fountain pen with a comfortable weight, a pleasing tactile nib, and an environmental pledge that plants 250 trees for every pen sold. The $420 base price and loose cap threads are the main trade-offs. For enthusiasts who appreciate handmade wood pens and a bit of nib feedback, it is a rewarding choice.