Benu Crow Skull and Roses Review: A Gothic Fountain Pen Worth Every Penny

Introduction

There is a particular kind of fountain pen that goes beyond writing tools and becomes a small piece of storytelling in your hand. The Benu Crow, part of the Skull and Roses collection, is exactly that. With its polished black resin, sculpted skulls, and thorny roses winding around the barrel, it leans fully into a darkly romantic, gothic personality that few pens attempt, let alone pull off this well.

This review looks at what the pen is like to live with day to day: the design, the nib, the filling options, and whether the price makes sense for what you get.

Design and Symbolism

The Crow is made from high-quality resin polished to an obsidian-like shine. The skulls are rendered in fine memento mori cameos in a ring around the edge of the cap, set in deep relief. That raised ring does double duty: it is striking decoration, and it acts as a break to stop the pen rolling off your desk.

The roses are gnarled and thorny, entwined around the barrel like the pickets of an iron rot fence. They give the pen genuine grip and texture while echoing the traditional symbolism: skulls as a reminder that our time is finite, roses as a symbol of love, including a love strong enough to triumph over death. Together they create a balance of decay and beauty that feels deliberate rather than gimmicky.

It is an introspective pen to use, and an excellent gift for anyone drawn to gothic themes, dark academia, or the harvest-season mood of autumn.

Nib and Writing Experience

The Crow ships with a number five Schmidt nib, FH 241s to be precise, and it is a very reliable performer. The flow is generous and the nib is well cut, so writing is smooth and crisp without skips or flow problems.

The medium nib has a slightly straight-sided feel, almost like a mini stub, giving just a hint of line variation that keeps script interesting. Benu also sells replacement nibs in extra fine, fine, medium, and broad for $20 each, and they screw in and out easily, so you can dramatically change your writing style between one nib and another.

Filling Options and Everyday Handling

The pen comes with a long international cartridge, and a converter is included as well. It is a basic converter, but it works fine. If you prefer eye-dropper filling, the barrel can be used as an ink reservoir, giving you real flexibility in how you carry and use the pen. A dark red ink suits the theme beautifully, though black would work just as well.

In the hand, the Crow measures 136 mm, or 5.35 inches, which suits larger hands comfortably. Note that it does not post, at least not really, but it is long enough that posting is unnecessary. Writing uncapped means you get the line of skulls and roses in view on the desk in front of you.

At 20 grams, the pen is remarkably light. It glides across the page with an airy, almost weightless feel, and the long grip section flares slightly near the nib so your fingers stay clear of the threads and away from inky accidents.

Value and Who It Is For

At about $172 at full retail, the Crow sits in serious territory, and it is fair to ask whether it earns it. On the basis of theme, construction, and the way it feels to use, it holds up: a beautifully rendered, robust resin pen with a screw-on cap that keeps it ready to write, a quality off-the-shelf Schmidt nib, cheap and easy nib swapping, eye-dropper capability, and an included converter.

It suits writers who want something with personality, contrast, and a bit of rebelliousness among more restrained pens. It is a strong match for gothic horror fans, dark academia enthusiasts, or anyone who writes at a desk after hours and wants their tools to tell a story.

Conclusion

The Benu Crow Skull and Roses is a stunning fountain pen that turns symbols of death and decay into a celebration of life. It is beautiful, reliable, flexible in how you fill and nib it, and unlike almost anything else in its price range. For the right buyer, it is worth every last coppery penny.