Conway Stewart Series 58 Indiana Jones Review: A Vintage Classic Reborn

Introduction

The Conway Stewart Series 58 Indiana Jones is a modern remake of a vintage pen that played a memorable role on the big screen. In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Sean Connery’s character, Indiana Jones’ father, pulls out a Conway Stewart number 58 during a fight inside a Panzer tank, uses it to disable his attacker, and then hears the line “I think that you see the pen is mightier than the sword.” Conway Stewart, a luxury British brand, has revived that design as a limited edition of 500 units, handmade in England. Most of the company’s pens are made to order, so expect a manufacturing delay of a few weeks when you place an order.

Unboxing and Presentation

The pen arrives in quality packaging that reinforces the luxury positioning. The outer box uses a faux leather finish with a padded lid, a pull tab for lifting, and sides lined with felt that make the lid feel like it seals closed rather than just resting on top. The interior of the lid carries Conway Stewart branding, and the lid can double as a display stand on your desk.

The accessories are where the experience gets genuinely interesting. Inside you find a certificate of authenticity confirming the limited edition of 500, a note explaining that the pens are water-tested before shipping so traces of water may remain in the nib and ink sack, a polishing cloth, a couple of cartridges, a use and care guide, and a guide to the hallmarks on the pen. One particularly nice touch: the paperwork names the artisan who made your pen. This unit was crafted by Sophie in April 2026.

Design and Materials

Conway Stewart aimed to keep this pen as close to the original used in the film as possible. The body is a high-density black acrylic with gold trim, and the details are more premium than they first appear. The three cap rings are solid 9-karat gold, while the clip and lever are 23-karat gold plated. The clip has a decent amount of flex and can accommodate materials of varying thicknesses, and the cap end features a resin insert with a somewhat rounded point.

The hallmarks on the three cap bands tell the story of the pen. CS is the sponsor mark for Conway Stewart, 375 denotes the 9-karat gold, the anchor means the gold was assayed in Birmingham, the crown confirms it is gold, and the letter A is the date letter for 2026. The barrel is engraved with the Conway Stewart name, the edition number (177 of 500 on this example), the quote “the pen is mightier than the sword,” and “made in England.”

Size and Handling

This is not a large pen. It sits a bit on the small side, which may surprise some buyers, and it is roughly the same size as vintage pens from its era such as the Esterbrook J and Parker 51, alongside modern pens like the TWSBI Vac Mini, Conklin Mark Twain, Sailor Pro Gear, and Lamy Al-Star. Despite the compact size, it can be used comfortably unposted, and the cap posts securely without interfering with the lever. It feels comfortable in the hand and fairly light overall.

The Lever Filler

The pen is a lever filler with a Conway Stewart logo detail at the end of the barrel. Inside, the mechanism is very similar to a Conklin Crescent filler: pulling the lever pushes a bar down on the ink sack, and releasing it creates a vacuum that draws ink into the pen. The Conway Stewart logo detail at the barrel end adds a small flourish to an otherwise classic mechanism.

One practical note on the cap: it twists off with about three-quarters of a rotation, and the threads have five different entry points. If you want the lever to align with the clip, that only happens by chance about 20% of the time. The upside is that if you insert the pen into the cap already aligned, closing it keeps that alignment rather than forcing you to remember a specific orientation.

Nib and Writing Performance

Underneath the cap sits a 14-karat gold number 5 nib, available in extra fine, fine, medium, and broad. Each of those tippings can also be ordered in specialty grinds such as italic, stub, and both left and right oblique. The feed is plastic, and the section starts with a noticeable flare before angling up to the cap threads.

In use, this is a likable nib. It offers a bit of line variation if you press just slightly, and it has a little feedback that reads as good feedback rather than drag. Ink flow is on the lower side, so it leans toward a drier nib. Reverse writing lays down a pleasing extra-fine line. During fast writing there was a slight skip at the start, but once going, the feed kept up just fine.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The price on the Conway Stewart site is $661, and most of the brand’s offerings sit in the $550 to $700 range. This is firmly a luxury purchase. The small size will not suit everyone, and the dry-ish ink flow plus five-point cap threads are minor quirks worth knowing about. That said, the build quality, solid gold cap bands, handmade provenance, and cinematic backstory give it character that most modern pens simply do not have.

Conclusion

The Conway Stewart Series 58 Indiana Jones is an interesting offering that balances a vintage feel with a modern finish. If you love fountain pens with a story, solid gold detailing, and a handmade limited-edition pedigree, this one makes a compelling case. It is not a large pen and it is priced as a luxury item, but for the right buyer it delivers something genuinely special.