Gravitas Pocket Pen Review: A Compact Brass Fountain Pen Built for Daily Carry

Introduction

Gravitas is a fountain pen company based out of Dublin, Ireland, founded by Ben Walsh. Over the last couple of years the brand has made a name for itself with colorful and unique designs, and the Pocket Pen is one of its more recent additions. The version reviewed here is the brass model, one of many finishes in the lineup.

The pen arrives in a faux suede sleeve with the Gravitas name and logo on the front. The logo is an element from the traditional Walsh family coat of arms, and the lines and hash marks are actually an ancient Celtic language called Ogham. Read from bottom to top, it translates to “Gravitas Pens”, which is a genuinely nice packaging touch.

The Pocket Pen is available in a wide variety of colors, including black brass, copper, olive gray, stainless steel, teal gray, and rainbow skittle, plus engraved options such as raw brass with a skull engraving, a rock hopper with paisley engraving, and a skittles with paisley engraving. At first glance it resembles a Kaweco Sport in concept, but there are notable differences once you look closer.

Who This Product Is For

The Gravitas Pocket Pen is aimed at people who want a compact, sturdy everyday fountain pen they can genuinely knock about. The longish cap needs to be posted during use, and while the pen can technically be used unposted for a quick note, longer writing sessions are much more comfortable with the cap on the back. It suits writers who like a short pen that transforms into a full-length one, and who are not precious about keeping a metal pen in pristine condition.

Main Strengths

The cap comes to a point at the top, though the tip is pleasantly toned back and not overly sharp like some earlier Gravitas models. This is a clipless pen, and the round cap includes a single facet that works well as a roll stop. The cap tapers up to its thickest point, narrows slightly before the end, and carries an engraved Gravitas logo, with a small step down to the barrel.

The pen uses a number six stainless steel Yovo nib with a plastic feed, available in extra fine, fine, medium, broad, plus 1.1 and 1.5 stubs. The section is made from PVD coated stainless steel and is grooved, which greatly assists in maintaining a firm grip. If you tend to hold your pen further back, the grooves stop your grip sliding forward as you write. Even if your fingers rest on the metal cap threads, they do not feel sharp or uncomfortable.

Posting is where this pen earns its keep. The cap posts deeply and securely, and while the cap weighs only about an ounce more than the rest of the pen, the posted balance is distributed well and feels comfortable in the hand. For quick notes you can use it unposted, but the posted configuration is the intended way to use it.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is a cartridge-only pen out of the box. It arrives with a few cartridges, and while Kaweco’s mini converter can be used with it, that is not included. With the abundance of metal in the barrel, eyedropping would not be recommended.

Expect the finish to change over time. Metal-on-metal contact between the posted cap and barrel means scratching will develop, and a few light scratches already show on this sample. The brass will also patina over time; it tarnishes more slowly than copper but will still change color if left unpolished. There is a visible line where the back portion of the barrel, exposed to air while capped, will develop more patina than the forward portion that is only exposed when the pen is in use. None of this is a flaw so much as character, but buyers who want a pen to stay perfect should pick a different finish or a different pen.

The nib is on the firm side. You will not get much line variation from it, though it is not scratchy and the feedback it provides is fair without being biting. Ink flow is decent for a fine nib, reverse writing was not strong on this sample, and the feed kept up fine during fast writing.

Buying Advice

The Gravitas Pocket Pen retails from 65 euros to 95 euros depending on the model, which works out to roughly $70 to $105 depending on exchange rates. The brass model reviewed here costs 70 euros, about $77, which feels reasonable for what you get. Gravitas keeps most of its pens very reasonably priced for the quality, and the Pocket Pen is an interesting addition to the lineup.

If you are looking for something a little different, a quality metal fountain pen under a hundred dollars that can take a beating, the Pocket Pen in brass is easy to recommend. It is available directly from the Gravitas website.

Conclusion

The Gravitas Pocket Pen is a well-executed take on the compact posted pocket pen, with thoughtful details like the grooved grip section, the roll-stop facet, and secure cap posting. The brass finish demands some tolerance for scratches and patina, and the cartridge-only setup is a minor limitation, but at around 70 euros for the brass model it delivers solid value. For anyone wanting a hardworking, pocketable fountain pen with personality, it is a strong pick.