Highlander Molten Metal Review: A Kit Fountain Pen With Custom Touches

Introduction

Kit pens occupy a divisive corner of the fountain pen hobby. The hardware, meaning everything other than the nib and the turned cap and barrel, comes pre-made, which some collectors feel shortchanges the craftsmanship that makes bespoke pens special. This review looks at the Highlander Molten Metal, a kit-based pen from Highlander Pens, a company based in Lone Tree, Colorado, in the Denver metropolitan area, founded by partners Chuck and Candy. It arrives with some genuinely custom elements that set it apart from typical kit offerings, and it may appeal to readers who want a handmade pen with personality at a mid-range price.

Unboxing and First Impressions

The pen arrives in a custom box with clean branding that opens with flaps, revealing a felt pen sleeve, a long standard international cartridge, and the pen itself. The Molten Metal is turned from a resin with an interesting mix of golds, browns, grays, and yellows, with a bit of chatoyance in the material. The trim is rose gold plated, which the brand describes as red gold, and it complements the warm resin nicely.

Design and Details

The cap finial carries a coin bearing the Highlander Pen Company logo, the rampant lion, a royal emblem of Scotland dating back to 1222 that symbolizes courage, nobility, strength, and pride. The clip is slightly bowed with a bit of flexibility, so it accommodates materials of varying thicknesses. The cap and barrel are both straight, and the barrel end features another rampant lion detail.

The standout custom touch is the band near the end of the cap, where the company initial H is worked into the negative space. This is the kind of personalization that helps the pen rise above the generic kit pen look. There is a very small step down from cap to barrel, and the cap twists off with about one and a quarter rotations. The cap does not post at all, but the pen is long enough to use unposted comfortably.

Nib and Writing Performance

Under the cap sits a number 6 stainless steel JoWo nib with a plastic feed. Many kit pens use low-quality generic nibs, so the inclusion of a proper JoWo unit is a meaningful advantage here. The section is metal, slightly concave, and on the lengthy and skinny side. It is not so slick that a grip slides, the threads at the back are not sharp, and there is a medium-to-large step up to the barrel.

In use, this medium steel nib is nicely tuned. It is not overly smooth, offering a decent bit of feedback, and the ink flow sits on the medium side. Reverse writing started to fade a little but was not scratchy, and the feed kept up well during fast writing. Copper-toned inks with good shading are a natural pairing for this resin.

Filling System and Practical Notes

This is a cartridge converter pen that accepts standard international cartridges, and a converter is provided. There is literally just enough room in the barrel for the converter: when it is pushed in slightly and the cap is twisted, the final rotation seats it fully without the converter butting against the end. Because of the metal components in the pen, eyedropper filling is not recommended.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The section remains the sticking point for anyone who dislikes long, skinny kit pen grips, and this one is no exception even if it is less extreme than some. The converter fit is also tight, though functional. None of this is disqualifying, but it is worth knowing before purchasing.

Buying Advice

The Molten Metal is priced at $159 and is available from the Highlander Pens website, with free shipping on this pen since orders over $100 ship free in the US (the free-shipping threshold is $200 internationally). Does it change long-held skepticism about kit pens? Not entirely, but it is a clear step in the right direction. The custom band, the coin emblem, and above all the JoWo nib separate it from most kit pens on the market, and the resin itself is attractive enough that a full bespoke pen made from it would be interesting as well.

If you are interested in handmade pens like this and want something along these lines, it is well worth checking out the brand’s site.

Conclusion

The Highlander Molten Metal is a good-looking kit pen with genuine custom touches and a quality nib, offered at a fair $159 price. It may not convert every kit pen skeptic, but for readers drawn to handmade pens with character, it deserves a look.