Mythic Pens VS3 Review: A Modern Pen with a Vintage Soul

Introduction

Some artisan pens blend into a sea of similar swirly resins. The Mythic Pens VS3 does the opposite. It is a modern pen with a vintage look and feel, inspired by the Parker Duofold Centennial Big Red, and built by hand one pen at a time in Milner, Georgia. Brad Owens founded the Mythic Pen Company in 2019 and has steadily built a name for himself in the pen-making world.

What makes the VS3 interesting is that it borrows the general aesthetic of a classic oversized pen while keeping its own personality. The two are cousins rather than copies, and that balance of familiar and fresh is exactly what makes this model stand out from the bespoke pen crowd.

Who This Pen Is For

This pen suits fountain pen users who love the vintage oversized look but prefer modern reliability, cartridge-converter convenience, and a nib that is tuned properly out of the box. If you have ever admired a Parker Duofold Centennial Big Red but wished for something larger and more individual, the VS3 sits in that sweet spot.

It also suits buyers who value made-to-order craftsmanship. Every Mythic pen is handcrafted as an individual piece, so no two are exactly alike. When you place an order, the pen is made directly for you rather than pulled from an assembly line.

Main Strengths

The VS3 is made from a solid red resin, with orange and black also available. The resin comes from Jonathan Brooks, a solid color from his early days in the business that fits the vintage theme far better than a modern swirl would. An ebonite version is available at an additional cost.

The brass details are a highlight. The cap is slightly tapered and flat on top, with two hand-made brass bands beneath. The wide cap band, crafted by Brad’s wife Kristen, is a favorite feature: prominent, confident, and cleanly engraved with the Mythic Pens logo on one side and the VS3 model name on the other. The quality of the engraving and black fill looks thoroughly professional, the kind of finish you rarely see from a small artisan shop.

The barrel is straight and free of branding, ends in a second dual set of brass bands, and tapers to a flat finial. The cap twists off in just over two rotations. The section is generous and begins with a raised ring, and the pen is well balanced, with the rear bands counterweighting the nib so the center of balance sits slightly back, roughly 55% of the way toward the cap end.

Writing Experience

The VS3 ships with a number six stainless steel JoVo nib, available in a wide variety of sizes, with a gold upgrade offered at an added price. The broad steel nib on this example is outstanding: glassy smooth, with a very generous ink flow, well tuned for reverse writing, and pleasant even at faster speeds. The plastic feed keeps up without hesitation. Honestly, if offered a free gold upgrade, this reviewer would keep the steel nib as is.

It is a cartridge-converter pen that accepts standard international cartridges, and a converter is included. It is plenty long enough to use unposted, which is just as well because the cap is not designed to post. Eye dropping is not officially supported given the multi-piece barrel, though it might work with some testing.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is a premium artisan pen at $500, sold only through the Mythic Pens website. Note that the $250 listing price is the down payment on a made-to-order commission, not the full price. Mythic’s other offerings typically run in the $170 to $225 range if you want the brand at a lower entry point.

Dimensions are approximate, since each pen is handcrafted and minor fluctuations occur between pieces. The solid color palette is deliberately restrained, so if you prefer colorful, swirly modern resins, this pen may not match your taste. And if you like posting your cap, the VS3 will not accommodate that.

Buying Advice

For comparison purposes, the VS3 is significantly larger than the Parker Duofold Centennial Big Red that inspired it, while sharing a similar general aesthetic. Next to a Parker Urban, a Vacumatic, or a modern Parker 51, it reads clearly as the biggest pen on the desk.

If your budget allows, the VS3 is a very special offering from an artisan maker and the value proposition does not feel out of line with the price. If not, Mythic’s other models deliver the same handcrafted character at a more accessible level. Either way, this is the kind of pen that earns its place on a favorites list.

Conclusion

The Mythic Pens VS3 succeeds because it translates a beloved vintage icon into a larger, modern, made-to-order pen without losing its own identity. Add superb handcrafted brass details, a genuinely excellent broad steel nib, and reliable cartridge-converter filling, and you get one of the most distinctive artisan pens available today. If the vintage oversized look appeals to you, this is a purchase you can make with confidence.