Pen Seven Number One Review: A Charming Small Ebonite Fountain Pen

Introduction

The Pen Seven Number One is a compact ebonite fountain pen from a small-batch maker, and it manages to feel a little different from most pens at this size. Its listing price is £168, though it has been available on sale for £85, roughly 50 percent off at the time of review. It arrives in charming packaging: the pen is rolled into a soft cream-colored cloth inside a bamboo tube, which makes the whole unboxing feel considered rather than generic.

One quirk defines the first impression: the cap and barrel are so similarly proportioned that it is almost impossible to tell which end is which at a glance. That says a lot about the clean, symmetrical design approach here.

Design and Build

The pen is made of ebonite, in what appears to be a moss green finish, and the material is polished to a high standard. The cap finial is nicely rounded, a sign of care during turning, and there is no clip, which keeps the lines very clean but also means the pen can roll, so some care is needed on a desk. The barrel ends in the ebonite too, with no metal trim to interrupt the look.

The section is long and slightly lighter in tone, and it is genuinely one of the most comfortable parts of the pen. That matters because the pen is too small to post comfortably; a longer section gives you something to hold onto instead. The nib is an unmarked Bock number six unit in fine, and it looks very clean without branding. Sizes range from extra fine through fine, medium, broad and double broad, plus 1.1, 1.5 and 1.9 millimeter stubs, so the nib choice is wide. The feed is plastic and the pen fills by cartridge or converter.

Writing Performance

Writing with the fine nib and Waterman Serenity Blue ink, the pen is pleasant and smooth, with a consistent, comfortable feel. Fast writing is no problem; the feed keeps up well with ink demand.

The flow is initially very wet, though it settled down during the writing sample. The pen is a solid writer that does not skip, and while the nib is not sold as a flex unit, gentle pressure can coax out a little line variation. Reverse writing is possible for those who enjoy it, though it gets noticeably scratchier and digs into the paper. Since the nib is a standard number six Bock, swapping in another nib from your collection is straightforward.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The obvious trade-off is size. For a reviewer with larger hands, the pen is simply too small, and anyone who likes to post a cap will find the small cap does not make for comfortable posting, particularly on an ebonite body where you would rather not risk scratches. The unbranded nib is also a modest concession, though there is a practical reason: small manufacturers usually have to commit to very large nib orders to get branding, so the clean unmarked look is a fair compromise.

On the plus side, the wide nib selection, the standard number six format, and the careful craftsmanship all work in its favor. At the full £168 price it is not cheap, but for a pen made in small batches with this level of finish, the price reads as fair.

Buying Advice

This pen suits two kinds of buyers particularly well. If you prefer smaller pens and you like the character of ebonite, the Number One offers genuine charm, clean design, and a comfortable long section. It even has a subtle resemblance to more expensive compact ebonite pens, which some buyers will find appealing at this price.

If you have larger hands or like to post your caps, think carefully before ordering. The sale price of £85 makes it a much easier recommendation than the full retail figure, so catching it on promotion is worth watching for.

Conclusion

The Pen Seven Number One is a well-crafted, nicely polished small ebonite pen with a wide nib range and very clean styling. Its comfort depends heavily on your hand size and posting habits, but for fans of compact ebonite pens it is an appealing option, especially when the sale price is available.