Shibui North Pocket Fox Review: A Compact Steel Fountain Pen With Real Personality

Introduction

Small artisan pen brands are at their best when they try something new, and Shibui North keeps finding ways to do exactly that. The Pocket Fox is a compact stainless steel fountain pen from Ruth Bolton, a maker based in Newcastle in northern England who builds her pens on a CNC machine and finishes them with techniques like urushi, gilding, anodizing, and engraving. Her time living in Japan, where she studied ceramics and urushi, shows up clearly in the design language.

The version covered here carries a motif called Creepy Little Skulls, engraved on a purple PVD nano titanium coating. The name sounds ominous, but the execution leans playful rather than grim: the skulls are slightly cartoonish, varied in size, and genuinely charming. The pen retails for $137, which feels reasonable for a hand-finished, one-of-a-kind piece.

Who This Pen Is For

The Pocket Fox makes sense for anyone who wants a genuine pocket pen rather than a full-size pen that merely fits a jacket. It is short and light in the hand at first glance, but it carries real heft: the stainless steel body pushes the weight above 50 grams, which is substantial for a pen this size.

It also suits buyers who value character over sameness. Because each pen is engraved in-house with a laser while the body rotates, the finish has an artisan quality that mass-produced pens cannot match. If you want something unique, Shibui North also accepts custom engraving ideas, which is one of the genuine perks of buying from a small maker.

Main Strengths

The materials story is the headline. The 304 stainless steel body carries a purple PVD nano titanium coating that is both hardwearing and durable, and the Creepy Little Skulls engraving is cut into that coating to expose the bare metal beneath. The result is a design that should hold up to daily carry rather than wear off like a print.

The nib is a number six stainless steel unit in fine or medium, with the skull motif engraved directly on it. Leaving the nib uncoated was a smart choice: the black-on-steel contrast makes the engraving pop. The section is metal but not slick, thanks to very fine, almost imperceptible grooves around the section and barrel that help maintain grip without being noticeable when you handle the pen.

Posting transforms this pen. Unposted, it works for a quick note, but once posted the cap, the Pocket Fox is essentially full-sized and very comfortable and well balanced. The twist-off cap does take just over four rotations, which sounds excessive but never felt like it in actual use.

Things to Consider Before Buying

A few details are worth weighing first. The very end of the barrel has a small protruding nub that sticks out more than necessary, and the posting threads are a touch sharp, occasionally rubbing the inside of the hand during unposted use. Posting also takes those same four rotations, which feels more excessive here than when uncapping.

The pen takes standard international short cartridges, which is fine, but converters designed for pocket pens like this have historically been mediocre, so plan on cartridges unless you have a known good converter. Ink flow leans toward the lighter side, and the nib prefers a measured pace, with occasional skips during fast writing.

Writing Performance

The medium stainless steel nib performs nicely overall. It is fairly smooth and can produce some line variation when you push it a bit. Reverse writing is hit and miss, and the nib is not super sharp, just slightly crisp.

The main caveat is speed: this nib rewards taking your time, and quick, rushed writing can produce the occasional skip or railroading. For unhurried note-taking and everyday journaling, it holds up well. The writing sample used the supplied cartridge with a generic purple ink.

Buying Advice

At $137, the Pocket Fox sits in a sensible place for an artisan, hand-finished pocket pen with custom engraving options. If you want a compact pen with real weight, a durable finish, and genuine character, it is easy to recommend. If you prefer a gusher-style ink flow, ultra-fast writing, or a large converter capacity, look elsewhere.

Conclusion

The Shibui North Pocket Fox is a small pen with a big personality: durable stainless steel construction, a hardwearing purple PVD finish, engraved artwork on both body and nib, and a comfortable posted form. Its quirks, like the four-rotation posting and light ink flow, are minor next to what you get at this price from a maker who will engrave nearly anything you can imagine.