Thomas Slim Tanjiro 1680 Review: A Refined Red Fountain Pen With Real Attention to Detail

Introduction

Thomas Slim, a pen maker based in London, has released a new model in its lineup: the Tanjiro 1680. After sending an earlier pen for review previously, the company offered its latest release, and this one turns out to be a thoughtfully built fountain pen with several standout details. It is priced at an MSRP of $111 on the company website.

Unboxing and First Impressions

The packaging is genuinely well done. The pen arrives in a slim outer box with an embossed greyhound motif and the Thomas Slim London name, then a two-part inner box with attractive lattice work. Inside sits a second small box holding the warranty and three cartridges, which makes the whole package feel like refined gift packaging right from the start.

For size reference, the Tanjiro 1680 is quite similar in footprint to a Pilot Metropolitan. It has a little more weight than a resin pen thanks to its metal construction, but aluminum keeps it from feeling heavy.

Design and Build Quality

The pen is built from 17 individually machined components in stainless steel and anodized aluminum, with hand-polished red PMMA on the barrel. A hidden aluminum sleeve inside maintains rigidity, adding a sense of solidity without making the pen uncomfortable to carry. The deep red with gold accents is a warm, refined combination that looks more expensive than it is.

The eye for detail is the real story here. The cap finial is sculpted into the profile of a greyhound’s head, nose forward with a little ear flopping back, a charming nod to the brand logo. The spring-loaded clip works well, the cap has a small lip to prevent cracking, and the textured end cap on the barrel rounds out a set of touches you would normally expect on pricier pens.

Nib, Filling, and Writing Experience

The cap unscrews to reveal a tapered, slightly flared section and a #5 Schmidt steel nib in medium, with a center band engraved with the brand and city. The barrel unscrews to access a converter, which is included in the box alongside the three starter cartridges, so both bottled-ink users and newcomers are covered from day one.

In use, the pen is a smooth, pleasant writer. The feed keeps up well with fast writing, the flow is rich without being too wet or too dry, and there were no hard starts or hiccups. The medium nib is round with no real stub character, though a bit of line variation can be coaxed out with careful pressure. Reverse writing is possible too: it runs drier rather than scratchier, thinning toward an extra-fine feel before the nib runs dry. It is not a large or fancy nib, but there is nothing wrong with a #5 that writes this consistently.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Two points are worth weighing before purchasing. First, the nib is a standard unbranded Schmidt unit. It writes well, but buyers who enjoy branded touches might like to see the greyhound engraved on the nib in future releases to make it feel more customized to the pen. Second, the section is genuinely slim. This is subjective and depends on hand size, but during long writing sessions it felt slightly uncomfortable for larger hands, and posting the cap makes the pen a bit top-heavy. Anyone with larger hands may want to try the pen before committing, while average-sized hands are unlikely to notice.

Buying Advice

At $111, the Tanjiro 1680 is not cheap, but it holds up convincingly against more expensive pens thanks to its machining, hand-polished finish, and the hidden aluminum sleeve. It suits two groups particularly well: newer fountain pen users who want everything ready to go with cartridges and a converter included, and experienced users who appreciate refined detailing and a warm, luxurious feel in a mid-sized pen. If you favor wide sections or oversized nibs, look elsewhere or test first.

Conclusion

The Thomas Slim Tanjiro 1680 is a fun, interesting pen that punches above its price in fit, finish, and writing performance. The greyhound finial, spring-loaded clip, and deep red-and-gold colorway give it personality, and the smooth, reliable #5 Schmidt nib does everything a daily writer should. The slim section is the main caveat, and it is easily checked before buying.