Review: Fountain Pen Revolution Jaipur - Flex & M @FPRevolution

I'm always curious about flex pens with steel nibs, especially when they're affordable. Will it work? Will it be a pain? Let's find out.

ABOUT

Body Material: Resin
Trim: Metal
Length (capped): 134.62 mm/5.3"
Length (uncapped nib-end): 128.0 mm/5.04"
Length (posted): 157.48 mm/6.20"
Barrel Diameter: 13.2 mm/0.52"
Section Diameter: 10.16 mm/0.4"
Nib material: Steel
Weight (all): 17 g
Fill type: Piston-filler
Price: $18.00USD ($3 extra for broad/flex/stub)
Where to buy: FPRevolution

PACKAGING

None, just the way I like it.

APPEARANCE

The two models of the Jaipur I have are the same in design, and only differ in color. These are larger than the other FPR pens I have used (Dilli, Indus, Guru, Triveni Jr.), with a round body and a slightly rounded off end. The finial is raised to a point. The clip is attached externally by a thin metal ring. It starts wide and narrows towards the end, and ends in a drop shape. There is a metal band at the end of the cap, engraved with FPR. The section is round and ends in a slightly flared ridge.

On the black pen, there is a large, clear ink window under the cap. Other than that, the cap, section, barrel, and piston-turning knob are all black On the clear/blue model, the top of the cap, the section, and the piston-turning knob are blue. The rest of the cap and barrel are clear, and the piston is also clear.

Both pens have metal trim and the same types of nib, with ebonite feeds. They aren't too bad-looking, especially considering the price. They look put together well enough, and I have not noticed any weird edges or bits sticking out.

NIB & PERFORMANCE

Both nibs are two-toned #5.5 steel nib. The medium nib has a single slit and a round breather hole. It is engraved with some simple flourishes, FPR, and M. The flex nib has a long, single slit, and no breather hole. The nib is also engraved with some simple flourishes, FPR, and flex. There is no mistaking the two - they look different.

Both pens were flushed with soap and water before being inked. The medium nib writes well - somewhat toothy but not scratchy, and it is a reliable writer. It isn't very wet, but ink flow is more than adequate, and makes it convenient as a daily writer. Drying times were average. The medium nib is quite stiff, but with enough pressure, a little bit of line variation is possible. I experienced maybe one or two skips in a page, so I'd hardly call that skipping and was probably just a poor angle on my part, and it doesn't hard start. Overall, a very decent performer.

The flex nib is a heck of a lot of fun. Writing normally, it writes a very wet medium line. Wet. Drying times are pretty long because it is so wet, and when it is flexed, it's even inkier. Delicious.

The nib is quite soft for a steel nib, and it's relatively easy to achieve line variation compared to my Noodler's Ahab, which starts quite stiff and needs time and pressure to be flexed fully. This nib feels like it's already been broken in, and that's a good thing. If all the flex nibs are like this, that's going to be great and I think a lot of people will be pleased with their purchase. This nib is capable of some pretty decent line variation and the feed keeps up very well, during fast writing, and during flex writing. It railroads eventually, but it picks up quickly with a few taps on the page. It's a lot of fun to use. With such a wet writer, the ink drains pretty quickly, but I enjoy that. I love the feeling of using up a pen. (Not so much the cleaning of it.)

IN HAND

The metal clips are quite springy and easy to pull. They're not that easy to slide on to papers or into pouches without lifting the clip.

I don't like the section much. the threads aren't sharp and further up, I can feel the ridge halfway up the barrel where the cap sits when the pen is closed. It's visible and it's sharp. The end of the section by the nib is also blunt and sharp. It's not my favorite section, but if it means the flex nib will work, I'll take it, because it's not a pen I'll use for pages and pages of writing.

Unposted, the pen is light and easy to use. The cap posts deeply and securely by friction, and this makes the pen well-balanced, comfortable, and it's a better length for both long and short writing sessions.

The piston, once in operation, is smooth, but during cleaning, the piston-turning knob gets slippery and it's hard to turn.

PROS & CONS

OVERALL

Overall, this is really decent, especially considering the price. The medium is a solid, reliable writer, and the flex nib actually flexes. They're not ugly, they don't feel cheap or poorly made, and they perform well.

I received this pen free of charge for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion. There are no affiliate links in this review.