Montegrappa Limited Edition Revolver Stainless Steel Fountain Pen
If you’re looking for superior design, impeccable craftsmanship, and flawless metalwork in fine writing instruments, your very first go-to brand should be Montegrappa. And if you are like me and believe that the industry founders, or pioneers, are usually the best, you won’t be surprised to know that Montegrappa was the first Italian manufacturer of fine pens - founded back in 1912 in Bassano del Grappa, Italy. Throughout the last century, this well-respected company has earned high praise and has even produced the pen of choice for many political leaders and artists, including Earnest Hemingway. Using materials such as celluloid, ebonite, and resin, Montegrappa sets itself apart as a true luxury brand.
The Pen
The Cult Collection by Montegrappa is one of the most popular limited edition series' of collectible pens. This series honors individuals, artists, and pop culture, and includes pens such as the famous “Chaos” and “Pirates” pens, available in both sterling silver and gold, and now, the latest in the series - the breathtaking “Revolver.”
The Details
Many people purchase limited edition pens because they have a strong connection to the story that it tells, or character that it celebrates. Others, like myself, are more drawn to certain pieces because of their immaculate detail, and, let’s be honest, occasionally over-the-top designs. The Revolver becomes irresistible to me because it exploits both of those characteristics. It brings me back to the times as a child watching old Western movies at my grandfather’s house, during the days of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne. Not only does it connect with my childhood, but it also connects with my modern day fascination with haute craftsmanship. This unique pen features stainless steel, aged bog-oak (a rare preserved wood over 4,200 years old), and brass. Many of the brass details are plated in 18k gold as well. To me, the most impressive part of the design is the hand engraved portion of the revolver. Many modern day pen manufacturers produce concept images of upcoming releases. The images look fantastic and spur on excitement, but the final product leaves us unsatisfied, as though some corners had been cut - certain parts made of plastic instead of metal, or other parts not as finely detailed as expected. The Revolver, however, is even better than the concept images! Montegrappa did not cut corners on any of the exquisite detailing of this pen, which is why I have personally grown to cherish the brand as the best in the business.
The Revolver comes in Fine, Medium, and Broad nib sizes, depending on your writing style and preference. The nib is presented in a gorgeous 18K white gold, and is magnificently engraved with a similar pattern as seen on the revolver section. Although we didn’t get to write with it, one of our buyers informed us that the pen writes like butter, and is the smoothest pen that he has written with.
In terms of size, the Revolver would certainly be considered oversized, carrying an impressive weight. This weight translates surprisingly well when putting pen to paper, as it is hefty, but still ergonomically comfortable to use. And if a pen is going to be known as a Revolver, it should probably have some bullets, right? Of course! Montegrappa’s Revolver comes with ten imitation bullets which can actually be loaded into the chamber of the pen (and extracted) with a special magnetic mechanism that comes with every purchase. These bullets are numbered from 0 to 9, so if you’re clumsy like me, you’ll know which one you’ve lost!
After loading the chamber, give it a quick spin and you will hear the satisfying clicking sound as the drum spins around. And yes, there’s even a fully functional trigger for added effect! The trigger acts as a stopper for the drum, and even shows impressive detailing with a textured pattern on the gripping section of the trigger.
The Packaging
This piece is presented in a gorgeous wooden lacquer box, with two colors of ink – black and red. For me, the presentation box is one of the most impressive aspects, with the smooth, glass-like lacquer work reminding me of a fine Elie Bleu humidor. Open the box up, and the purple padded interior reminds me of booth seating at the old time saloons from the Wild West. This is a great example of the subtle details that Montegrappa has gone to great lengths to articulate.
The Appeal
In Montegrappa’s own words, this is a “toy for big boys.” The kid-friendly spinning of the drum provides the old fashioned western shoot ‘em up feel without any of the dangers. The innovation of this pen is truly like none other: its design provides a mixture of authentic luxury writing with a truly entertaining vibe that will certainly cause you (or should we say “trigger you”?) to show it off to your friends.
What’s great about the Wild West style of this fountain pen is that right now, this theme is all the rage! Consider popular series like HBO’s “Westworld” (a futuristic western TV show starring Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright, Ed Harris, and James Marsden), plus artistic cinema like the recent “Hostiles” (starring Christian Bale), and the aptly named German film “Western,” all earning large fan bases and critical praise. And this craze doesn’t seem to be slowing down – most notably the Ridley Scott-helmed “Wraiths of the Broken Land” will be releasing later this year, based on the popular book and written by the screenwriter of “The Martian.” The fun of classic westerns mixed with modern interpretations seems here to stay, and it’s certainly here to stay within this gorgeous pen.
The Final Showdown
If creativity and craftsmanship are key to your own pen purchases, you need to look no further than this beautiful Montegrappa; however, if you are really serious about adding it to your collection, note that Montegrappa has only produced a limited number of pieces – only 300 in total! The gun collector or the pen aficionado will both surely be satisfied with this rare piece. We are proud to partner with Montegrappa in offering this fantastic pen for special order. To order yours, you can check out the full details here, or e-mail us at sales@truphaeinc.com!
…….I find this pen fascinating…………..
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