Raw Aluminium Kaweco AL Sport Ballpoint Pen

Choosing Keeping holds the largest range of Kaweco pens in the UK - indeed we have built a long-lasting friendship with the beloved Gutberlet family who run the company with so much brains and gusto. Kaweco is often mistaken for a Japanese brand - not so! - it is 100% German. Originally established in 1899 in Heidelberg (also home of Lamy), the company was eventually renamed Kaweco as its owners namesake, Henrich Koch and Rudolph Weber - KOch, WEber and COmpany. Here pictured, an advertisement from 1911 which declares, ‘stocked in every best stationery store’ - still the case!

The Classic Sport range, introduced to market in 1934, broke new ground in modern design for its unique octagonal barrel and handy portable size intended for use by ‘ladies, officers and sportspeople’. Kaweco were covering all bases with their marketing of this hugely successful pen, now synonymous with the brand itself.

Originally Classic Sport pens were made from ebonite (a very hard rubber), in black and then burgundy, featuring a fine engraved pattern known as a guilloche. Today, the design remains largely unchanged - measuring 10cm when capped, for optimal writing comfort and using a modern cartridge system for practicality - now in a wide range of exciting colours and finishes. Hard wearing ABS moulded plastics, clear plastics, hand turned acrylics, stainless steel, brass, copper, aluminium, and patinated finishes are all à la carte for you to choose from.

This model is completely uncoated, the so-called raw aluminium, giving the pen a special tactility and cold metal feeling in hand (or warm, after holding it). Aluminium things are usually anodised in a satin finish, giving the surface an equal and unchanging appearance. Instead, this raw edition will scratch all over as you store it in your pocket alongside your keys, other pens etc. The result will be a beautiful patina through time and use, completely personal to you.

Since 1953 the range has included a fountain pen, a rollerball, a ballpoint, and a chunky 0.7 mechanical pencil. They can be mixed and matched as a duo of writing implements and held together in an attractive leather pouch, just as they were traditionally advertised back in the day. 

Slip-on clip is optional and can be purchased separately here.

Details
Body material: Raw aluminium 
Cap type: Capless push-button mechanism
Refill type: Takes international standard D1 ballpoint cartridges; one blue cartridge included. 
Dimensions: 10.6cm long, 1.4cm diameter
Included: presentation box, one blue cartridge

Made in Germany

Read our interview with Kaweco CEO Michael Gutberlet on the topic of pen collecting.