At pen shows, it’s always Five O’Clock Somewhere! Always. Especially at the Hinze Pens table. I’ve been sitting on this review for a few months, waiting until just before a pen show when readers might be able to see and pick up a Hinze Pen for themselves. You’ll have that opportunity next week in at the 2022 Washington D.C. Pen Show, as the team from Hinze will be in attendance with a full table’s worth of pens.
As I’ve sought to re-spark my interest in fountain pens and refocus my own collection, one goal has been to reduce the percentage of “stock” or “standard” pens that I own, in favor of supporting independent makers and small manufacturers. I’ve known Jim Hinze and Francisco Lopez through the show circuit for years, but had never acquired one of their pens. At this year’s Baltimore show, the pen pictured here caught my eye, and since only one pen in this particular material remained in Atlanta, I went ahead and took it home.
This particular pen is the classic Hinze model, which features a minimalist shape designed to showcase the underlying material. In this case, the resin used is dubbed “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” by Starry Night Resins. While I love the pen itself - and I’ll discuss that more in a bit - the resin steals the show. it’s a swirled combination of purple, orange, blue, and grey, with subtle hints of pastel green and cream in the cap. While there are plenty of makers out there releasing colorful swirled acrylic pens, the use of grey, green, and cream in this pen alongside the purple and orange offered a unique color patter that I hadn’t seen before. I hope these blanks come back at some point because I’d love another pen in this material.
The pen features a flat-topped, cylindrical shape with a longer section and subtly tapered barrel. It does not post by design. If I had to pick one thing about this pen that I love, it would be the longer section, which I have found exceedingly comfortable for extended writing sessions. As a lighter acrylic cartridge-converter pen, the longer tapered barrel is probaby necessary to create a good balance, one that I’d compare to the “Classic” or “Classic Flush” designs by the Kanilea Pen Company.
A Note on Hinze Nibs
One of Hinze Pens’ trademarks are their multicolored nano-plated nibs. Unlike ordinary anodization, these nibs undergo a different process whereby they are coated in a ceramic plating that is much more durable than typical anodization. Here, I opted for a dark blue, which I felt complemented and drew out the grey-blue tones in this particular pen. (Purple or magenta would have been another option.)
Note that I did have this nib modified, so there is a small gap in the coating where Matthew Chen ground a .5mm cursive italic. Ordinarily, if you grind a coated or plated nib, there is a risk of the coating peeling back and flaking off from the area that’s been ground. So far, I’ve seen none of that with the Hinze nib, and I understand that due to the process used, there’s much lower risk of it happening. Care instructions are included with each pen, including recommendations on “safe” inks and cleaning practices.
Takeaways and Where to Buy
There are many bespoke and “small-batch” penmakers out there. It’s easy to get lost and if you’re new to the fountain pen world (and the pen show world especially), to not know where to start. Hinze Pens can serve as a great starting point for those newly interested in bespoke fountain pens, or a new destination for the experienced enthusiast who enjoys unique materials in a well-made workhorse. The price point is extremely reasonable, with most pens priced from $200-250.
You can purchase Hinze Pens directly from the company via their website, or even better, visit them at a pen show! They will be attending the 2022 Washington, D.C. Pen Show, running from Thursday, August 4 through Sunday, August 7. Stop by and see their table. (And come see me while you’re at it!)
Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for review purposes, though Hinze Pens was kind enough to offer me a discount on the price. This post does not contain paid sponsorship or affiliate links.