One Star Leather Goods - Notebook/Pen Wallet WINNER!

All I can say is, WOW!  This giveaway has been the biggest on the blog yet with over 300 entries for the notebook/pen wallet courtesy of One Star Leather Goods.  Want to again express my thanks for Keegan in sponsoring the event!

And the winner is:

Tyler! 

Congrats!  I'll be sending out an email to you to get your address details so I can send you out your beautiful new leather wallet from One Star Leather Goods.

In Tyler's comment about his favorite handmade good: 

"My HardGraft Two-Fold leather bag. I've been using it   to carry my stuff around for three years and it just keeps getting better   with age."

Thank you again for the amazing response and for all those that entered!  There are more giveaways slated for this month, so keep tabs on the blog and my Instagram feed (follow if you aren't already to hear about it). 

Thanks again, Keegan!

 

Whoa. Awesome... - Apollo Technical Pen and Drafting Scale

I was given a tip today about this project on Kickstarter, and man, did it start pushing all my buttons at once.  I literally had an overload as this looks awesome.

The Apollo Technical Pen and Drafting Scale campaign launched just two days ago and is already past their goal and onto what appears to be a strong start.  I can see why.

Apollo Pens photo (used with permission)

Metal, hexagonal barrels, knurling... if you aren't aware of my rOtring 600 obsession, welcome to the party.  Even though these aren't a rOtring brand product, I'm so glad the fellas at Apollo decided to go the route of paying obvious homage to these classics, and everything about this looks killer.  They really look like they are trying to head back to the roots of some truly iconic designs in the drafting pen realm.

Apollo Pens photo (used with permission) 

The guys didn't reach out to me and ask me to post, but this is a project that caught my eye and I knew I wanted to give a heads up to on the blog.  Give their campaign a look if you haven't already and bring a bib.  Drool...

 

 

rOtring Freeway Rollerball - Pen Review

I'm starting to think that The Clicky Post is becoming a hub for rOtring reviews.  I really don't know why, but I am completely obsessed with this brand.   

In perusing eBay recently I decided to take a chance on a newer (although now discontinued) model called the Freeway.  I picked up a black rollerball for about $15 new which I thought was really reasonable.  Although, for rOtrings, $15 usually doesn't mean much, so I was a bit skeptical even when placing the order... 

When I got the Freeway and first held it in my hand I thought to myself that it felt oddly heavy.  The barrel is all metal, but seems pretty hefty.  

In many pens, the weightiness adds a level of niceness, but with the overall build of the Freeway, in this case "heavy" doesn't really mean "quality".   It almost screams the opposite like the pen is a thrown-together type project.  (Gasps heard all around...)  I know; Mike is discrediting a rOtring model?  Seems impossible, right?  

Now, I think that the Freeway is a nice enough pen, but it is far, far away from the prestige levels of the 600 or even Newton series of the 90's.  Those pens just feel incredible; like a tool or precision instrument.  This pen feels like a giveaway type pen on the nicer scale.  The 600s and Newtons make your jaw drop.  

It writes nice though as it came with the Schmidt Ceramic Roller.  I really ought to use this refill more as it is smooth and inky rollerball, but lays down a finer line.  I can speak to the fact that the tip of the refill is good and snug in there and there is very little play while writing.  This is a plus.  

Referring back to my comment about the build quality, the pen just doesn't seem very refined.  The painted coatings seem ok, but like they are just a bit "meh".  I'm not fond of the clip design, and the fact that they opted for a chromed tip seems a bit out of place.  The threading between the grip and barrel is a bit rough and takes a bit of effort to get tightened down.  Doesn't speak volumes to precision. 

Am I upset that I bought the Freeway rollerball?  Nah.  I'm actually interested in experiencing the evolution of the brand as it changed hands.  I suppose I'm dedicated enough to the brand to ride that wave.  They made a Freeway fountain pen as well that I could probably pick up for $20 that I'd still be willing to try.  Maybe the nib is awesome?  

My hopes are that rOtring's future lineup will include the likes of what we saw before in the older models many of us covet.  I think there is absolutely a market for them considering the prices some of those models sell for online.  

What are your thoughts on the matter?