My entry into the fountain pen world was the Kaweco Sport in Light Lavender, and I’ve since collected many more Sports. They are such cute little pens, and so easy to carry around with you, so I hadn’t really thought too much about trying any of the other models of Kaweco fountain pens. However, on my fountain pen journey I’ve also discovered a love of demonstrator pens, and so when I stumbled across the Kaweco Perkeo All Clear, I decided to give it a go. 

I bought it in a fine nib from Pure Pens, with a little money off in the Winter Sale, and it arrived a few weeks ago. For ease, I used a Kaweco Ruby Red cartridge I already had, and took it for a spin. And I have to say…I really love it! 

This pen, even at full price, is actually cheaper than the Sport, whilst basically having the same steel nib (just bigger), and being a full-sized fountain pen (the Perkeo is £16, whilst the Sport is £25). Perhaps because of this, I’d thought the Perkeo might feel a little flimsier than the Sport, but I was wrong. Despite being a plastic pen the Perkeo feels pretty sturdy – more so than the Sport, in fact – with Lamy-style notches in the grip to show you how to hold it. The clear plastic is slightly cloudy, but feels good quality for the price of the pen. 

The Kaweco Perkeo also has some nice little touches that match the Kaweco Sport, such as an engraved nib and silver finial, and whilst it’s difficult to see, the Kaweco brand is engraved on the cap (although I definitely prefer the silver or gold embossing you get on the Sport, over the Perkeo’s branding).

However, unlike the Kaweco Sport the Perkeo has a slip cap that pops on and off, as opposed to being screwed off, but there’s a seal clearly visible through the cap that would suggest it’s still pretty airtight. I’ve certainly not had any problems with it drying out so far. 

As far as the writing experience goes, it’s very similar to the Sport, which is unsurprising since the nib is practically the same. I know people sometimes complain about Kaweco nibs being inconsistent in their quality, but I’ve personally never had a problem with any of mine, and that’s the same with the Perkeo. It writes smoothly and without skipping, and I’ve been using it frequently since I received it. If anything, because it’s a full-sized fountain pen it’s a little more comfortable to use than the pocket-sized Sport, especially for longer writing sessions. 

As I’ve said, it’s also less expensive than the Sport, for a similar, if better writing experience, which seems a little bizarre. I would assume that with the Sport you’re paying extra for the aesthetics of it, because as well as the Perkeo writes, it’s much more of a regular old fountain pen in the appearance department. I really like how the Perkeo looks, especially in this clear, demonstrator model, but it doesn’t beat the Sports’ more striking silhouette, with its diminutive, bullet-shaped design, and wider array of colour options. 

However, if you’re looking for a full-sized fountain pen at an entry-level price, then the Kaweco Perkeo is definitely one to consider. For the price of it, it feels incredibly sturdy, especially compared to pens like the Ferris Wheel Press Carousel pen, which is similar in appearance and price.

So what do you think of the Kaweco Perkeo? Do you like it more or less than the Kaweco Sport?