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Pen Porn: Shibui North Pocket Fox

Posted in Fountain Pens

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for pen envy or impulse purchases resulting from viewing this post.

Per usual, you can click on the images to view them larger. I do my best to provide you with the high-quality pen porn. 😉

For the first time, I’ve been privileged to receive a pen for review. However, rest assured that this post, and all views that I express, are my own. Ruth of Shibui North reached out to offer me a pen in exchange for a pen porn post. Once I got over my shock, and confirmed all pertinent details, I chose the Pocket Fox Asa No Ha in Cherry Black.

Shibui North Pocket Fox Asa No Ha Cherry Black

Ruth was unfortunately impacted by the UK Royal Mail cyber attack in January. As a result, she now sends pens via courier. Mine arrived in just 5 days!

Regardless of how I received this pen, there are some unique elements I feel need to be featured, making this pen porn post more review-like than a typical one.

“Review-Like” Part

To begin, although the Pocket Fox has a metal base — copper — the threads are virtually silent. There’s none of that metal-on-metal squeal I’m so sensitive to. Check out the video below to hear how quiet it is.

Because it’s copper, though, it’s heavy, weighing in at 62g — according to my kitchen scale. This makes it:

  • Significantly heavier than a Pro Gear (16g uncapped, 24g capped/posted),
  • Overall heavier than the Aurora 100° Anniversario (36g uncapped, 61g capped/posted), and
  • Arguably heavier than the Gravitas Pens Sentry Stainless Steel (59g uncapped, 83g capped) and the Visconti Il Magnifico Lapislazzuli (48g uncapped, 82g capped/posted), since you’d only use either of the two unposted.

Given the weight, you’d may be forgiven for thinking the Pocket Fox is a largish pen. However, you can see in the size comparisons with a TWSBI Diamond Mini and Schon DSGN Pocket Six that it really is a small pen. It’s compact size means the Pocket Fox only takes short international cartridges, or Kaweco Sport converters.

The Pocket Fox needs to be used posted, regardless of how big or small your hands are. When used unposted, the weight falls on your fingers, making for an uncomfortable experience. But, when posted, the weight rests comfortably on the space between thumb and index finger.

Since it doesn’t have a section, if you generally hold pens close to the nib, the Pocket Fox may take some getting used to, as you have to hold it a bit further back.

Next up is the nib. The ceramic coating doesn’t seem to have any effect on the nib performance. It’s a M Bock, according to the product page. However, it writes more like a F or EF. I consider it to have a “standard” wetness. It writes easily without pressure, but it doesn’t “gush” ink like a Visconti or TWSBI.

In the first photo, you can see how thin the line is, definitely thinner than a normal M. In the second photo, you can see some pooled ink left in the scribble after I lifted the nib.

Per Ruth, Bock has recently adjusted their nib sizes down one, so what was a M is now a F. I can’t imagine why they’d do that, but it is what it is. She did say she’ll be changing to Jowo nibs soon, presumably for the more consistent “western” sizing.

On to the Pen Porn!

I requested the Pocket Fox model because I’m not a huge fan of bare metal that can oxidize/patina. If you do enjoy that, Shibui North has multiple pens for you to choose from. I also don’t have many pocket pens, and this seemed like a good opportunity to help fill that lack in my collection.

I had a hard time choosing between the Robin Egg and Asa No Ha. Ultimately, the Asa No Ha won out because of the gorgeous engraving.

The precision is beautiful. I wonder, though, what it will look like as the exposed copper starts to oxidize. And the sweeping design is carried up onto the nib.

Overall, it’s a gorgeous pen, and I feel incredibly grateful and privileged to have received it.

Shibui North Pocket Fox Asa No Ha Cherry Black

Thank you for reading until the end. Have you heard of Shibui North? Do you own any of Ruth’s pens? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.

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2 Comments

  1. Dr. Jim Hughes
    Dr. Jim Hughes

    Whats the Black pen with White Scrolling on it? I must have missed it in the discussion

    April 2, 2023
    |Reply
    • It’s a Schon DSGN Pocket 6 engraved by Iron Feather Creative. I just used it for size comparison.

      April 2, 2023
      |Reply

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