When it comes to choosing a quality handcrafted pen, consider pens offered by your local wood worker specializing in pen turning. They handcraft ball point pens, roller ball pens, pencils and other desk accessories from turned wood. They have been hand turning pens generally for several years and offer several different types of pens, pencils and accessories.

A pen turners’ first pens are usually the slim line styles which have always been popular.  They select the finest and most exotic hardwoods from around the world and the USA to produce excellent handcrafted writing instruments. In addition to hardwoods, some also craft pens in acrylics, poly resins, antler and laminates. Most offer their pens in a variety of finishes from a fine Cobalt Gold to a beautiful chrome and nickel finish.

Also offered are higher end finishes of Platinum and Black Titanium on their slim line pens. The pencils have a nice click mechanism which is smooth to operate.  Many wood workers also produce letter openers in the slim line in either a gold or chrome finish.

The next type of handcrafted pen produced is the Classic line which is composed mostly of ball point pens and a version of roller ball pen.  You can check out your local pen turners entire line at their website to determine which of the Classic styled pens suit your taste.  Most are relatively slim in feel and utilize a twist mechanism.  Also offered is a click cap version as well as a twist and click pencil version.  A few pen crafters also handcraft a ‘Retro’ type pen that reminisces the writing heyday of the mid 20th century.  A truly fine pen usually available oibnly in gold or chrome finishes.

The handcrafted European line of pens fit somewhere between slim pens and larger barreled pens. Many wood workers also offer a mini European style which is a smaller version of the regular twist European pen.  The European pens that are handcrafted by many pen crafters are sleek in design and operate smoothly.  All are offered in a variety of finishes from Gold through the higher end Platinum and Black Titanium finishes.  All are ball point pens and there is rarely a roller ball pen seen in the European styled pens.  Many pen turners do offer letter openers that are hand turned and usually come in gold or chrome finish.

Numerous wood workers handcraft an excellent two piece roller ball which is call the Navigator.  It comes in all finishes and is very easy to write with and is well balanced.  Like any of the other pens, they can bre produced in acrylics, poly resins and antler in addition to a large supply of exotic hardwoods.  Again, at many pen turners websites, you can view their product line and see how beautiful these pens truly are.

One of the more interesting line is the Cigar line of fine handcrafted pens.  They are large barreled pens and hold well on their own.  They are produced as ball points with one exception. The Premium Cigar pen is the classic cigar pen style with a large barrel, great grip and fine craftsmanship.  A step above, pen crafters handcraft the Hybrid cigar pen which is slightly more detailed than the Premium but takes a finish well and brings it to life.  Similar to the Premium cigar pen is the Bowtie pen and Oxford Pen.  Both are available usually only in gold or chrome finishes.  The Bowtie gets its name from the bowtie shaped clip and is handcrafted by several pen crafters.  The Oxford than is hand turned at wood worker shops sports an engraved center band to set is apart. The largest Cigar style pen thgat is handcrafted is the El Grande, and it is just that.  It is produced as a roller ball and is available in all the standard and high end finishes  mentioned throughout the article.  It is usually the  most expensive handcrafted pen, but well worth the cost due to the amount of work to craft this fine pen.

Additionally, many pen crafters handcraft a line of ball point pens they name the Executive and Sr. Executives.  With one of the widest availability of finishes available, these are crafted with care and use only the best hardwoods with the right finish to bring out the beauty of the wood, acrylic or antler.  To see this line, check out your local wood workers’ website.  In addition to standard hardwoods, acrylics, etc., the Executive line is the basic frame for a line on Inlay pens.  Laser cut pieces of differing hardwoods are pieced together to form simple to complicated scenes around the pen barrel.  As these are produced from kits, they tend to be very expensive as compared to a crafters own handcrafted pens. All pen crafters hand turn their own hardwoods and handcraft everything they make.  Also included in the Executive line are letter openers and magnifying glasses for the discriminating consumer.

Many pen turners also offer for the consumer pen boxes, pen sleeves and refills at very reasonable prices and in a variety of hardwoods for the pen boxes and leather designs for the pen sleeves.  Be sure to check them out while you’re visiting websites.

Wood workers are always experimenting with new hardwoods and materials to handcraft even more fine pens to choose from.  Check out websites often to see all the hardwoods, acrylics and other materials that are use to produce what many feel are some of the finest handcrafted pens.

© Paul Witmer 2010