Your Cart is Empty
People have been asking us to make a fountain pen for years. We knew we wanted to do it, but we needed time to make sure it was absolutely perfect. If you already love fountain pens, then you understand the feeling you get when writing with a well-balanced and beautiful instrument. If you are new to them, it’s a feeling you simply must experience to fully understand.
We didn’t want to make just any fountain pen. We wanted it to be something special. We decided that our machined fountain pen needed to be:
If you think about it, that’s not an easy fountain pen to design. Everyone has different tastes not only visually, but from a use standpoint. Some people like clips, some don’t. Some people like to post the cap, some don’t. Some people like heavy, some don’t. Some people want to carry their pen, others want it to stay at their desk. Some people work in boardrooms, others work with their hands. How would we even begin to fit all of that into a single, well designed fountain pen. We were up for the challenge.
The nib will make or break a writing experience. We extensively tested two of the most popular German nibs on the market to see which one performed the best and most consistently. Hands down, the Bock 180 was the winner. We include an EF Stainless Steel Bock nib with each pen, but we also have other options available including a titanium nib for those who simply must have the best.
We’ve always believed in less is more. But a minimalist design on the outside doesn’t mean it’s easy to make it work.
We poured over the tiniest of details to get everything right. Things like a screw-on cap for maximum security, but just ⅞ of a turn to remove it. A cap that can post without the pen being too back-heavy, and still feel great if you opt to use it un-posted. We also went to the limit on wall thickness and tolerance stack-ups and keep the outside diameter at 11 millimeters – not super thick like a lot of other fountain pens.
How deep are the grooves on the grip? 0.15mm. But, we got there after testing several different options to make sure we got it right. All of these details were carefully poured over so the pen is a joy to use in any environment.
This was not actually a question for us from a design perspective, but rather a challenge.
How could we make the pen great without a clip, but also function with a clip that was designed natively for the pen?
Well, we went with a friction-fit implementation so you get the option. Your pen will seal just fine with or without the clip – this took several iterations to get right – and look great either way.
Which material? 301 grade stainless steel. Why 301? It offers a stronger clip that is more resistant to bending during normal use. Plus, we made the clip position adjustable across a full 360 degree range. Simply move the clip to the position you want, tighten it using our (incredibly cool) 5mm allen key tool, and you’re set.
Not happy with where it’s at? It takes just a few seconds to make an adjustment.
For the first 500 units of our Stainless, Copper, and Bronze fountain pens, and the first 1000 units of our Titanium pens, we're engraving the Modern Fuel logo and a unique serial number onto your pen.
Why? Because these early pens, they're the start of something. You'll be owning a piece of Modern Fuel history. And I want your pen to reflect the individual journey you're on as a writer, a creator, whatever your fire is. It transforms your Modern Fuel fountain pen into a true collector's item and a statement piece that embodies our commitment to craftsmanship and artistry.
And don’t worry - we’re engraving it on the inside of the cap plug (finial), leaving the clean, minimalist exterior free of designs or logos as always.
There is no such thing as one-pen-fits all, so we went a step further on the finishing touches. We have an optional smooth grip if you don’t like the grooved look or feel. We have a loop end which can take place of the cap plug – which adds an attachment point with no loss in sealing ability. And then we have an optional body cap, which can go on the back of the body to make the pen the perfect length for those who don’t want to post the cap.
We believe that that we built the “best” everyday fountain pen. It may not be the absolute best at any one particular thing, but we think it is the best all-around that money can buy. It’s a fountain pen that enthusiasts will appreciate, and those new to the category will fall in love with. You can use it every single day, and it will still hold up for decades to come. A fountain pen with aerospace precision, and heirloom quality.
First the components are cut out of solid bars of premium metal independently in the USA. For most manufacturers, this would be "good enough" to assemble and ship. Our clips are made from Grade 301 Stainless Steel, which is polished to a mirror finish. But, for Modern Fuel, we want to ensure the pen is flawless, so we take it one step further.
Once we have the components, we inspect each batch and ensure it meets our extremely tight standards for release. Many of the pieces are rejected, but the ones which pass are prepped for hand assembly by our small team. Every fountain pen gets three O-rings installed by hand, and once assembled it is ready for the finishing process.
Next we put each fountain pen through a custom multi-step finishing process right here in San Antonio. This gives the pen its beautiful brushed look and ensures a beautiful look across all pieces of the pen.
Finally, we use a precision fiber laser engraver on each fountain pen to customize your pen with its own unique serial number as well as any custom engraving you ordered. Then we install the nib assembly, your unique pen is hand-cleaned, and we add the clip. Lastly, we inspect it one final time to make sure it meets our exacting standards, and then it's packaged up for shipment.
First the components are cut out of solid bars of premium metal independently in the USA. For most manufacturers, this would be "good enough" to assemble and ship. Our clips are made from Grade 301 Stainless Steel, which is polished to a mirror finish. But, for Modern Fuel, we want to ensure the pen is flawless, so we take it one step further.
Once we have the components, we inspect each batch and ensure it meets our extremely tight standards for release. Many of the pieces are rejected, but the ones which pass are prepped for hand assembly by our small team. Every fountain pen gets three O-rings installed by hand, and once assembled it is ready for the finishing process.
Next we put each fountain pen through a custom multi-step finishing process right here in San Antonio. This gives the pen its beautiful brushed look and ensures a beautiful look across all pieces of the pen.
Finally, we use a precision fiber laser engraver on each fountain pen to customize your pen with its own unique serial number as well as any custom engraving you ordered. Then we install the nib assembly, your unique pen is hand-cleaned, and we add the clip. Lastly, we inspect it one final time to make sure it meets our exacting standards, and then it's packaged up for shipment.
