Levenger L-Tech Stealth fountain pen review

20 January 2014 By ian

Levenger L-Tech Stealth shadow

Pens quite literally tell stories. One of the most lovely things about old pens is remembering or imagining the stories they have told. This pen has a story to tell from before it even arrived at my home.

Back in November Mike Dudek wrote a review of the Levenger L-Tech Stealth and I decided I wanted one. It was an excellent review, as they always are on The Clicky Post, and the pen looked interesting. Rotring-like but at a price I could afford. At the time, I was at the start of a pledge (to myself) not to buy any pens until after Christmas.

Anyway, all was going well (with the pledge) until Levenger had a 25% off everything sale just after Thanksgiving. This, combined with Mike’s review, was too much to resist as I’m sure you will agree. I ordered the pen.

Levenger have a weird thing where they don’t quote international shipping at the time of purchase. They send you an email a few days later. I can see why: they wanted $48 to send it here to the UK. Shocking. I cancelled my order and complained about it on Twitter, as you do.

Mike saw my tweet and offered to buy the pen for me, have it shipped to him and then to ship it to me. All for what it actually cost, significantly less than $48, I can tell you, especially as I took the opportunity to order a Display from Mike at the same time.

Levenger L-Tech in The Display

So thank you so much Mike Dudek, for enabling me both with the initial wish and with the fulfilment. Mike is a Top Dude.

This pen arrived with a story. Was it worth all the trouble?

Levenger L-Tech Stealth review

It was. This is a wonderfully fun pen. It is the only pen I own which is a heptagonal prism and that’s something in itself. It is also very well made. The way the cap threads onto the barrel is worth the price all by itself. It’s hard to explain but it glides into place exactly lined up with the body in a most delicious way. I’ve made more than one person try it out. I’ll admit they haven’t found it quite as thrilling as I have.

Levenger L-Tech Stealth cap and nib

The nib isn’t anything special but it works and, in keeping with the pen as a whole, it feels as if it will last forever. I bought the fine nib and it is a fairly broad fine, really. It’s also very wet. This pen drinks ink like I drink wine: very well and in large quantities.

Levenger L-Tech Stealth nib

The Levenger L-Tech Stealth is a metal pen and has a good weight to it. It’s well balanced, though, and so doesn’t feel heavy in the hand. I’ve written reams with this pen. It posts but I don’t: it would be a little too much, like that. The knurled grip is interesting and surprisingly comfortable to hold.

Levenger L-Tech Stealth knurling

My Levenger L-Tech Stealth has a story to tell and whenever I pick it up (which is often) I’m reminded of Mike’s kindness and of his love of all things engineered, polygonal and Rotringesque.

Levenger L-Tech Stealth uncapped

And my no pens until Christmas pledge? I did well except for this (and four others).

Levenger L-Tech Stealth converter

Levenger L-Tech Stealth handwritten review