I got this pen for my birthday three or four years ago - it looks amazing, with all-metal build and that awesome yellow color, which happens to be my favorite. It's even shaped like a pencil! What's not to love? Well...read on.
hi-res images here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZZSf14
hi-res images here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZZSf14
Fit/Finish: The pen is built like a tank as its Swiss construction implies. The paint does not chip off and the clicker mechanism is near-silent and silky smooth. Branding is understated - literally, it's under the clip - and overall the 849 exudes quality. One thing I don't particularly care for is the length - it feels a bit too short for my taste, at five inches. The clip looks removable but isn't, with a nice angular design that doesn't seem ready to detach. So, a 5 in the fit/finish department, but...
Performance: Here's where the pen loses its marks. The Goliath refill may be high capacity, but it's not a rich black, nor is it consistent. The pen performs like your average disposable black stick pen, albeit a little smoother. Inconsistency and white spots in the line have plagued this refill since I got the pen. This refill is just BAD.
Overall: Not a horrible pen - actually, a great one - if not for the refill. Parker-style refills can be hacked to fit (they're a tad bit too long), but they, especially the Fisher refill - are loads better than the included one. Still, the quality of the metal body and clicker mechanism are good enough to give this pen at least a cursory glance.
Rating: 3.5/5
Rating: 3.5/5